The Differences Slavery Made: A Close Analysis of Two American Communities

Capital Investment by Industry, 1860

This table shows Augusta's high capital investment in unskilled labor industries, such as saw mills and woolen mills, and low levels of investment in industries with highly skilled labor.

Industry No. Establishments No. Residents per Est. Total Capital Inv. ($) Capital Inv. Per Capita ($) Average Cap. Per Est. ($)
Blacksmith Augusta 17 1,632 7,750 0.27 455
Franklin 27 1,560 10,100 0.23 374
Carriages Augusta 5 5,550 12,100 0.43 2,420
Franklin 15 2,808 28,500 0.67 1,900
Cooperages Augusta 5 5,550 750 0.02 150
Franklin 8 5,265 3,300 0.07 412
Flour Mills Augusta 62 448 287,000 10.34 4,629
Franklin 60 702 440,100 10.40 7,335
Iron Bar Augusta 1 27,749 7,000 0.25 7,000
Franklin 3 14,042 34,000 0.80 4,680
Iron Pig Augusta 1 27,749 17,000 0.61 17,000
Franklin 2 21,063 54,000 1.28 10,531
Lumber Sawmill Augusta 22 1,261 39,562 1.40 1,798
Franklin 26 1,620 19,250 0.45 740
Leather Goods Augusta 12 2,312 39,300 1.41 3,275
Franklin 25 1,688 191,983 4.55 7,679
Distillery Augusta 18 1,542 87,458 3.15 4,858
Franklin 7 6,018 31,092 0.73 4,441
Tin Augusta 2 13,874 2,225 0.08 1,112
Franklin 10 4,213 18,800 0.44 1,880
Wagon Making Augusta 3 9,249 1,000 0.03 333
Franklin 5 8,425 2,350 0.05 470
Woollen Goods Augusta 2 13,874 45,000 1.60 22,500
Franklin 4 10,531 18,500 0.43 4,625
Total Augusta 197 141 639,000 23 3,243
Franklin 317 132 1,146,320 27 3,616



U.S. Census Office, Eighth Census [1860]. Population of the United States in 1860, Compiled from the Original Returns of the Eighth Census. Washington, D.C., 1864. U.S. Census of Population, 1860. Augusta County, Virginia and Franklin County, Pennsylvania. In U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. Eighth Census of the United States, 1860. Washington: National Archives and Records Administration (Augusta: Reels 1333 and 1387. Franklin: Reels 1111 and 1112).

Note: Augusta per capita figures use the entire population slave and free

Edward L. Ayers and William G. Thomas, III
Capital Investment by Industry, 1860
2001

Points of Analysis to this Data:

"Although Franklin's wealth was concentrated in its rural agricultural commodities, the county was a commercial hub with numerous businesses and shops more densely concentrated than its Southern counterpart."

"Enslaved labor was integral to Augusta's industries--woolen mills, distilleries, flour mills, lumber mills, and iron foundries--while skilled white artisan shops were small in number and scale and virtually free of enslaved labor."


Citation: Key = E147
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