Scott-Labor Conditions in Massachusetts, 1860-70. 177 
the result of a careful study of statistics* It is possible, how¬ 
ever, that the Board was deceived by the high prices which pre¬ 
vailed,, and which were chiefly due to the premium on gold, into 
thinking that industry was in a flourishing condition. In fact, 
the Report for 1867 admits that “From 1862 to 1866 was a 
period of seeming prosperity.” 45 
There is no doubt that certain individual manufacturers made 
enormous fortunes during war times. There is no doubt, also, 
that certain industries in Massachusetts were stimulated, by 
the change in conditions. Of these the most important was the 
manufacture of wool. Even before the war there were signs 
that this industry was to have a rapid growth. Governor An¬ 
drew, in his address to the legislature, Jan. 5, 1861, said, “At¬ 
tention to sheep husbandry is now on the increase, by reason of 
the protection which has been a,horded to it by judicious legis¬ 
lation, and the importance of this branch of farming to the 
various interests of Hew England can hardly be over-esti¬ 
mated.” 46 Later, when the war came,, the high price of cotton 
increased the demand for woolen goods. Cotton factories in the 
neighborhood of Boston became woolen factories. 47 Between 
1855 and 1865 the number of establishments for the manu¬ 
facture of wool increased from 146 to 218, while the number of 
pounds of wool consumed grew from about 19,000,000' to nearly 
29,0Q0,00O. 48 After the war the business became less profit¬ 
able. The Boston Board of Trade reports in 1869 “scarcely a 
woollen mill in Hew England . . . has done a profitable 
business, and most of them will be satisfied, if, on balancing the 
profit and loss of the year, there is no actual loss.” 49 In 1870 
the industry had not improved. 50 In fact the following table 
giving the number of bales received in Boston annually from 
1860 to 1870 shows a falling off in 1870 from 1869. 51 
45 p. 42. 
46 Address to the Legislature, Jan. 5, 1861; see also Boston Daily 
Advertiser, May 1, 1860. 
47 Fite,, p. 12. 
48 De Witt, Statistical Information Relating to Certain Branches of 
Industry in Massachusetts, etc., for 1855; and Warner, Ibid, for 1865. 
49 Report Boston Board of Trade, 1870, p. 128. 
so ibid, 1871, p. 138. 
si From Reports Boston Board of Trade, 1860-1870. 
