The wind, as a direct motive power, is wholly inapplicable…
“The wind, as a direct motive power, is wholly inapplicable to a system of machine labour, for during a calm season the whole business of the country would be thrown out of gear. Before the era of steam-engines, windmills were tried for draining mines; but though they were powerful machines, they were very irregular, so that in a long tract of calm weather the mines were drowned, and all the workmen thrown idle.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
Wind power is unreliable for continuous industrial use; calm periods halt operations, making it impractical historically.
In simple terms: Wind is inconsistent for factories.
Key Takeaway
Diversify energy sources for reliability.
Themes
energy
technology
reliability
Mood
analytical
cautious
Type
historical
technical
When to use this quote
- energy planning
- infrastructure design
- risk management
Key Concepts
wind power
industrialization
Questions to Reflect On
- Can storage solutions make wind viable?
- What alternatives complement wind?
A Different Perspective
Modern tech can mitigate variability.