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 
$467,000,000 
Value of products 
115,680,000 
267,000,000 
339,000,000 
