A kingdom of Southwestern Europe, forming, with Portugal, the Iberian
peninsula. Capital, Madrid; pop., 397,816. Thirty-one towns have over
50,000 pop.
Continental Spain has an area of 191,100 square miles. Population,
16,061,859. Number of Provinces, 49. Length of coast line, 1,370 miles.
Object of greatest interest, ruins of the Alhambra, at Granada. This is the
only state in Europe permitting slavery in its colonies.
Climate varies greatly. Average temperature at Madrid, 58deg. Rainfall in
the Sierras averages from 25 to 35 inches; on the table lands of Castile,
10 inches.
About 80 per cent. of the soil is classed as productive, though only 34 per
cent. is under cultivation. The vine is the most important culture, and
large quantities of oranges, raisins, nuts and olives, are grown and
exported. Leading cereals: wheat, rye, barley and corn. The wine product
averages yearly 320,000,000 gallons; value, $95,000,000. Average number of
oranges exported, 960,000,000.
The mineral productions are of vast importance. The Cordova lead mines are
the richest in the world, and the mercury mines of Almaden are second only
to those of California. Average yearly lead product, 92,300 tons; value,
$8,000,000. Mercury, 1,090 tons; value, $1,199,000. Copper, 21,300 tons.
Tin, iron and salt are abundant.
The national religion is the Roman Catholic. The school system is
inefficient, though measures tending toward improvement are being
introduced. At the last census (1877) 60 per cent. of the adult population
could not read. Number public schools, 1880, 29,828; number of pupils,
1,769,456. Number of universities, 10; students, 15,732.
Number miles railway, 1884, 5,157, with 1,747 miles under construction.
Length of telegraph lines, 10,733 miles; number miles of wire, 26,160.
Number of postoffices, 2,699.
The colonial possessions of Spain have an area of 163,876 square miles, and
a population of 7,991,894. The most important are Cuba and the Philippine
Islands. Area of Cuba, 43,220 square miles; pop., 1,521,684. Capital,
Havana; pop., 25,000. Sugar, tobacco and cigars are principal products;
average yearly sugar production, 520,000 tons.
Available home and colonial troops, 400,000.