Question

What did southerners think about the growing number of textile mills in the northeast?

Answer 1

As the number of textile mills and other factories in the North increased, so did demand for Southern yeoman farmers, who were mostly self-sufficient, growing vegetables, raising hogs, and making their own household goods.

I'd like to think that the Southerners were okay with the growing number of textile mills, considering the fact that it was also growing their business.

In short, your answer would be: It created a demand for their products.

Answer 2

In general, the southerners were slightly envious of the growing number of textile mills in the northeast, since they knew that they would soon be outpaced.