CHAPTER XXXIII. 



THE RISE OF COTTON MANUFACTURING 



From time immemorial cotton has been used in 

 the manufacture of textile fabrics for man, 

 furnishing clothing for his body and sundry home 

 comforts. It was not until a century or two ago, 

 however, that its use for this purpose began to 

 assume large proportions. Many important dis- 

 coveries had first to be made; many great inven- 

 tions perfected, before cotton could be manufac- 

 tured so as to supply human wants at a cost in 

 labor commensurate with the value of the fabric 

 made. 



But so important a fiber, with such tremendous 

 opportunities for large production, was not long to 

 go undeveloped and unused, when man, reaching 

 that stage in civilization where he should have need 

 for it, adopted it as a rich find; pressed it into 

 service at once ; put his ever-ready genius to master 

 the problems of its production, its culture, its 

 manufacture, until the day should come when to 

 it, more than to all other fibers combined, attention 

 and skill and labor should be given. 



THE BEGINNINGS OF COTTON MANUFACTURE 



The first factory was the cottage home. Long 

 before the coming of the cotton factory, cotton was 



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