Within the framework of the celebration for Heritage Day next weekend, the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) will make a virtual exhibition availablein which some of the documents that are part of the heritage of its Historical Archive of the General Directorate of the Secretary and General Accounting Office of the Nation are exhibited for the first time.
Among the documents are laws, decrees and resolutions from the beginning of the 20th century, photographs, stamps, tickets and other pieces that are part of different periods of the country’s history.
For example, there is a document of February 27, 1862 that enabled the purchase of part of the land of the Plaza de los Treinta y Tres and another of November 20, 1902 that enabled funds for the construction of a children’s hospital and a prison in Punta Carretas. The Pereira Rossell Hospital It was founded in 1908. It turned out to be the first pediatric hospital and later the first maternal and child hospital in Uruguay. Located on a property of more than three hectares donated by the spouses Alejo Rossell and Rius and Dolores Pereira in 1900, it is currently bounded by Artigas Boulevard and Lord Ponsonby, Somme and Gastón Ramón streets, in the Parque Batlle neighborhood.
The Punta Carretas Penitentiary Jail was built between 1905 and 1915 and ceased to serve as such in 1986. In 1991, the construction of the current Punta Carretas Shopping Center began on the same premises, inaugurated in 1994, which preserves some of the original walls of the prison, characterized by their loopholes.
1959 Flood Debt Issuance and Locust Aid
Within the virtual exhibition of the MEF, a document of the April 22, 1959, which authorized the issuance of debt to deal with the consequences of the floods of that year.
These floods were the most serious in Uruguayan history; they provoked dramatic moments, especially in Paso de los Toros, and put the Rincón del Bonete dam to a severe test. The rains fell practically without interruption between March 24 and April 23 of that year, which caused serious problems in all the towns near the main rivers, especially the Uruguay and the Negro.
On April 22, Parliament approved Law 12,602 called Patriotic Loan 1959, which authorized the Executive Branch to extend the limit of $40 million established by Law of 1952 up to $50 million, and to issue an internal public debt for $25 million. These funds were to be allocated to relief and recovery works, for expenses already incurred and new expenditures, with 70% corresponding to the Executive Branch and 30% to the affected departmental governments.
On the other hand, a document ofon April 12, 1946, which authorized loans to producers affected by the locust plague.
FEM
Document of April 12, 1946 that authorized loans to producers affected by the locust plague
In Uruguay, the first scientific report on the plague is from 1906-1907 and at that time the control methods consisted of driving them away with saucepans, herding them with flats or burning them.
Later, between 1932 and 1933, the first experiences of biological control and tests with toxic baits began. This insect deceiving nectar was prepared with bran, bran, sugar, molasses, water and a highly toxic product.
In subsequent years, various physical, chemical and mechanical procedures were tested to combat the plague. Among them, fire and soapy solutions with kerosene. In 1937 tests of toxic baits began and a new law authorized the use of flamethrowers.
The last major locust invasions occurred in 1946 and 1947.
