Article April 25, 1903 Issue

Growth of Mechanical Power

Boston Herald

It would be difficult to obtain better proof of the great industrial advancement of the United States than is furnished by the fact that there is employed in the United States one horse power in manufacturing establishments for each seven of the population, and that ten years ago the figure was one to ten, and twenty years ago one to fourteen. It is estimated that the horse power now available in this country for manufacturing purposes foots up to the enormous total of 11,300,000. This is almost double the figures of ten years previous, which were less than 6,000,000, while twenty years ago the total was less than three and a half millions. Not only has the power that can be utilized in our manufactures increased with our population, but it has actually advanced in greater ratio than have the number of workers. These figures, be it understood, include only power used for manufacturing, and they make no account of the locomotives on railways or of the power in electric light plants or other similar establishments. Of this total engine power, fully three-fourths is obtained from steam. Water power provides for perhaps fifteen per cent, and the rest is divided among miscellaneous sources of mechanical power. While electricity is now credited with only a small per cent, the growth in the use of this power is remarkable, and it bids fair at no far distant time to rank second only to steam. According to the figures of the last census, there were employed in manufacturing and mechanical pursuits in the United States about 7,113,000 persons, and on this showing there would be over one and one half horse power available for the use of every person employed in the manufacturing industries of our country.—Boston Herald.

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