The Wichita tribune., 1898-09-10

Madrid correspondence NuCAoAO
peace): A glance at the industrial and
commercial condition of Spain will give
some idea of what her opportunl-
ties in that direction are, and to what
extent they are nullified by the war.
In 1897 the total amount OF exports
from Spain was s1S4 4,9S6,000, and the
total amount of imports $15S, S,66S,2OO.
The manufacture of cotton gooos,
which, next to agriculture, is the IN
dustry that gives employment to the
greatest number of persons in Spain
has increased remarkably in recent
years. 1t is estimated that the capl-
tai invested in machinery, in this in
dustry, is nearly $4,000, 900, and the
capital invested in buildings nearly
$12,O00,00O. All kinds of cotton tex
tiles, from the finest and most expen-
sive to the coarsest and cheapest.
equaling in quality the same classes OF
English goods, are now produced IN
Spain. The centers of production are
Galicia, CASTLE and Leon, the Basque
provinces, Valencia, Andalusia and the
Balearic islands. In addition to a con-
siderable European market, these IA
brics have large market in the South
American republics and the Spanish
colonial possessions. The chief CEN
ter Of the cotton underwear industry
is Mataro, which produces 10000 dozen
articles weekly. These goods are ex-
ported to France, England, Italy, Ger
many, Belgium, Portugal, Morocco, the
Spanish colonial possessions and the
South American states. In the manu-
facture of prints and other colored
fabrics, Spain lays claim to foremost
place among the countries which cult1-
vate this industry, because Of the dura-
bility of the colors and the artistic
designs of her fabrics The products
of this industry are exported to France,
Italy, Germany, England, Austria, Mo-
rocco, Singapore, the South American
states and the Spanish colonial pos
essions. Corduroys and cotton velvets
are produced in Barcelona for the
home market The fishing industry
has attained considerable proportions
in Spain, France and Italy being the
ucts The famous merino sheep OF
Spain, which in former years gave her
| wooden fabrics precedence over those
of every other country, enable her still
to produce fabrics which can compete
with the best English manufactures.
| The chief centers Of the silk industry
are Barcelona Valencia, Seville, AL
| Cnr-
dova, Saragossa and San Sebastian.
The manufacture of lace, for which
| Spain was famous in the fifteenth and
sixteenth centuries had partial re-
vival about the middle Of the last CEN
tury, and has now become an impor-
tant branch of industry. An important
branch of this industry, which is cul-
tivated especially in Barcelona, and
whose products have not yet been in
trod.,ced- <sA4>ireIgn markets, is
III manufacture Of repousse leather, VIII
in combination with steel or otl
metals makes a rich and artistic Gov
AT ing for walls and ceilings. The mar
n facture of saddles, harness, portms
3 teaus, trunks, belts and other leatf
IL articles is carried to a degree of p
IL fection which is not surpassed by
products Of English factories. T
manufacture of shoes is another i
e. portant industry whose products co
ly pete with those Of French and Engli
ID factories. In Barcelona alone there 6
la more than twenty large shoe factori
to provided with modern machinery. T
products of this industry are export
to Cuba. Porto Rico, the Philippi
X, islands, Argentine, Uruguay and sol
s. others of the South American stat
I'd to Africa and to some European cou
e. tries. The glove industry has an a
d. nual production of about 10000,
t. pairs a part of which is exported
w America. The manufacture of hats
1e an important industry, one factC
Y; alone in Barcelona producing over 2,(
er felt hats daily. The manufacture
Sc toys has of recent years attained lar
1e proportions and is now an impOrta
We branch of industry. Metal toys, esq
~ cially. are produced in large quantiti
r The manufacture Of fans is an indust
cultivated exclusively in Valenc
The sticks, or ribs, Of carved sands
ds wood, ebony, lignum vitae, MOTHER
tn pearl and ivory, are also exported
Ill large quantities to France, Italy a
We Austria, where they are mounted. T
rs manufacture Of passementerte is
n growing industry, and is cultivated
e. Madrid and Corona.