Early Days of the Mexican Railway

The growth and development of these great Mexican rail lines has had an important bearing upon the progress of Mexico and the expansion of her commerce,--not to speak of their influence in promoting commercial and social intercourse wMexican train and railway mapith the United States,--and without a chapter exclusively devoted to rail-roads this work would be incomplete.

It was in the year 1837 that the first government decree was issued granting a concession for the building of a railroad, from the city of Mexico to Vera Cruz; but the projector was unable to construct any portion of the road, and the grant was declared forfeited.

On the 1st of May, 1842, an exclusive privilege was given for establishing a line across the isthmus of Tehuantepec, and on the 31st of the same month Santa Anna, then occupying the chair of the Executive, decreed the re-establishment of an old duty at the customs, called averia, or average, the product of which tax (two per cent additional over and above all import duties) was to be given to promote the building of a railroad inland from Vera Cruz.