The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-05-29
SPAIN LOOKING FOR TRADE.



ever, makes Il Necessary 20 Leek
for view Ones, and the Ssuth
American states Are selected.
Special Dispatch to the Post-Intelligencer
WASHINGTON, May c.-Natiye indus
tries in Spain did not suffer during the
war Of 1888 al greatly as was feared Tnis
Is the statement Of the British conimet-
cial atfache a, Madrid, II. Harrison.
whose report 10 the British government
on the trade Of Spain for the year Isss
ha. just reached the treasury bureau or
statistics. Mr.. Harrison's statement De-
gins by saying.
'.In spite OF the war and consequent
general excitement and heavy taxation.
native industries in Spain have not sur
fered As greatly as II was Ieareu icy ~
would do. The loss OF the colonial markets
on which the export trade OF spain great
iy depended has made 1T necessary for
the government to take serious steps Tor
finding new markets for spanish prooucsS
and for stimulating and enlarging those
already known. With this intention sev-
eral important measures have Deem insii-
tuted.
"a special su5-deparsment In the minis
try of foreign affairs has been created Tor
the purpose Of supplying commercial m
formation and statistics to merchants anu
H.
American republics naturally oner the
most promising markets for Spanish pro
ducts. owing to the affinity OF race. an
guage and customs. and to these countries
the attention Of the spanish government
Is especially directed.
Commercial attaches have been ap-
pointed for Mexico. Brazil Uruguay; the
Argentine Republic and Chile, and all pos
sible steps are being taken to increase
Spanish interest in these countries.
"A general assembly OF the spanish
- - A.
gossa on November 20 last, to discuss the
commercial position Of the country. the
meeting was held under the most ORDERLY
conditions and tho efforts were treated
ed q good impression In the country. anu
a petition embodying the opinions or the
chambers was duly presented to the queen
regent Although Il has as yet led TO no
practical result, the fact that the assem-
bly, has been held at all is a proof OF the
general anxiety among large ana innu-
entail portion Of the nation to take imme-
diate steps for the Improvement of trade.
Increased interest Ia now being taken
in all mining questions In spain. as II Is
being recognized at last that Il propeiiy
developed the mineral wealth OF the coun-
try can be turned to enormous advantage
Although retarded al present by the want
of railways and tho great distance OF
some OF the important mining provinces
from the coast and the consequent cost
Of carriage a great development has tax
en- place In the last two years In the min
Ing inda'i Ss: sn eat tns neneassd OF
The number Of soldiers who have re-
turned from foreign service ana the re-
duced number Of men now required fcr
the army will insure an Increased number
Of laborerS. The anxiety to open up new
enterprises for the Improvement of the
country will. It 10 hoped. cause the Span
the Investment OF foreign capital in
Spain. Under these circumstances tne
sreat natural mineral wealth OF Spain
should be taken into serious CONSIDERATION
by those mining companies that nave moi
at present interests In this country.
The sole right Of sale and manufacture
OF tobacco in Spain is held by the Bank o.
Under royal decree Of June TO-. 1887. and
extended for further twenty-five years
under law Of August 80. 1885.
forbidden by law. although Judging from
the small quantities grown in many gar
dens. 1t appears that 1t might be made an
important industry. According to the reg
ulations, the cultivation OF tobacco Is pro.
hibited both in Spain and the Balearic isl-
ands The tobacco monopoly is required
( to make experiments in the cultivation
during three years I'm different parts OF
Spain. These experiments are being car
ried out. but IL appears that whatever the
result Is. II Is most improbable that the
cultivation Of tobacco will be allowed dur.
ing the lease Of the present monopoly.
Certain features of the home industries
close relations with the colonial trade. The
imports of raw cotton fell from S5.s05. 052
pesetas in 1897 to "a. SO7 $50 in 1898. the do
crease being due TO a crisis In the Spanish
cotton factories, which had supplied so
large a share Of their production to the
colonies. The expert OF cotton goods from
Spain fell Off more than 2s.00o.000 pesetas
The loss in this market for raw cotton. OF
course fell upon the United States, which
al NJ fhe al
by Spain. That other features OF the i'm
port trade were, however. affected Is
shown by the fact that the imports OF iron
ard steel fell from 246s1.6 5s pesetas In 1897
to ls. sso.s4s In 1895. drugs and chemicals.
from 60 1885 pesetas in 1897 70 So 2239 52S In
1885, silks. from 1906. 23i pesetas to H. 4S9..
343 In the same period; wool and wcolens,
from n,ll2,I5 pesetas to 1874. ics: lumber.
from 45.3s2.l2s pesetas TO 340s5. Doe: books
maps. etc, from 9oeo, s7s to 70S2.5e5 pese-
tas; animals and animal products, from
61.e0s. SIS pesetas TO 56.1a6 $50: carriages.
vessels and machinery, from ~ SEA pes.
etas 10 1851 IS: "alimentary substances"
including meats. provisions. sugar. coffee
tea. wines etc. from IA. 2s5 9s5 pesetas to
%. Tas. +6i and wheat alone from 3s0l5 oe0
pesetas 10 13,ass5ss. The Importation OF
sugar from Cuba was In 1896, $3.50 2s3 pes
etas. in 1897. 2. 221s3. and IN tses sci 2ss
from Porto Rico the total was 4. 3ls SIS pes.
etas in 1896 s2S5 s4e In 1887. and 20, ss12 in,
isss: from the Philippines l. SD Ise pesetas
in 1895. I,es2,2ls In 1897 and lss7eg In lsss
TIE report from which the above figures
were taken adds: There has been a
rapid increase In the number and capacity
of sugar factories in Spain, aud II is prob
able that the hame industries will soon
be able TO meet the demand in the Spanish
market and replace the colonial sugar,
Imports Of coffee also show
"a rid aeclns."
THE more important features Of the
shove report VIII be repubiishsd in the
forthcoming issue % the monthly sum.
mary o. Commerce ana Finance.
TUG LOSES HER TOW
Machinery becomes Disabled ana
Barges Are Stranded