- Title
- North Carolina historical review [1932 : April]
-
-
- Date
- April 1932
-
-
- Place
- ["North Carolina, United States"]
-
North Carolina historical review [1932 : April]
Hits:
(0)
























The North Carolina
Historical Review
Volume IX April, 1932 Number 2
COTTON MANUFACTURING AND STATE
REGULATION IN NORTH CAROLINA, 1861-’65
By Elizabeth Yates Webb
The effect of the Civil War as a sort of elan vital of industrial
activity in the South has been over-rated in such a way as to result
in an unreal separation into ante-bellum and post-bellum sections
of what actually is a continuing complex of social activities. How¬
ever, it would be as unreal to go to the other extreme and ignore the
economic consequences of the drastic social changes during and fol¬
lowing the war period. Slavery, one of the chief obstacles to a
diversified industrial development, was abolished and the fervor for
and faith in a predominantly agricultural society were altered and
diverted into other channels. Manufacturing which had been choked
by lack of popular interest and unfavorable social arrangements had
a better chance for expansion in 1880 because of some of the changes
due to the war and in spite of the economic losses.
But in a more immediate sense the four years of the conflict held
a significance for southern manufactures — especially textiles, and
particularly those in North Carolina. The State in its exertions to
promote cotton manufacturing focussed considerable attention on
this industry, took every measure calculated to increase output at
moderate prices, requisitioned a certain percentage of the product
at a set profit, and attempted to regulate the price at which the re¬
mainder was sold. For the first time there was a demand for every
ounce of yarn and yard of cloth which could be turned out, and in
spite of disabilities fastened on the industry by what owners con¬
sidered unfair state restrictions, prices were high and profits at least
better than before the war. But for the irreparable wear and tear
on equipment and the collapse of Confederate finances, 1SG1-G5
would have marked a period of phenomenal prosperity in the North
Carolina textile industry.
[ in ]
Select what you would like to download. If choosing to download an image, please select the file format you wish to download.
The Original File option allows download of the source file (including any features or enhancements included in the original file) and may take several minutes.
Certain download types may have been restricted by the site administrator.