Abstract

RAMIREZ RODRIGUEZ, Rodolfo. Manuel Payno and his Controversial Participation in Mexican Railroad Concessions. Relac. Estud. hist. soc. [online]. 2019, vol.40, n.158, pp.198-231.  Epub Dec 31, 2019. ISSN 2448-7554.  https://doi.org/10.24901/rehs.v40i158.338.

The article examines a little-explored topic in Mexican historiography: the role of Manuel Payno as a concessionaire, promoter and critic of the Mexican Railroad Company. The participation of this politician, writer and once Secretary of the Treasury in awarding concessions for the construction of the railway between Mexico City and the port of Veracruz reveals the interests that influenced people’s decisions to support, question or openly criticize modifications of the concessions granted to the numerous companies that participated in construction between 1853 and 1868. In Payno we find a man who began as an unconditional supporter of the project but would later reverse his initial position after a series of disagreements led him to manifest resentment towards railroad entrepreneurs. In fact, Payno emerges as a frustrated entrepreneur who would continue to criticize later developments in a railroad sector that predicated this means of transportation as a synonym of Mexico’s ardently-desired national progress.

Keywords : railroad; concessions; businessmen; Manuel Payno; Escandón family.

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