Sentence:  ...at the time there existed in Dublin and its immediate neighbourhood, “forty-five manufacturers, having twenty-two <WSD>billies</WSD>, giving employment to 2885 work people, on whom depended for support 7386 individuals, manufacturing 29,312 pieces of cloth, of various qualities, valued at £336,380.” 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  A slubbing or roving machine.