310 COTTON 
before the hand loom became an inconsiderable 
factor in cotton goods making. Especially in 
rural districts, it had its place, along with the 
spinning wheel, in nearly every well regulated 
home. 
Cotton manufacturing in the United States has 
been extended gradually in all directions, increas- 
ing 
in annual output, capital and labor employed, 
until it has become one of the great industries of the 
land. 
This development is seen in the table below: 
Item 1830 1860 1890 1900 
Number of mills. 801 1,091 324,866 450,682 
Number of 
spindles... 1,250,000 5,235,000} 14,200,000} 19,000,000 
Number of looms 33,400 120,000 325,000 450,000 
Consumption of 
cotton in bales 180,000 845,000 1,195,000 3,640,000 
Persons employed 62,200 122,000 221,585 302,642 
Capital invested .| $40,610,000] $98,585,000] $354,000,000] $4.67,000,000 
Value of products 115,680,000} 267,000,000} 339,000,000 
