88 MANUFACTURES OF COTTON IN THE U. S. 



a part of the cloth was of cotton ; and the whole to 1760 was made in 

 cottages by hand, when the value of the manufactures was 200,000 

 Ibs. In 1767 the spinning jenny was invented by Margraves. This 

 was soon followed by the spinning frame by Arkwright ; and on 

 the expiration of his patent in 1785, the mule jenny by Crompton, and 

 not long afterwards the power loom by Cartwright. These combined, 

 soon brought the manufacture to great perfection ; and the market for 

 the fabrics made, was rapidly extended over the civilized world. The 

 total annual average value of the manufacture of cotton in G. Britain 

 has been 36,000,000 and the cotton imported has averaged 220,- 

 000,000 Ibs. 



The manufacture of cotton in America by machinery, was intro- 

 duced in 1787 ; but it made little progress prior to the non-intercourse 

 acts and the war of 1812, which gave a wonderful impulse to the 

 genius and industry of our countrymen. This was however tempo- 

 rarily prostrated by the peace of 1815. But the protective duty of 

 1816 and the cotemporaneous introduction of the power loom gave in- 

 creased activity to this branch of our industry ; and, followed by 

 the acts of 1824-28-32, multiplied the manufactures here more 

 rapidly than during any period of their history in this or in any other 

 country. In 1825 the consumption had reached 100,000 bales and in 

 1840, 300,000 bales, or 120 millions Ibs. which was equal to the whole 

 of our exportations of cotton up to 1820. The fabrics made were also 

 distinguished over all others for their weight and strength, which soon 

 gave them preference in the principal markets of the world and in- 

 duced their imitation by English manufacturers. The inferiority of 

 the latter, though stamped with American marks, has not however 

 successfully competed with the American cloth. The result of this 

 was to reduce the price per yard from 16 cts. in 1816 to 7j cts. in 

 1840. Sail duck, negro cottons and drilling were wholly of American 

 origin, and they are now those exclusively of American sale. 



The difference in price of the raw material in England and America 

 and also of water power with a superiority in parts of the machinery, 

 enables our manufacturers, with a slight protection, to compete suc- 

 cessfully with those of that country ; and no where in the world are 

 manufactories conducted upon so healthy and liberal a system as in 

 this country. The finer descriptions of white goods have also lately 

 equalled those of the foreign fabric, both in price and quality. 



Calico Printing was introduced in 1825, and the progress of this 

 branch of the art was even more rapid than that of the construction of 

 the fabric; so that in 1840 it amounted to 158,058,000 yards, or 5,- 

 267,600 pieces, valued at $16,500,000, ami employing a capital of 

 $25,000,000. The beauty of the productions in both designs and co- 

 lors now rivals, if they do not excel, those of England and France ; 

 yet, for four years prior to 1842, there were annually imported 21,852,- 



