the growth of hamilton's economic landscape during the late 19th and early 20th century is accredited to textile production, the city's second largest industry, second only to the steel mills. the men responsible for this city's economic expansion are the "5 johns" of hamilton (john morison gibson, john moodie, john sutherland, john dickenson and john patterson). the men opened the "catract power company" in 1896 which brought cheap electricity to the city. they were hamilton's major landowners in the region, both of which brought manufactures and entrepreneurs from all over north america.