Essen

a town of Rhenish Pru ia, 18 miles N. E. of Du eldorf, founded in the 9th century, and adorned with a fine church dating from 873. It has recently increased with great rapidity, and is celebrated for the steel and iron works of the Krupps, the most extensive in Europe, employing in all (1900) about 75,000 workmen. This great establishment was started in 1827, with only two workmen. The rifled steel cannon made here are supplied to most of the armies of Europe. In the suburbs are the “ colonies ’? — cottages, churches, schools, stores, libraries, places of amusement, homes for superannuated and disabled workmen, ete., established by the Krupps for their workmen. Pop. (1900) 118,863.