S96 Spain. 



afterwards changed into a monthly, which continued for 

 some time under subventions from the government. 



SPAIN. 



"Poor Spain" is the expression which comes to the 

 lips of everybody who contemplates the economic con- 

 ditions of this once so powerful nation, almost the ruler 

 of the world. Once, under the beneficent dominion of 

 the Saracens, a paradise where, as a Eoman author puts 

 it, "NU otiosum, nihil sterUe in Hispania," it has be- 

 come almost a desert through neglect, indolence, igno- 

 rance, false pride, lack of communal spirit, despotism 

 of church, and misrule by corrupt bureaucracy. 



With the exception of a narrow belt along the sea- 

 shore, the whole of the Iberian peninsula is a vast high 

 mesa, plateau or tableland, 1,500 to 3,000 feet above sea 

 level, traversed by lofty mountain chains, or sierras, five 

 or sis in number, running parallel to each other, mainly 

 in a westerly and southwesterly direction. These divide 

 the plateau into as many plains, treeless, and for the 

 most part, arid, exposed to cold blasts in winter, and 

 burning up in summer. They are frequently subjected 

 to severe droughts, which sometimes have lasted for 

 months, bringing desolation to country and people. The 



Revista de Monies^ a semi-official journal, established in 1877, is the best source. 



El Manuel de Legislaciony Adminisiracion Forestall by Hilario Ruiz, and 

 Novisima Legislacion Foresialy by Dkl Campo, 1901, elaborate the com- 

 plicated legislation up to 1894, 



Dicionaro Hisfiano-A mericano^ 1893, contains an article {tnontes) on the 

 administrative practice of the forest laws, 



A Year in S^atn, by a young American (Slidbll) 1839, gives an excellent ac- 

 count of physical conditions of the country and character of the people at that 

 time. 



Das fHodfrne Geistesleben in Spanien^ 1883, and Kulturgesckicktliche und 

 Wirtschafisfolitische Beirachtungen, 1901, by GusTAV Dibrks, details charac- 

 ter of institutions and people. 



