The New Student's Reference Work/Essen

Es′sen, a town of Prussia, 21 miles from Düsseldorf.  It is situated in a rich coal and iron district, and has large manufactures of iron, tobacco, canes and vinegar, with dye works and breweries.  It is known as the site of the celebrated Krupp gun-works and cannon-foundries, one of the largest establishments in the world.  These works have 1,195 furnaces, 92 steam hammers, 286 boilers and 370 steam engines; they use 2,735 tons of coal and coke daily, and produce nearly 600 tons of iron a day.  They employ over 20,000 workmen.  The water-supply is brought by an aqueduct four miles in length.  The town dates back to 873, and has an old church founded in that year.  It was ruled until 1803 by the abbess of the Benedictine nunnery, who ranked as a princess of the empire.  It was transferred to Prussia in 1803.  Population, 294,629.