This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1841 edition. Excerpt: ... the tillage of the earth similar processes are gone through in the present year, as were gone through four and five thousand years ago. Throughout Asia, Africa, a great part of Europe, and in European America, the unmuzzled ox still treadeth out the corn. But on the other hand, the grain, when collected by men now adays, is whisked into a steam mill--the flour is packed in barrels, made of staves fashioned by steam-moved saws--the barrels are conveyed to a port on steam railways, and then shipped on board of steam vessels, and steamed all round the globe. Steam power, therefore, does nothing towards increasing the quantity of food raised, but it facilitates in an extraordinary manner its transport to distant countries; and it presses on the means of subsistence by performing the work of men who must be fed, but who, in the meanwhile, cannot perhaps be profitably employed. But one remarkable circumstance has resulted indirectly from the use of steam power, which scarcely appears to have been noticed in the consideration of the pro portion of food to the population of the country. Steam power acts as if it diminished the quantity of food to be divided among the inhabitants, and at the same time it prolongs the average duration of human life. This circumstance applies to a great part of Europe as well as to this country, but it shows that it must be the study of a civilized nation like this, to facilitate the introduction of necessary food into this country by every means in its power. It appears to be demonstrated by the bills of mortality, that the average duration of human life is prolonged in this country, and in a great part of Europe to about a sixth more than it was some forty or fifty years ago; that is to say, a generation is now...