Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-08-02
New Era Reigns in Spain

600 sheep, the largest number In any
European country except Russia ana
England: and Spain, at the present rate
of growth of her flocks, will soon be dis
placing the latter The world crisis IN
wool, therefore. has presented an espe-
cially grave problem.
The field Of minerals has been an an
ctent stronghold for spaniards; AS q
producer of iron ore she was well known
In the dirnmest pre- Roman days, when
the Iberians were actually manufac-
turing skillfully wrought dental instru-
ments and developing that famous side
arm the short sword, with which the
Roman Dictionaries had such I'M
comfortable experiences until they
adopted 1t as their own favorite weapon
throughout the Middle Ages and the
early centuries Of the modern era no
arrnor or edged weapon could quite sur.
pass those with the classic imprint OF
Toledo craftsmen. Shakespeare has
Falstaff boAsting Of his STOUT Bilbo,
a derivation of Bilbao, the center OF
much Of this fine cutlery trade. on the
north coast Of Spain. From those days
on. clear down to our own time, when
Spanish ore became 50 valuable an ad-
junct to the munitions industries Of the
allies we find the peninsula playing q
prominent part among the world Lead
In lead and copper, likewise, Spain Is
among the leaders Of Europe. The pre-
oonderance OF these raw materials rs
the background of her economy has
brought out with increasing emphasis
in recent years, especially during the
depression, the necessity for q counter
balancing drive for industr1aliEation.
Industry in Lead.
There are various assets In her favor
here, including the presence OF these
materials as well as an abundance OF
chear. readily trained labor and sub
stantial market at home and In nearby
countries. Furthermore, according to
competent engineers, she has some A.
100000 potential horsepower OF hydro
electric force.
Unquestionably this idea of further
development OF industry will be much
to the fore in the policies OF the new
government. Although its success may
impair the export OF certain lines Of I'm
isiled products from the United States,
it Is quite likely, on the other hand, to
accelerate the demand for machinery
and numerous other accessories to In
dustry. Even more important, from our
point Of view, will be its stimulation Of
the standard OF living through the re-
sultant improvement in the earning
capacity Of the people.
Momentarily, the drastically adverse
exchange situation has seriously i'm
paired SPANS buying power. but this
will undoubtedly improve as the world
markets for her commodities work their
way out Of the present slump. Ger
tainly, as one major lesson Of the de-
preston, the Spanish authorities have
quite evidently appreciated the need for
greater diversif1cation OF domestic
sources of income.
Much Is still to be done in many lines
Of economic reconstruction. as the au-
thorities of the republic have Alresdy
bulletins. Spanish railways, for exam
pie, stand very low in terms Of their
mileage in relation both to population
and area Spain has but As miles q
10. 900 of population. and 81 miles q
/ 900 square miles Of area. so that she
ranks on those two counts thirteenth
and fifteenth among the European ma
tions. Plans are said to be already in
contemplation for improving these con-
ditions.
In spite Of all these obviously neces-
sary efforts toward economic rehabili.
tation and toward political and social
betterment Spain will still be chiefly
attractive to the average tourist because
Of the deatf:less heritages of her past
the venerable gNories of Toledo and
Santiago the jewel-like brilliance Of
the Alhambra and the Alca1ar and the
mighty walls Of Avila. And then for
the student tourist there Is the long
catalogue Of the irnmortals among her
poets and dramatists warriors and SOW
ereigne, composers and novelists.
All of which should have special
meaning for this country, which, in
spite OF its prominent Anslo-Saxon
background, has Also as I have pointed
out, very large heritage Of Hispanic
tradition. One of the first ofncial mes
sages of the new Spanish government
to the outer world was a cordial radio
greeting from its chief, addressed espe-
cia,ly to the United States. It en-
bodied most gratifying indication that
the rev regime planned to continue
that warm cordiality toward this coun-
try which has been so conspicuously
l..