The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1922-06-15
IMPRESSIONS OF
PERU ARE GIVEN
(Rv Harry L. CASH

Peruvian government for the purpose
of reOrganizing the school system. In
my other letter / told something of the
plans which we were making to carry
out this work.
Our first year was practically spent
in studying the situation and planning
for this year. These plans called for
a large expenditure Of money since
practically all schools are conducted
in rented rooms with little or no equip
ment, few textbooks, no industrial
courses and taught by poorly trained
and poorly paid teachers.
Soon after our arrival we realized
that the economic situation was very
bad due to the almost total falling off
of the export trade from which the
government derives the most of its
revenue. However, we went ahead
with our plans in the hope that condi-
tions would improve. On the contrary.
by the time Congress was in session,
during the first months of the year.
the situation had become so bad that
it seemed necessary to cut all appro-
priations instead of giving the increas-
es which were essential il we were to
have carried out our reforms. While
these cuts in no way effected our con-
tracts, yet the most of US realized
that without the necessary funds our
work would be so handicapped that it
would be next to Impossible to produce
results and about half of the commits
sion asked to be relieved from contract
at once and few, if any. plan to stay
longer than the end of the year.
While, from all reports this country
has been passing through period of
fianncial stress, yet conditions here in
no way compare with those following
the boom years in Peru and other
South American countries. Due to the
lack of development, Peru is very de-
pendent on her export trade dealing,
as she does, almost entirely in raw
materials. AS in all other countries.
the Peruvians enjoyed great prosperity
when their products were in demand,
yet used little or none of the results
of this prosperity for the Improvements
necessary for the development and
improvement of the country.
Economic development is hindered
by political and physical peculiarities.
While having passed 100 years as
Republic, the Latin temperament
seems to make it very difficult to use
politics for the general good and to
cease making it a purely personal or
factional affair. During this 100 years
of the Republic. not more than three
or four of the 80 odd presidents or rul-
ing councils have been really elected.
The majority have come into power
because they have been able to control
the army or have had enough influence
to depose the other man and have
themselves elected by congress. Few
Of these changes have been accom-
panied by bloodsbed but it can easily
be seen that such a system is not con-
ducive to economic development.
Foreign capital is especially shy of
making large investments when the
government policies are so unstable.
So often has the new man in power
seen fit to change regulations regard
ing investments that outside corpora
tions have often found conditions diff
cult.
This instability has, in the opinion
of many, made the floating of $50,
900, 600 loan, so desired at this time,
difficult for the government. Negoti-
ations with New York bankers for
such loan had been going on for sew
eral months before I left and as far as
| know have not yet been completed.
Physically, Peru presents a difficult |
development problem. The costal re-
gion is the most developed and while |
its sandy fats produce valuable cotton
and grape crops yet the greatest possi-
bilities lie in the mountainous region |
known as the Sferra-a barren and |
rugged, treeless tract rising to an
elevation of more than II, 700 feet
and the Montana section, the heavily
wooded Jungle land on the east slope
Of the Andes.
The sierra region is extremely rich
in mineral and contains many new val
leys we'll adapted to general farming
and cattle raising. At present only |
two railroads, one in the central and
the other in the southern part, pierce
this vast section and there are no
roads whatever for the use of wagons
Or motor vehicles. All travel, away
from these two railroads and a few
very short ones, must be done by mule
II horse over trails which rise from
z, 600 to l6, 900 feet in reaching many
If the older well settled valleys.
Railroads must open up this section
{ Peru is to develop. And new roads
means the introduction of foreign cap
tai. While all Peruvians realize this,
,et there is considerable opposition
against giving the necessary conces-
ions that would attract outsiders.
There were rumors this spring OF an
English company taking the contract
'or extensive development but nothing
definitely was done.
II =. L
rolled by large landowners who have
N their vast estates large numbers Of
indians who are virtually slaves and
rom the labor of whom the families
Ierive a comfortable living but inten-
i've or scientific cultivation is practi-
ally unknown.
The region of the Montana is prac-
ically unsettled except by more or
ess uncivilized Indian tribes. The
My commercial development is that
round IQuitos on the Amazon where
arge rubber plantations have been
developed.
Many have asked me IL there are not
many opportunities in South America
or young men. Ny first hand knOwl-
dge is limited 10 Peru. l wouldn't
dvise, although most Of Us young men
ont ask or take advice, anyone TO 90
o Peru unless. under contract to some
rm or possessed with a large amount
Z capital.s With money there are
ONE valuable concessions which might
e obtained in farming lands. oil, or
mines but these are not common and
re surrounded with considerable red
ape. In addition, TO make q success
here, one would need 10 20 with the
lea Of staying many years. becoming
econciled to new customs, learning
panish and taking ones chances with
n ever changing political situation.
However, a few years in those
ountries is a worthwhile experience
nd surely gives one an idea Of the
for a closer relation be-