When stem power replaced water power in factories, what geographical benifit did they receive?

Answer 1

The factories could be anywhere instead of just on a body of water.

Factories could spring up in the middle of cities where there was a good population base. They could be built in a lot more places.

Answer 2

Water power required that the factory/mill/facility be right ON a river, and a river whose current moved fast enough to activate machinery. It was the river's current that provided the power to the mill.

With steam power, the mill/factory, etc could be located much closer to the customer, or railroad, or other handling facility. A machine shop could be next to a steel mill, a steel mill next to a a smelter next to a etc. Geographically, a factory could be located almost anywhere!