By 1885, three well-established residential suburbs could be found east, south and west of the city. The largest was the Town of London East, incorporated in 1874 as the Village of Lilley's Corners, now with a population of about 5000. After nearly a year of negotiations it amalgamated with the city in 1885. South of the river, in Westminster Township, a suburb had developed composed of the large estates of prominent Londoners and the modest cottages of many wage earners. This area, now called the 'old south,' was annexed in 1890. Finally, on the west side of the Thames, was the Village of Petersville, later London West, which had also been incorporated in 1874. Many of its residents worked in the city or operated market gardens on the flood-plain lands, selling produce at the market. It joined the city in 1897. The period of amalgamations ended in 1912 when a large area south and east of the city was annexed including Knollwood Park, Chelsea Green, Ealing and Pottersburg, all comprised mainly of working class residents and factories. Municipalities, by 1912, saw prosperity mainly in terms of the number of factory smoke stacks on their skyline. London industry expanded considerably in this period thanks to continued exports to the West and the tariff protection afforded by the National Policy. Combined, they allowed larger industries like McClary's and McCormick's to build larger production facilities and to establish a national network of warehouses and sales offices. The growing number of factory jobs were taken by young people from the farm and by immigrants, most of whom originated in the British Isles. Women increasing entered the work force in this period not only taking office jobs like the switchboard at Bell Telephone but also in food processing and textile and cigar manufacturing. A few heavy industries such as the McClary Manufacturing Company also employed a number of women.