The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1899-03-25
SPA.I.N'S !! IN INDUSTRIES.
CHIEF MANUFACTURES AND
MARKETS THEREFOR. 4,
The GFestest Leverage In Bringing
About Peace Negosiations-Cott
Goods Stands First After Agriculture
- Els hing Nets. - =. -.

Madrid Correspondence (before
peace): A glance at the industrial and
commercial condition of Spain will give
some idea of what her opportuni-
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 $ls4,9s6,0O0 and the
total amount Of imports $158, ,668, 200
The manufacture of cotton goods,
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. It is estimated that the capi-
tai invested in machinery, in this in
dustry, is nearly $80,O00,000, and the
capital invested in buildings nearly
$12,O00,000. 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 con-
siderable European market, these ia
brics have large market in the South
American republics and the Spanish
colonial possessions. The chief Gen.
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 culti-
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 velyats
are produced in Barcelona for the
home market. The fishing industry
has attained considerable proportions
in Spain, France and Italy being the
principal foreign markets for its prod
ucts. The famous merino sheep OF
Spain, which in former years gave her
woolen 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
magro, Mauress, Murcia, Toledo, Cor
dova, Saragossa and San Sebastian.
The manufacture of lace, for which
Spain was famous in the fifteenth and
sixteenth centuries, had a 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
troduced in foreign markets, is the
manufacture of repousse leather, which
in combination with steel or other
metals makes rich and artistic cover
ing for walls and ceilings. The manu-
facture of saddles, harness, portman-
articles is carried to degree of per-
fection which is not surpassed by the
products of English factories. The
manufacture Of shoes is another i'm
portant industry whose products COM
pete with those Of French and English
factories. In Barcelona alone there are
more than twenty large shoe factories,
provided with modern machinery. The
products of this industry are exported
to Cuba, Porto Rico, the Philippine
islands, Argentine, Uruguay and some
others of the South American states,
to Africa and to some European cotn-
tries. The glove industry has an an
nual production of about 100000
pairs, a part of which is exported to
America. The manufacture of hats is
an important industry, one factory
alone in Barcelona producing over 1000
felt hats daily. The manufacture of
toys has of recent years attained large
proportions and is now an important
branch of industry. Metal toys, espe-
cially, are produced in large quantities.
The manufacture OF fans is an industry
cultivated exclusively in Valencia. T
The sticks, or ribs, of carved sandal
wood, ebony, lignum vitae, mother-or-
pearl and ivory, are also exported in
large quantities to France, Italy and
Austria, where they are mounted The
manufacture Of passementerie is a
growing industry, and is cultivated in
Madrid and Corona. IS IS