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10/19/1954 - The Oasis City by William H. MacLeish

NOT FOR PUBLICATION INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS Gasilla The Osis City Arequipa Per October Ir Walter S Roers Institute Current World Affairs Fifth Avenue New York New York Dear Mr Roers The Inca historian arcilaso Vea ascribes origin Arequipa Quechua phrase quepay remain supposedly pronounced Inca Ccaao reply petition number enerals misht remain valley Chili River Recently however different etymological theory sprun owhose chief proponents Arequipa Dr David alazar Ybar Seakin Rotary Club luncheon three weeks Dr Photo J Bravo Pineda The Rio Chili Arequipa E1 NListi Salazar audience Inca right would lowed military forces seriously depleted especially midst arduous marohJback Cuzco oreover Salazar In habitually named specific eoraphical features resident community Thus suggested Quechua phrase quepa behind volcanoes loose translation would keepir historical The volcanoes question north south Chachani meters E1 meters Picchupicchu meters They completely dominate citizen Arequipanian weather seems behind their thigk mists nevada singular garua Lima Z W I theges arequipenos glare angrily complain headaches caused volcanic gases skies clear during large townspeo calleachother mistio andinsistthatthere isnovolcanoinPer pretty their beloved They build their houses churches volcanic sillar hence Arequipa nickname La Ciudad Blanca curse hnains occasional terremoto earthquake topic lesrsad shatters Caught betveen volcanic barrier hills coastal range ringed miles waterlessrPampaS Arequipa until century practica isolated country It farming warhouse crops duced irrigated terraces andenes Chili Sabanda valleys The cholo farmers aer0S Spent every available minute working ryalable square small parceas which never known feudal pactices tifundia serfdom common Peruvian highlands tcholos develop society small landholders whose respect individual property water rights peace coexistence pardon somewat hackneyed phrase Today centuries outstanding characteristic quipeno chacra Qfarmla Progress however impossible under conditions agriculture Arequipa would doomed stagnation British sponsored Ferroarriles Sur Per broken through isolating mountainsThe railway linked Arequipa highlands Puno Juliaca Cuzco ollendo Natarani The became transportation through which funneled commerce chiefly region Although emphasis natur placed urban developmen aocial thought mained basically rural outlook The outlines industrial community evident Are quipa beginning century rapid development fillin skeleton The Census showed predominantly industrial Departments Per Lima Arequipa Mario Ugarteche outstanding professor history Arequi Universidad Naconal San Agustin states article Lima LA PRENSA Xt interesting these cities almost which solvent autonomous electrical panies capable promoting industrial development The annual produc electrical energy Empresa Arequipa Although Arequipa experiences temblores tremor really hairy quake occurred Auust It Spanish houses churches ruins Some Columbian andenes still Sabanda valley The cholo usually pertao agricultural laborer Indian mountains adopted western customs coast The outhern Railway started fabulous Yankee H6nry built Central Railway 0roya Auancayo tunnels switchbacks information contsiine newsletter drawn articles Dr Polar I apologize quality translation mbined output Empresas Chiclayo Trujillo Piura Cuzco Ioa It recognize transformation Arequipa industrial 9enter Owing existence industry founded directed arequipenos The future Dr Polar The ctrol commerce interior The highways which penetrate Sierra which throush Arequipa drainin production especially region Cuzco other areas Therefore logical believe sooner later Arequipa seriously outflanked The industrial development other bared depends success which ained Empress electrlca efforts augment capacity current proddtion almost covered demand And ariculture indispensable healthy economy increasing reduced least surroundin countrys The suburbs extended arable fields effort housing needs thepopula Inaddition coddealoftwaterwhichmighthave irrigatSng lands being processed purification plants order supply sufficient drinking water healthy expanding Thus Polar vancing angerously toward desert reinforced concrete asphalt covering formerly wooded fertile areas I myself results these urbanizacibnes Such suburbs Cayma Aisti raflores reachi itself Fourteen years street which flourishing chacra The improbable housing project I though consiSS0T series snell outlined stones comletely northern Chili gorge On Sunday mornings these barren paroelas_ gather group under white tatte Peruvian They point scratch their heads trying figure waterless waste The chacareros original inhabitants valley faced encroachment precious arable packing movin The vacuum their filled influx Indians mountains Tey incompetent states Polar Here problem mentioned first newsletter There reatly accelerated population without there proportionate increase means production agricultural qtherwise Serranos mountain people swarming Andes settl jungles above wanderin through streets dressed patchwork The majority adores human mules It uncommon caradqr oarryim ohundred pounds double weight soles caked thick slime streets Some serranos their sellin lottery tickets Plaza Armas shouting IPara The sanitation problem created iflux difficult solve My friend fishinG companion RiO Chili boasts pound rainbows Dr Salazar quepa theory charge children clinic mortality among serrano children frightening Tuberculosis other eases resultinmfrom malnutrition wreak havoc above The Government constructin tuberculosis clinic futbol stadium seventy million soles I window imposing modern unfinished It seems pardon aside seventy million soles would better effect direct medical hygiene education The Indian uestion Arequipa especially among wealthier elements The usual comment These Indians dirty Two weeks hovever I attended cocktail party which guests wealthy intelligent States educated I heard gentleman would Army mountains shoot every Snio sight There genial laughter remark Of quite extreme extreme provoked rebuke worthy Indio arequlpeno nigger Georgian except former applied indiscriminately member poorest class Why clamor against Indian I asked question every available opportunity The following opinion lausible answers Edgardo Bedoya official business Arequipa Tacna indio Per sense lives within national boundar Feru loyalty community rather country heard Lima perhaps vague about Government lavJs Theln knows Government prohibited killing vicunas onkillingthem Eeknowsthatthe exportinofvicua001is rohibited loadsUwool llaasan across border Bolivia Each Peruvian vcuna shipped Bolivia To Guillermo Villafuerte trained sychologist Syracuse UniverstYeoand teacher nglish Asociaciont Cultural rtanico F ruana I lived years I uechua language uechua customs U S inigrants adapt themselves customs region relatively short They becne fairly responsibl citizens Arequipa Indians either cannot adapt themselves westernized They remain passive resistant change This resistance infuriating upper classes without reason Four years there serranos Arequipa Today there thousand European A smaller graceful cousin llama alpaca vicuna until recently hunted fleece The rnmen S herdsf sometimeinanatempttosavetmframextermination Ihave Seen herds numbering twenty thirty yellow hills plano roughly seventh populationSx8 coming mountains every month The problem national Villafuerte these people The answer according Dr Polar opening irrigation projects lands unstopper bottleneck overpop ulation restore healthy agrioultural basis economy The great edenow funds start rolling Jean Despartmet visited Arequipa Polar declared publicly quality guarantee large annual retch statedthat irrigation valley highly feasible optimism greeted words spite however studies these irrigation projects which State invested several millions practically abandoned obtain National Budget Republic minimum necessary terminate The while these studies remain unfinished impossible secure financing foreign adapt projects capabilities either public treasury private capital Arequipa twenty years complete irrigation project La Joya knows possible finiah indispensable One needs spend little Per truth rioPolar statements There limited amount arable along coast The oasis exception desert The cities coast trapped these oases expan forced pressure overpopulation expand Their industry ccnmerce ebtinUe attract thousands hopeful poorer regions country If areas opened means irrigation projects pressure overpopulation strangulation Arequipa sewhat uiding light these problems Her farmers reckoned agricultural experts among cntry perfected system rotation onservation which would admirably suited La Joya projects completed The volcanoes stands chance ridding herself headaches pioneering areas giving chacareros cance their lifetimes Sincerely William acLeish The Asocacon organized social British Per uvians versa It excellent instrument British poganda The census figures census period Arequipa population Recent estimates A census makinE E Technical Assistance ission WH2 FOOTOTS The following article appeared October edition Li LA PPNSA Although suffers translation interesting because Eeneral action proposes because ruckus caused Peruvian Senate The facts figures graphs LA PRENSA Year increasinG proportion Per normous quantities wheat forei markets The increasin rhich product imported really larming Scarcely eleven ejears wheat purchases amounted around million soles necessary invest million soles order compensate deficit national production There reason figures should higher future WHEAT VALUE OF IMPORTS J Per absolutely dependant foreign wheat market The break international conflict consequent interruption trade would place country dramatic situation The iculties which xperienced transporting wheat ports during World War still fresh minds On other guarantee there disturbance international market which result prices products which export cotton sugar minerals Who uarantee price Wheat result harvests other cause In complexities modern economy nation position declare itself economically sufficient The United States owerful nation obtain primary mater needed industry foreign sources sellpart industrial products abroad Economic independence understood absolute terms nothing chimera Eowever gainsay convenience Of havin depend foreign markets satisfy essential needs account devaluation lJIthbhS A recent years increase still apreciale Footnote If there arises crisis foreign markets easily imports luxury items If there dispense importation articles which although useful indispensa Never however overlook vital articles wheat which acquire foeig market There therefore facin8 country which cannot layed increasin wheat production maximum The altiplano tableland produces little Numerous experi ments effort improve condition produc MEAT VALUE OF IMPORTS valleys Coast New varieties wheat duced apparently immune variety resist years devastating effects disease Aainst variety wheat there developed variety Because degree hundity which favors propalon fungus which causes disease valley C6ast suitable cultivation wheat To matters worse wheat coastal regions quality inferior raised fields Arequipa neighboring irrigated Vito Santa Rita Siuas Are quepeowhea better thant imported variety compact richer starch rutritious qualities Nevertheless because reduced actually under cultivation hectreas acres Arequipa Vitor Santa Rita Siuas cannot motely tremendous deficit wheat production The ation Pampas however would radically chane uation WH2 The following factors which point suitable raising wheat there brilliant sunshine during limes phosphates climate could lastly titude meters proved ideal cultivation wheat It seems Rature provided everything these _2_a_s_ water which there abundance Rio Yea ocean accept challenge water Srom river spread pampas Americans California There flowery description pioneers Death Valley vertigo The project technically feasible The engineers Government ntrusted preliminary surveys arrived clusion Hills burrowed through tunnels constructed A large canal confluence Colca Huaruro rivers pampas equipped secondary distribute water required oreover built planned Sibayo Colca given upstream Audamayo river floods freshets water level drops considerably during season But problems graver these solved modern methods engineerin employed India United States other countries Per uvian gineers demonstrated their abilities along these lines LA PRENSA illustrates point referring Peruvian ensineers uiroz northern country To technical possibilities irrigating pampas joined economic possibilities doing The project calculated roughly O00 soles2 In current Budget Republic project could undertaken unless policy adopted public struction inistry buildings buildin tourist hotels beautification Lima avenues which reproductive nature Having attended really necessary commitments Govern devote remaiuder revenues increasing ductivity country LA PRENSA discusses desirability securin foreign project As begins produce states there eciable decline wheat imports The money savedcanbeusedtopayoffthe aprocessauthorizedbyArticle XV Constitution Republic The paper further suggests Government settlers system credit which would sufficient amount soles which would dollars interest In light international confidence which country inspires Per egonomically stable countries South America there could arrange furtherance project rrigation iajes valley In order interest international credit organizations necess resont detailed Chile which secured loans where about makin waters Lake Titicaca which 0SiUSt tnese figures An interested party Arequipa quoted figure 0009ls Wt1 Footnore belong theme given example This consideration above others should sufficient bring iportance conclud studies irrigation previously ission Peruvian engineers request Government The period fieldwork which soles lives except reports evaluations which would soles eanwhile plans geological surveys hydroelectrical inves tigations abandoned archives inisterio Fomento The above aragraph which raised Governmental temper ature Communiques issue E1 Gobierno attacked LA PRERSA teller tales In editorial Of October tpaper returnedthe skying Felipe Santiago Rosas Senator requipa LA PRENSA whowas responsible archves Linisterio Fo monte statement It utiltpaper brought statement Gobierno became irritated declarea LA PRESA It calculated commission engineers impounding roughly cubic meters water behind proposed Sibayo would guarantee round supply sufficient irrigate minimum hectareas which hectareas would planted fruit trees alfalfa wheat Thus country couldcutitsforeignpurchases ofwheatbmorethanone third oreover growth cycle wheat months durationf dnring seven months inwhich wheat grcvn garden vegetables raised In Arequipa theexperience century farming proved wheat should rotated alfalfa conserve The region admirably suited raising alfalfa The quick changes temperature every hours average variation degrees Centigrade serve natural insect control The AnastreRha Peruviana fruit idered worst plagues noexist there The iajes LA PmSA would solve problem scarcity virtue alfalfa The promise amply guaranteed engin Santa Rita Siguas within pampas It belongs geological cmmplex There twenty years_ggo private capital irrigation enterprise which The reference pamphlet addressed Henry Holland Assis Secretary State Inter American Affairs which appear Antofagasta while Holand stayin there The thing makes Peruvians hopping Chile wants Titicaca water property Per Bolivia irrigate Chilean Senator antiago Rosas gives figure soles One hectarea equals acres Footnote swing The results terms alfalfa crops justify hopes pampas The commission engineers which worked previo studies recommended construction cement factory Querulpa where there deposits quality limestone Plans afoot vantage Jaterfalls rapids region installation Of hydrelectric plants whichwould develop approximately energy superior disposal entire South Peru The commission pointed necessity const rutm4 roads lands consumer centers Even sense location pampas advantageous The Pan America iihway close would difficult build roads Njes With artery Int future deemed necessary railway could built nearby Ferrocarril Sur The Peruvian Government safeguard conservacion difusin pequea propiedad undert stipulations A rticleIIof Constitution The cultivation fruit trees wheat alfalfa require centralization capital found sugar plantations Coast One contrary needed small farmer For example there never latifundia Arequipa An arequipeo topos areas considered large landowner The number rural oWmers Arequipa higher other Republic The middle class numerous beter condition basis social sructure solid These conditions should occur theMes sellin lands settlers latifundia avoided costs If irriation handled private businessmen instructed divide small Witht hectareas which irriaed project Government incom parable opportunity excercise Constitutional recept favoreeer difusin pequea propiedad rural The reduction scarcity cultivated reatest problems country development production wheat cattle which offers favorable conditions objectives creation small farms handir small farmers country shown farmem Arequipa short completion oroject beyond doubt national benefit SIBAYO DAM V RACO INTAKE OF CANAL PAMPACOLA AREQUIPA PROJECT ANTA R TA PROJECT CAMAN RIO V TO BE IRRIGATED BY THE PROJECT OU ILCA ON Roc DEVELOPED DURING IIIII IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII MOLLENDO