Re Perelman's question about windpower, England had less need of it than
Holland because England had falling water. On the role of water power in the
textile revolution in England, one good source is Rollin S. Atwood,
“Localization of the Cotton Industry in Lancashire, England,” Economic
Geography, 4, No. 2 (April, 1928).
Schumpeter's allegation that Luddites kept windpower out of England looks
suspiciously akin to the "blame labor" tendency of many economists, and
hardly fits with the wide use of water power in England, or with the harsh
suppression of labor so well documented both by novelists and economic
historians.
The technology has survival value. Northern New England was of course full
of millponds and flumes and water-wheels using low-head water power. As
recently as 1950 my neighbor in Vermont ran a small sawmill on such power
from a relatively level stretch of the Mettowee River, and many picturesque
old ponds and wheels remain for tourists to ogle. The "Vermont Yankee" nuke
near Brattleboro may have obsoleted the old millponds, but then again it may
melt down some time, and it is good to know we have water to fall back on.
Mason Gaffney
-----Original Message-----
From: Societies for the History of Economics [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of michael perelman
Sent: Monday, January 23, 2012 8:58 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [SHOE] two questions
First:
Did William Petty have any personal contact with Barbon? Did he ever
comment on Barbon's work?
I have never been able to find out anything about this.
Second: [Not exactly history of thought]
I have seen two early mentions about wind-driven saws in England.
In 1671, Robert Boyle mentioned "Timber is sawd by Windmills." I
assume he is referring to England.
In Schumpeter's Business Cycles, i, p. 243: "... violence ... made it
impossible in 1663 to operate the new sawing mills then being erected"
because of the fear of unemployment.
Where can I find information about the use of this technology in England? I
had been under the impression that nobody had been able to duplicate this
Dutch technology at the time.
Thank you.
--
Michael Perelman
Economics Department
California State University
Chico, CA
95929
530 898 5321
fax 530 898 5901
http://michaelperelman.wordpress.com
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