Complex sentence: The inventions were quickly taken up, flax mills increasing from 15 in 1867, to 110 in 1874, though another source says there were 161 mills by 1870, employing 1,766.
Split into simpler sentences: The inventions were quickly taken up, increasing from 15 flax mills in 1867 to 110 in 1874. However, another source says there were 161 mills by 1870, employing 1,766.