THROUGH THE ARCHIVES: 'American war will make the fortunes of the Belfast people'

Union soldiers pose for a photograph with a cannon during the American Civil War, one of the earliest true industrial wars. Railroads, the telegraph, steamships, and mass-produced weapons were employed extensively

On this day in 1864 the News Letter published the following fascinating letter on the state of the linen trade in Ulster which had been published on August 6 in the Edinburgh Daily Review and what the impending Civil War in the United States of America might mean for the province.

It detailed: “I passed some days last week in the town of Belfast, and had an opportunity of inquiring into the circumstances of its growing prosperity in this the main branch of its manufactures. I believe that Irish linens are unsurpassed for cheapness, finish and purity of bleach. And when we consider that there are in the factories of the north 700,000 spindles, representing a sunk capital of more than three millions sterling – the sums invested in bleach-works, wealing factories, hand-looms, &c.”

The letter continued: “One of the most successful concerns is that of Messrs Johnston and Carlisle, established so recently as 1850. They first started a mill for spinning the best qualities of flax yarn; then they commenced the linen business, weaving by hand-looms. But when the power-loom came to something like perfection, they established a power-loom weaving factory; and two years ago they commenced the yarn-bleaching and cloth-finishing business. The factories are all in the suburbs of Belfast; but there is a fine large establishment in town for storing and office purposes. The quantity of yarns turned off in the last six months was worth £90,000.”

The correspondent remarked: “These facts give some idea of the stir and bustle of the Belfast manufacturing world.”

They also added that: “The workpeople, of course, have plenty of employment, and have had for some time past 10 per cent, of advance on their wages.”

Reflecting on the brewing Civil War in the United States of America the letter writer commented: “This American war will make the fortunes of the Belfast people, and be the means of immensely prompting the agricultural welfare of Ulster by the stimulus it has given to the cultivation of the flax crop.”