Which manufacturing industry added the most value to the economy in 1879

I believe it was textile mills, but I'm not 100% sure.

The correct answer to this open question is the following.

The manufacturing industry that added the most value to the economy in 1879 was the textile industry.

In that year, the industries in the United States produced a different kind of products due to the new technology recently acquired by the factories. Northwest and Midwest larger cities offered many jobs to people, so they decided to move from the rural areas to the urban centers of the time. Factories welcomed former farmers and immigrants.

The Textile industry in 1879 had a net worth of $602 million, followed by the food and drink industry with $498 million.