Steam Does the Work

Soon factories were making cotton goods in greater quantities than ever before. But there was a problem.

Not all factories could be located near a source of water to run the machines. Factory owners needed a new way to power their machinery.

Steam engines offered a way to power machinery without relying on water power. Steam engines has been tried for years as a way to power pumps in coal mines. But no one had built one that really worked well.

Thomas Savery

In 1698, Thomas Savery had invented a steam-driven pump to remove water from a coal mine. But these engines often exploded because of intense pressure. Not very useful.