The new machinery in the factories had increased output by 25% per person (don’t fly over that statistic – consider its implications). Wages, though, had scarcely risen by 5% from their pre-industrial levels. And now people were out of the countryside, with its free food and fuel economy, and living in the burgeoning cities – where everything had to be paid for with money. Conditions were foul. No running water. No sanitation. Pigsty dwellings. Filthy air. Life expectancy was around 30 years for the slum-housed factory workers. So much money. So little equality. Folks called Manchester the
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