The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1920-09-16
FRENCH COLONIAL
POSSESSIONS WEALTHY

| IUCOECOlONO W LAL ! AAA
New York, Sept. 15-Unusual pro-
gress in the development OF CON-
MERGE and natural resources In the
French colonial possessions and de-
tendencies has brought them wealth
ranking next to that of the British
colonial empire, according to a sur
vey made public here by the French
Commission. The French colonies,
with an estimated population of 5O,-
100000, have an area Of 100000
square miles.
Total exports from the colonies in
1917, with the exception of Algeria
and Tunis were valued at approx
mately 1,1OS,0OO,OOO francs. Since
1914 exports on the various possess
ions increased from rs to 100 per
cent. The increases are attributed to
the thrift of natives following the
wars ending.
Total Algerian exports in 1919 were
more than 1884 100000 francs an in
crease of about 55S millions over 1918.
The port of Algiers alone handled ex-
ports approximating 474,155,OOO
francs, an increase of 200,S22, 900
francs, according to estimates Chief
imports were cotton, clothing and lin
en-, skins coal, sugar and coffee.
Chief exports were wines, fruit, to-
bocco, wheat, oats, barley and wool.
Amounts of imports and exports were
greatest in the order mentioned
National roads in Algeria have a
length of 1910 miles, while 2,2O3
miles of railway were open for traf.
|! tic in January. 1919.
Tunis, essentially an agricultural
country had bumper grain crops in
1919, as follows: Wheat, $500, 55S
bushels; barley, 5,42S,223 bushels
oats, S,444,722 bushels. The cork in
dustry is important, cork trees cover
ing more than 100000 acres. The an
nual mineral production averages in
value more than SO,OOO,OOO francs.
The spring estimate of 1920 harvest
on the French zone of Morocco valued
the crops at .O04,444,44A franscriSW
the crops at 1000 100000 francs, and
it was expected there would be q
large surplus for export, the survey
states. Exports to France in 1911
were valued at 62062, $50 francs, tn,
imports at 155,224,925 francs.
The French possession in India con
sists of five separate colonies with al
aggregate area Of 1880 square miles
Rice, sugar, coton cocoa, coffee ant
ground nuts are grown. The princi
pal export from Pondicherry, tn,
chief possession, in oil seeds
French Indo-China has a population
,of about 100000. The territor,
tributary to Saigon is almost entirel,
agricultural, being one of the grea
rice regions of the world. The min
erals are coal, Ignite, wolfram, tin
|, and zinc
. In the other possessions includine
Madagascar French Equatorial Afri
ca, French Somaliand and French
West Africa, which is the largest OF
the colonies, commerce has almost
doubled since 1914, the survey says
French West Africa, comprised OF
Senegal, Haut-Senegal.Niger French
Guinea the Ivory Coast, Dahomey, the
3 military territory of the Niger and
Mauretani, covers approximately
1,840000 square miles. The general
budget amounts to about $4,000 900,
600 francs annually. The agricultural
: resources are most important The
: production of cotton is growing, while
iute. agava and sisal are cultivated
), extensively Rubber is the most ON
portant product in the forest re
, sources. Cattle raising has increased
:, The mineral wealth is great The
commerce of this possession increas
ed 500 per cent since the French ad
ministration was created in 1895
The French colonies in America
consisting of Guiana, Martinique
Guadeloupe and St Pierre and Mique
Ion are principally noted for thei
lumber products, sugar, rum, coco
= and Goldfish Agriculture takes an i'm
. portant role in the smaller provinces
y especially in New Caledonia, sal
to be one Of the richest countries i
. the world.
Il The first womens labor union 4
China has been organized by the ma