Evening star., 1898-09-05
ANOTHER SPANISH CONQUEST.
Consular Agent Mertens Urges Inva-
sion With Capital and Manufactures.


sion With Capital and Manufactures.
Consular Agent Mertens at Valencia has
made the following report to the State
Department, under date of the 14th ulti-
mo, in regard to industrial enterprises N
Spain:
THE effect of the war upon Spanish
trade is clearly manifested in the returns
for the month Of June, 1885, compared
with the same month OF the previous year.
There was a decline of 81 100000 pesetas
G9, S43, ,O0O in importations, while the eX-
port trade produced an Increase of but lit
tie over 100000 pesetas Isl, 73I 900 worth
of goods, principally in material
sought after from abroad on account of the
low value of the peseta. But now that
the war is over the making of commercial
treaties between America and Spain ought
to be considered. Not only should products
be exchanged but various commercial en-
terprises should be organized.
II desire to call attention to the supe-
rior quality of olive oil which is produced
in certain districts of this province of Va
Ter cia. Unfortunately, a lack of the spirit
of enterprise as well an ignorance Of
trading principles has kept this product
of Valencia practically unknown to the
world. Spanish manufacturers who traded
only in their own country or exported to
their former colonies have, through fear of
CON petition, adulterated their excellent
olive oil with inferior peanut oil, thus not
only discrediting themselves, but also the
reputation of their products. Soil and labor
are cheap in this country, and, above all
money is cheap. Spanish money can be
bought at almost half it's par value, for
eign exchange being at a premium of about
so per cent. With comparatively small
wi ich would owfllEs olive trees, factories
and other buildings, and produce a pure
and excellent quality of the best refined
olive OIL which if judictously managed and
1ITif al D6yrav tica1 r,,J1 LI;-l
popular brand and easily compete with
oils from other countries. on account of
its quality and the exceedingly cheap cost
of production
ASIDE from the natural resources of the
country, the time is favorable for a wider
introduction Of the products of American
industry Lack of capital is not always
the principal obstruction to Spanish enter
prise; utter incapacity of management is
more frequently the difficulty. 1 have time
and again during my twenty years resi-
dence succeeded in introducing American
manufactures. the superior workmanship of
which was thoroughly recognized and ap-
preciated. but which were soon ruined by
Ignorant handling and misuse.
French capital is already in the field
While Spanish money is cheap and every
industry embarrassed through want of
proper management, Frenchmen have re-
Gently purchased factories and bought up
railroads and tramway companies which
they run upon their own account and with
their oW n material, returning handsome
profits upon their investments and giving
this people a practical example of the en-
ergy of other nations. Conces sions have
been granted to men here who are finan-
c1ally unable to work them, and would be
eager to sell II a purchaser could be found
Opportunities are still abundant to open
mines and start steam and electric rail-
ways, telephone companies and electric
light plants in various parts of SPAIN and
these enterprises would be remunerative if
managed upon an intelligent basis.
Ihese opportunities should be seized be-
lore the country has recovered from its
present inertia