Catalan Textiles & Spanish Railway Development
Catalan Textile Industry Development
In Andalusia, fledgling textile manufacturing had started. The Indiana factories had increased production in the late 18th century and built the first mechanical spinners. However, in 1808, the Peninsular War halted this expansion. After the conflict, production resumed rapidly. Liberalization measures and market production policies established by progressive liberal governments, along with the elimination of guild privileges, promoted the free exercise of industrial activity and allowed for the rapid mechanization of the industry, particularly in places like Catalonia. By the mid-19th century, the Catalan textile industry was the most important industrial sector in Spain.
Mechanization Process
The mechanization process of the Catalan textile industry began around 1830, when the first steam engines were installed. Mechanization was faster in spinning than in weaving, so much so that by 1861, mechanical looms did not account for even half of the total looms. A key cause for rapid mechanization was the scarcity of manpower. The lack of workers increased wages, especially during times of capital repatriation. This phenomenon encouraged the replacement of hand spindles with mechanical ones. Mechanization did not occur at the same rate for weaving because the machinery was more expensive. The mechanization process led to a decrease in sales prices. Lower prices stimulated higher demand, which increased further due to tariff protection and the replacement of wool parts with cotton. Thus, increased demand boosted production.
Consolidation and Limitations
The textile industry faced two main limitations:
- The shortage of coal in Catalan mines and the difficulties of transporting coal from Asturias. This stimulated the proliferation of industrial colonies situated on riverbanks to take advantage of hydroelectric power.
- The weakness of the Spanish market, largely composed of a peasant class, meant demand was heavily tied to agricultural output fluctuations.
The textile industry constantly demanded that the government enact protectionist measures to face competition from foreign textiles.
The growth phase of the textile industry was significantly affected by the cotton famine (likely related to the American Civil War, though the original text mentions ‘War of Succession’), which prevented the import of raw materials into Spain.
From 1874, a new phase of expansion began due to the mechanization of weaving, the renewal of the industrial structure, and the emergence of industrial colonies.
The growth of the cotton industry was driven by its lower cost and higher quality compared to the wool textile industry in Spain. The scale of the Catalan cotton industry was sufficient to industrialize Catalonia but not large enough to drive the industrialization of the entire Spanish economy.
Spanish Railway Network Construction
The railway network in Spain began construction following the approval of the General Law of Railways in 1855.
Railway Construction Stages
There were three main stages:
- 1855-1866: The first major expansion, involving significant mobilization of funds and the intervention of foreign companies.
- Post-1866 Financial Crisis: A period of inactivity in construction after the low profitability of railway investments became evident. Following the initial construction phase, railways produced few benefits, and the value of shares plummeted.
- From 1873: A new phase of construction began, completing parts of the network that had been paralyzed.
Economic Effects of the Railway Law
The Railway Law of 1855 had lasting effects on the economy and shaped the network’s structure:
- It consolidated a radial structure for the network with Madrid at the center, which complicated communications between the most industrial areas.
- It established a track gauge wider than that of most European lines, a decision that hindered trade with the rest of Europe for decades.