Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-09-17
FRENCH COLONIES
GAINING WEALTH
BY own INDUSTRY
Unusual Progress Shown in
Development of Commerce
and Natural Resources,

| NEW YORK, September 17-Un-
usual progress in the development
OF commerce and natural resources in
the French colonial possessions and
| dependencies has brought them
wealth ranking next to that of the
| British colonial empire. according to
survey made public here by the
| French commission. The French
ton of 50.500,o0o, have an area of
| 100000 square miles.
| Iotal exports from the colonies in
| 1917, with the exception of Algeria
and Tunis. were valued approximate
~ at 1.1OS,0G0,000 francs Since 1914
| exports In the various possessions
increased from rs to 100 per cent
The increases are attributed to the
| thrift of natives following the wars
ending.
| Total Of 1919 Exports.
| Total Algerian exports in 1919 were
! more than 1884, 100000 francs an in
crease of about 55S,0o0,OOO over 1918.
| The port of Algiers alone handled
exports approximating 475.15s, 900
francs. according to estimates. Chief
imports We're cotton. clothing and
linen. skins. coal. sugar and coffee.
Cnlef exports were wines, fruit, to-
pacco, 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 We're open for traf-
nc in January, 1919
Iun1s. essentially an agricultural
country. had bumper grain crops in
1919. as follows: Wheat. 6,5o0,553
bushels; barley. 5.428,223 bushels.
oats. 3,444,722 bushels. The cork in.
dustry is important, cork trees cover
ing more than 100000 acres. The an
nual mineral production averages in
vslne more than 100000 francs
The spring estimate of 1920 harvest
on the French zone of Morocco valued
the crops at 1000. 100000 francs, and
It was expected there would be a
large surplus for export. the survey
states: Exports to France in 1918 were
valued at S2.062.ss0 francs. the i'm
ports at 155, 224,925 francs.
| The French possession in India con-
sists of Ave separate colonies, with
an aggregate area of 1860 square
miles Rice, sugar. cotton, cocoa, cof-
lee and ground nuts are grown. The
principal export from Pondicherry
the chief possession, is oil seeds.
French Indo-China has a population
of about 100000. The territory
tributary to Saigon is almost entire
) ly AGRICULTURAL, being one of the
| l great rice regions OF the world. The
minerals are coal. Ignite. wolfram
tin and zinc.
Commerce Almost Double.
In the other possessions, including
Madagascar, French Equatorial Afri-
ca. French Somaliland 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-Seneg Niger, French
Guinea. the ivory coast. Dahomey
the military territory of the Niger
and Mauretania, covers approximately
$4,000 square miles. The general
budget amounts to about $4,000, 000, 00O
francs annually. The agricultural re-
sources are most important. The pro-
duction of cotton is growing, while
jute, agava and sisal are cultivated
extensively. Rubber is the most i'm
portant product in the forest re-
Al sources. Cattle raising has increased.
The mineral wealth is great. The
commerce of this possession increased
500 per cent since the French admin
istration was created in 1895.
III The French colonies in America
| consisting of Guiana. Martinique,
iGuadeloupe and St. Pierre and Mique-
lon are principally noted for their
lumber products. sugar. rum, cocoa
and Goldfish. Agriculture takes an i'm
| portant role in the smaller provinces,
| especially in New Caledonia, said to
be one of the richest countries in the
world.