<P> In 1803, William Radcliffe invented the dressing frame which was patented under the name of Thomas Johnson which enabled power looms to operate continuously . </P> <P> With the Cartwright Loom, the Spinning Mule and the Boulton & Watt steam engine, the pieces were in place to build a mechanised textile industry . From this point there were no new inventions, but a continuous improvement in technology as the mill - owner strove to reduce cost and improve quality . Developments in the transport infrastructure - the canals and, after 1831, the railways - facilitated the import of raw materials and export of finished cloth . </P> <P> The use of water power to drive mills was supplemented by steam driven water pumps, and then superseded completely by the steam engines . For example, Samuel Greg joined his uncle's firm of textile merchants, and, on taking over the company in 1782, he sought out a site to establish a mill . Quarry Bank Mill was built on the River Bollin at Styal in Cheshire . It was initially powered by a water wheel, but installed steam engines in 1810 . In 1830, the average power of a mill engine was 48 hp, but Quarry Bank mill installed a new 100 hp water wheel . This was to change in 1836, when Horrocks & Nuttall, Preston took delivery of 160 hp double engine . William Fairbairn addressed the problem of line - shafting and was responsible for improving the efficiency of the mill . In 1815 he replaced the wooden turning shafts that drove the machines at 50rpm, to wrought iron shafting working at 250 rpm, these were a third of the weight of the previous ones and absorbed less power . The mill operated until 1959 . </P> <P> In 1830, using an 1822 patent, Richard Roberts manufactured the first loom with a cast - iron frame, the Roberts Loom . In 1842 James Bullough and William Kenworthy, made the Lancashire Loom . It is a semiautomatic power loom . Although it is self - acting, it has to be stopped to recharge empty shuttles . It was the mainstay of the Lancashire cotton industry for a century, when the Northrop Loom invented in 1894 with an automatic weft replenishment function gained ascendancy . </P>

Why did u.s. mill owners want to block the free trade of textiles with britain