What infrastructure change accompanied the adoption of steam power near Manchester around 1787?

Answer

Factories could relocate away from riverside locations to areas with coal access, centralizing production further.

The widespread adoption of steam power, evidenced around Manchester mills by 1787, represented a major infrastructure leap following the Water Frame's reliance on rivers. Steam engines required proximity to accessible coal supplies rather than fast-flowing water. This decoupling of the power source from geography meant that factories could be built in broader locations where coal delivery was feasible. This freedom allowed for even greater centralization and scale in production facilities, as manufacturing operations were no longer geographically tethered to specific hydrological features, facilitating larger industrial ecosystems.

What infrastructure change accompanied the adoption of steam power near Manchester around 1787?

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