1830.[1] Strong objections, however, were raised to the establishment of such lines, on the ground that they would throw out of employment so many thousands cf muleteers, and others who gained their livelihood by the transportation of goods. Nevertheless, by decree of August 22, 1837, President Bustamante granted to Francisco Arrillaga the exclusive privilege of building a railroad from Vera Cruz to the city of Mexico;[2] but the concession was afterward declared forfeited, as the projector failed to begin the road. On the 31st of May, 1842, Santa Anna reëstablished the abolished tax, called the avería, and appropriated the proceeds to the construction of the railway. A contract was entered into with Antonio Garay, a Mexican by birth, and the work was at last commenced;[3] but progress was slow, and by no means corresponded with the outlay;[4] nor was it until Antonio Escandon obtained in 1857 a franchise to construct a line from Vera Cruz to a port on the Pacific, that any energetic interest in the undertaking was shown.[5] Still, active operations were for some time prevented by the troubles of the nation; and revolutions and the French intervention rendered it impossible to resume work before 1865.[6] After that time, though various difficulties periodically affected the enterprise,[7] the work was pushed vigorously forward un-
- ↑ Mex., Observ. Caminos de Hierro, New York, 1833; El Indicador, ii. 119–34.
- ↑ Proyecto del Primer Camino de Hierro, Mex., 1837, pp. 112, in Diorama.
- ↑ Payno, Convencion Mex., 34–48; Bustamante, Diario Mex., MS., xlv. 75; Pap. Var., 24, 2.
- ↑ Eight miles cost $2,263,151. In May 1952, the department of public works took charge of the road, and to the end of June 1857 expended $700,859 more on it. Payno, Conven. Esp., 37-9.
- ↑ During the period 1853 to 1857 inclusive, no less than twelve railroad concessions were granted by the government, all of which, except four, fell to the ground. Silíceo, Dem. Fomento, 19-25. Escandon paid for the portion of the line already laid, $750,000 in specie and government paper. Escandon, Breve Expos.; and Id., Segunda Expos.
- ↑ In 1864 Escandon transferred his concessions to an English company, styled the Imperial Mexican Railway Company, and the transfer was approvel by Maximilian on the 25th of Jan. 1835. Mex., Men. Hac. y Foment., 1858, doc. 2, pp. 18-22, 249-6); Cac., Nic., March 1865, 91; 8 April, 127.
- ↑ On the downfall of Maximilian, the concession was declared forfeited. In Nov. 1867, however, the company's privileges were restored, and the work
