Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-11-27
MOROCCO A COUNTRY
OF VAST RESOURCES
Possibilities for Trade Development
Are Great.


Chicago Record-Herald)
WASHINGTON - The government
of the United States does not propose
10 tae conspicuous part at the inter
national conference which is soon tc
be held at Algeciras, Spain, concern
ing affairs at Morocco. 1t may be
that some great man like Joseph n
Choate trecently ambassador to the
court OF st. James, may be sent over
to represent this government, in order
That the other delegates may have the
beneht OF his advice and counsel That
question has not been decided II is
understood that Mr. Cnoate would be
Wiling to go, and of course ii would
be an honor to this country to be rep.
resented by so eminent "A statesman.
II is more than likely. however. that
the president will decide to merely
send Samuel II. Gummere. our minis
Ter 10 Morocco, to observe and report.
with instructions not to take an ac-
tive part in the proceedings. Mr.
Hunmere has been counsel general at
iahsier FOR six years. and on the Sth
OF last March was promoted to the
rank OF minister plenipotentiary. He
Is familiar with the situation and its
various complications, and will I'M
douptedly be delegate, whether Mr..
Choate is appointed or not.
The people of the United States
nave ohl5 remote and contingent
interest in the affairs of Morocco. al.
though the possibilities are enormous
II our enterprising citizens should
wish TO engage in the development of
that country. Our concern Is purely
commercial. The Monroe doctrine
will not permit us to take part in the
political controversy of which Moroc.
co Is the subject, and President Roos-
evelt will keep his hands off. lest he
might tempt European powers to take
an active interest in American affairs,
Morocco is an enormous country
and Is very little known. II occupies
the northwestern corner of the CON
tinent of Africa, with coast line of
] 800 miles, is bounded on the north
pN the Mediterranean and the straits
OF Gibraltar, on the west by the At.
lantic ocean, on the east by Algeria
and on the south by the great desert
OF Sahara. Its area is about $50 OO0
square miles-about as large as In
diana. Illinois, Wisconsin. Iowa and
Missouri combined-with several rang
es of the Atlas mountains Astounding
In minerals and valleys of extraordin
AIRY lcrtliity. watered with abundant
rains, which may be cultivated to all |
crops. The population is unknown.
The gazetteers give it as 900 600
but Mr.. Perdicaris, the American VINO
was captured by bandits over there
a year ago and who is now In this
city for the winter, says this estimate
is very low. Two French authors who
employ natives to obtain information
for them, have recently published a
book in which they assert that there
are fully 100000 people in Morocco.
Mr.. Perdicaris thinks there are l5..
100000 and possibly 10000. 900 and
very few people know the country as
well as he. For many years he has
been one of its most conspicuous and
influential residents, and his capture
by the revolutionary leaders created
a worldwide sensation.
Mr., Perdicaris says 1t is impossible
Tor the government to obtain a ceG.
sus of the inhabitants because Mo.
hammedan customs do not permit one
man to ask questions of another con-
corning his family. 1t is considered |
an insult TO inquire If a man has a
wife or children or to mention |
them In any way or for any
reason. You can express a hope that |
your neighbor's family is well ana
happy and call down the blessings CT |
Allah upon them. but no census enum. !
orator would live to finish the first
block.
1t is neither safe nor profitable for
people TO live on the highways OF
Morocco. Bandits are numerous
marauders are always near; soldiers
are constantly passing to and fro, and
the people of the country desire to
escape the notice of such classes as
much as possible. Furthermore, when
a party of travellers starts they must
have a permit from the government,
and in the absence of hotels and other
public accommodations this permit au-
thOrizcs them to quarter themselves
upon private citizens anywhere along
the road. They can take what they
want and pay what they please for it
little or nothing for the keeping OF
nhemselveA and their cattle. This
practice does not encourage the ma
tives who have property to live near
the roadsides. and the houses and VII
lagos have nearly all disappeared from
the highways. So travellers are de-
ceived as to the population, which,
Mr.. Perdicaris says, is quite dense off
the main routes.
The people are chiefly engaged in
pastoral pursuits-raising cattle
sheep and goats-and they ship $4,000,
900 or $4,000 900 worth of hides and
skins TO Europe and the United States
every year. The only trade we have
with Morocco is in that line, and we
do not buy enough to make our COM
merce imDortaut We send a few ar