The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-31
SPAIN STOOD
THE WAR WELL.
Her Native Industries Not So Badly
Hurt as Was Feared.
MEASURES TO DEVELOP THEM
Arc Being Taken and Under the New
order Of Things She Has a Fair
Prospect OF Becoming Pros
porous Nation.
MEASURES TO DEVELOP THEM

WASHINGTON. May 25.-Special.-Na-
| tive industries In Spain ala not suffer
during the war Of 1SeS as greatly as was
feared. This is the statment OF the
British commercial attache AT Madrid.
Mr. IT, Harrison. whose report 10 the
British government on the trade OF Spain
for the year 1898 has just reached the
Treasury Bureau OF Statistics Mr. Ilar-
rison's statement begins by saying:
In spite OF the wars and consequent
general excitement ana heavy taxation.
native industries in Spain have not suf-
fered as greatly as u was feared they
would do The loss OF tho colonial mar
kets on which the export trade Of Spain
greatly depended. has made IL neces-
sary for the government 10 take serious
steps for finding new markets for Spanish
products and FOR stimulating and on
larging those already known. with this
intention several important measures have
been instituted.
"a special sub-department in the Min
istry Of Foreign Affairs has been created
for the purpose OF supplying commercial
information and statistics 20 merchants
and tradesmen Morocco and the Spanish
American republic naturally offer the most
promising markets for Spanish products.
owing 10 affinity OF race. language and
customs. and 10 these countries the at
tention Of the Spanish government IS
especially directed.
MEANS ADOPTED
Commercial attaches have been ap-
pointed for Mexico Brazil Uruguay. the
Argentine Republic and Chile. and all
possible steps are being taken to increase
Spanish interest in these countries.
a general assembly % the Spanish
chambers Of commerce was held az Sara
L.. On
the commercial position 81 the country
The meeting was held under the most
orderly conditions. ana their efforts were
treated with respect by tho government
and caused n good impression in the cOun-
try. and petition embodying tho opinions
Of the chambers was duly presented 10
the Queen Regent. Although II has az
yet led 20 no practical result. the fact
that the assembly has been held az AN IS
a proof Of the general anxiety among a
largo and influential portion OF the nation
20 take immediate steps for the improve
ment or trade.
Increased interest IS now being taken
I'm all mining questions in Spain. as 1t IS
recognized az last that II properly de-
veloped. the mineral wealth OF the coun-
try can be turned 90 enormous advantage.
Although retarded at present by want OF
railways and the great distances Of some
OF the important mining provinces from
the coast ana the consequent cost of car
riage. q great development has taken
place in the last two years in the mining
industry. and the amount Of minerals eX-
ported has greatly increased.
"The number of soldiers who have re-
turned from foreign service. and the re-
duced number OF men now required for
tho army. will insure an increased number
or laborers. Tho anxiety 10 open up new
enterprises for the improvement OF the
country viii. n IS hoped cause the Span
ISM government to encourage ga every
way the investment OF foreign capital IN
spain. Under these circumstances the
great natural mineral wealth Of Spain
should be taken into serious cOnsidera-
ton hy those mining companies that have
not at present interests in this country.
TOBACCO TRADE.
Tho sole right Of sale and mamfac-
turo Of tobacco in Spain is held by the
Ban OF Spain in the form Of a monopoly
granted under royal decree ~ June 10.
1885,. and extended for a further twenty
five years under tho law OF August 60
1893
THE cultivation Of tobacco I'm spain
is forbidden by law. although Judging
from the small quantities grown in many
bt'hN'tA" o. ttlI."tAi = A4lak IT. might Nf mace
an important industry. According 10
tho regulations the cultivation Of tobac-
co IS prohibited both an Spain and the
Balearlc Islands. The tobacco monopoly
IS required 90 make experiments in the
cultivation during three years in differ
ent parts OF Spain. These experiments
are being carried out. but it appears thar
whatever the result IL is most improbable
that the cultivation Of tobacco Will be al
lowed during the lease Of the present
monopoly"
Certain features OF the home industries.
however. suffered especially those hay
ing close relations with the colonial
trade. The imports or raw cotton fell
from $1,000 pesetas inAlSg7 TO 1880. 800
in 1898. the decrease being due 10 a crisis
I'm the Spanish cotton factories which had
supplied so large a share OF their pro.
ductOn 20 the colonies. The export OF
cotton goods from Spain fell more than
100000 pesetas. The loss in this mar
ket for raw cotton Of course fell upon the
United States which supplies practically
all OF the cotton used by Spain.
EFlFECT OK IMPORT TRADE.
That other features OF the import
trade were, however affected is shown
by the fact that the imports Of iron and
steel fell from 2i65l 656 pesetas in 1897
20 rs, N024S in 1898; drugs and chemicals
from G0.1SS. 6l6 pesetas ia 1897 10 s3.2se5N
In 1S9S; silks. from 1903. 2s1 pesetas to
49, 3& in the same period wool and
Woollens from 2l1f2f5 pesetas 10 To-
l24l26 lumber from S.el7l 10 pesetas 10
3i,oi5 2o2; books, maps. etc. from $50. s7S
10 l.ON25& pesetas. animals and animal
products from 61.6i3, so pcsetas TO IS. 126-
t66. carriages. vessels and machinery,
from 1871 ga pesetas 10 81. 81 .2s3: "ele-
mentary substances including meats,
provisions, sugar. coffee. tea. wines etc,
from l4S 2}5. rs pesetas TO IS, 19s 49l and
wheat alone from "a 0l5.020 pesetas 10 13-
926 563. The importation Of sugar from
CuDs was In 1895. SIS. 2s3 pesetas. in 1897.
Z, 232. 74e and in 1898. S3l .25S. from Porto
Rico. the total was s.3l6 S3S pesetas in 1895.
{. 2s5 2l2 In 1897, and 2 81. 902 in 1885; from
the Philippines, 1.e20lGo pesetas in 1896.
/. Zg8 sl4 in 1897 and 10, 7G6 In 1895. The
report from which thu above figures were
taken adds: There has been rapid in
crease in the number and capacity of
sugar factories In Spain. and IL IS prob
able that the home industries will soon
be able 70 meet the demand in the Span |
sh market and replace the colonial sugar |
Imports Of coffee also show a rapid de- |
cline"
The more important features Of the !
above report Will be republished in the |
issue OF the monthly sum- |
mary Of Commerce and Finance
WEEKLY CROP BULLETIN.