Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-07-06
TRANSFORMATION IN
COMMERCIAL STATUS OF couN-
TRY SINCE WAR WITH U. s.
LOSS OF HER COLONIES
BELIEVED TO BE BENEFIT
Loss Of Cuba and Philippines Made
Necessary Reorganization Of Nation.
al Budeet-Oreanized Effort Made to
Extend Trade With Latin. American
Republics.
Especial Correspondence

Washington, July 6-The story OF the
economic, industrial and commercial
transformation and rehabilitation or
Spain since the war with this country
in 1898 is graphically told in a consular
report covering many pages from Con-
sui General Henry H. Morgan, of Bar
celona.
The report shows a quickenins in the
commerce and industries of Spain since
the war. 1t is a fair inference from
the report that the loss of SPANS COL
onies in the West Indies and in the
orient was a benefit rather than an in
jury to Spain AT any rate, it was far
from an unmixed evil.
First, in order to cover the expenses
caused by the Cuban and Philippine
campaigns and the war with the United
States. it was necessary completely to
reorganize the national budget. This
was done in 1900 with creditahle re-
suits From that time to 1910. the
country's receipts show a growing rate
Of progress. being either much ahead
Of the estimates or substantially equa!
to them The rise of the treasury re-
sources in the past ten years has been
S4o,opV,OOo Inc pucAiSN tScI' WASH 49,
Of course, heavy has undergone an i'm
portant reformation thru issues Of new
bonds at per cent and per cent.
The high expenses of the African cam
paign at Melilla have been a burden
but trade is flourishing and the trade
balance against Spain has gradually
declined from s27.o5o.000 in 1900 TO
$3.50 900 in 1910.
The foreign trade Of Spain for 1910
amounted TO s352.43os47, an Increase
Of s13,5o7.63s over the previous year.
Latin american Trade.
One of the interesting features Of the
report tells of the orga niZed efforts in
Spain for extension OF Latin-American
trade. The loss of insular possessions
thru the war with the United States
deprived Spain to a large extent Of
market for its manufactured products
and Spanish exporters have realized
the necessity Of making an aggressive
campaign in the Latin-Americas In or
der to hold this outlet for their factor
les They realize that 1t is to America
they must look If their business is to
grow to large proportions and Spain Is
to become one Of the important ex-
porting nations. They must compete
with Germany, England. France and the
United States. To this end. since 1901.
"Hispano- Americana" chambers OF
commerce and commercial unions have
sprung into existence in nearly all the
important cities of Spain. Their object
has been to study conditions in Amer
lea. to secure their present trade. and
to find new opportunities for introduce
ing Spanish merchandise Declining
trade with the Philippines has COM
PEELED the Spaniards TO turn more and
more attention TO America. In Bar
celona. there are at least eight journals
devoted to Spanish American trade
and other leading commercial cities
have such publications. Such things
as the growing trade of this country
with Latin America. the Pan American
Union, the approaching completion Of
the Panama canal. new steamship lines
and everything having bearing on the
welfare OF Spanish trade in America
is watched with keen attention.
1t appears Spanish exporters are
meeting with success in competition
with exporters Of other nations. For
instance. exports Of olive oil to Argen
tina alone have increased in six years
from 100000 or 100000 pounds to H.
100000 pounds. Spanish wines are slow
ly replacing the Bordeaux on LATIN
American tables. Spains efforts to
find a market in America for it's pre-
served and canned goods are also
meeting with success.
Commercial Treaties Urged.
Commercial treaties with Latin
American countries are urged. The rec
iprocfty tretay with Cuba which was
brought up last year and is still under
favorable discussion has attracted
much favorable comment in the Span
ish press. similar treaty is urged is
with Argentina.
The government is taking hold OF
the matter Of agricultural development
in Spain and increasing the cultivable
area. Olive culture is a great industry
and the area is extending.
Manufacture Of iron and steel pro-
ducts is increasing. Railroad mileage
is increasing and many street railways
have been built in the last few years
One Of the troubles Of the country
is emigration The number Of emf
grants in 1910 was 1871, 7e3 OF the tota;.
157,197 sailed for the Americas, 103, 1928
going to Argentina: 1898 vert
to Africa The Spanish government
is concerned about Spanish emigra-
ton to the new world, especially to
Argentina, and emigration boards have
been established at the principal ports
and permission must be obtained before
! leaving the country. till, the tide OF
outgoing people flows on.
Discussing the labor situation, Mr..
Morgan refers t 0 number of recent
strikes. In most Of them. the men
| have resumed work without gaining
| their points.
Increasing investments Of foreign
capital and much shipping activity are
| among the features Of the present-day
situation in Spain which point among
other developments to an awakening.