OtherOther economic activity (aside from agricultural expansion) slow - Growing flour milling, textile and iron manufacturing, but insignificant ? Value of southern textile manufactures in 1860 a threefold increase, but exports only 200 million - Commercial sector focused on serving plantation economy ? Brokers/"factors": marketed crops and gave credit to planters in replacement of banks - Obstacles of practically nonexistent canals, crude roads, ineffective railroads Principal transportation: water - Increasing reliance on North James D. B. De Bow (from New Orleans) -> De Bow's Commercial Review -> southern commercial expansion & economic independence (small circulation)