In the period between 1875-1882, the number of small industries decreased in Prussia by 39,655,[164] although the population increased in this period by about two million heads. The number of workmen employed in small industries sank, during that time, from 57.6 per cent., to 54.9 per cent. The industrial statistics for 1895 will furnish much more drastic figures. The development of large production stands in close relation to the development of steam machine and steam horse-power. And what is the picture presented by these? Prussia had:-- 1878. 1893. Stationary steam boilers 32,411 53,024 + 63.6 per cent. Stationary steam engines 29,895 53,092 + 77.6 per cent. Movable machines 5,536 15,725 + 184 per cent. The Kingdom of Saxony had:-- 1861. 1891. Stationary steam engines 1,003 8,075 + 700 per cent. Horse-power 15,633 160,772 + 922 per cent. In 1861, a steam engine in Saxony had, on an average, a 15.5 horse-power; in 1891, it had 19. All Germany had in 1878 about three million horse-power in operation in industry; in 1894, about five million. Austria had in 1873 in round figures 336,000 horse-power; in 1888, about 2,150,000. Steam power spreads daily, and stronger steam machines drive out weaker ones--large production drives out small. The fact is shown emphatically in the industries in which steam has become the general power, the brewery industry, for instance. In the German brewery tax department, exclusive of Bavaria, Wuertemburg, Baden and Alsace-Lorraine, there were:-- Breweries Industrially Year. in Operation. Operated. Output. 1873 13,561 10,927 19,654,900 hl. 1891-2 8,460 7,571 33,171,100 hl. ------ ------ ---------- 5,101 3,356 13,516,200 hl. Decrease Decrease Increase = 38 per cent. = 31.1 per cent. = 68.8 per cent. The breweries in general, this table shows, had decreased during this period 38 per cent., the industrially operated ones 31.1 per cent.; the output, however, had increased 68.8 per cent. The giant concerns increased at the expense of the middle and small ones. The identical development is going on _in all countries of civilization, in all industries capitalistically operated_. Let us now take up the brandy distilleries. In all the eight provinces of Prussia, there were in operation:--[165]