Evening star., 1920-03-20
URUGUAY PLANNING.
BUILDING PROJECTS

Stupendous construction projects in
Uruguay, involving a power plant to
be the largest of it's kind in the
world; an immense irrigation project;
installation of water and sewerage
plants in a number of important
cities and a tremendous volume of
building construction. according to
a statement just issued by the De-
partment of Commerce, will open up
a splendid market for all kinds of
building raEplies and materials and
create a demand that will probably
continue for a number of years.
The biggest single project being
considered is proposal for an in
ternational power plant to be erected
on the Uruguay river by Argentina,
Brazil and Uruguay Jointly. with
guarantees for the equitable dstri-
button of power to the three coun-
$500, 100000 kilowatt hours per an
mum could be developed. or an en-
ergy equivalent to that of 100000
plates the construction of two dams.
one movable and one fixed, with
canals to the power plant. 1t will
utilize fall of seventy-seven feet
The installation also would open for
navigation 419 miles of river which
init the inundation of adjoining zones
which are suitable for agriculture.
Other Projects Considered.
Other projects for the development
of water power also are being con-
sidered by private persons and cor
porations. An official commission has
prepared plan for the irrigation
Montevideo. to serve as an expert
ment and example. up to the pres
ent time," says the report, nothing
has been done in Uruguay in the way
of taking advantage of the coun-
try's watercourses for irrigation and
power"
Fifteen cities of Uruguay are also
to install water and sewerage plants
within the next few years. says Trade
Commissioner w. w. Ewing, who
writes the report The pre-war esti-
mates for this work totaled about
s15,000,000. In 1916 American engi-
neers contracted for the installation
of water and sewerage systems in
three of the largest cities in Uruguay
at cost of $5,G00,000. The work was
completed twelve months before the
contract date. and the bonds have
now been retired by the Uruguayan
government. 1t is probable that a
part of the new work of this nature
will be given to American interests.
Need for WOrkmen's Houses.
There is a present need in Monte
video for a large number of work
mems houses, for at least ten new
business structures, a hotel. an opera
house, old-storage facilities and a
number of factories, the total cost of
immediate needs in private construc
ton of these kinds being estimated
by architects at SIG. 100000. Within
the next few years the government
will need new and modern edifices to
the value of s23,0O0,000. The chief
imports which this program of con-
struction will require are steel and
finishing materials.
Uruguay has local supplies of gran
lite, marble. porphyry. limestone in
limited quantities. and cement. There
also is abundance of excellent clay
for brickmaking. but it has not been
fully utilized. No clay roofing tiles
or sewer pipe are made in Uruguay.
All firebricks and plaster of paris
are also imported. There is devel-
oping demand for many types of con-
struction tools and machinery and for
heating and elevator installations, ac-
cording to this report which is
known as Special Agents Series No.
|1S9, CONSTRUCTION Materials and Mr.
chinery in Uruguay" and is sold at
the nominal price of is cents by the
superintendent of documents, govern
ment printing Office, Washington. D.
c. The report may also be obtained
at any of the district or cooperative
offices of the bureau of foreign and
domestic commerce.