Iron Horse Imperialism: The Southern Pacific of Mexico, 1880-1951 [Hardcover]

Daniel Lewis (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0816526044 | ISBN-13: 978-0816526048 | Publication Date: May 31, 2007 | Edition: annotated edition

The Southern Pacific of Mexico was a U.S.–owned railroad that operated between 1898 and 1951, running from the Sonoran town of Nogales, just across the border from Arizona, to the city of Guadalajara, stopping at several northwestern cities and port towns along the way. Owned by the Southern Pacific Company, which operated a highly profitable railroad system north of the border, the SP de Mex transported millions of passengers as well as millions of tons of freight over the years, both within Mexico and across its northern border. However, as Daniel Lewis discloses in this thoroughly researched investigation of the railroad, it rarely turned a profit. So why, Lewis wonders, did a savvy, money-minded U.S. corporation continue to operate the railroad until it was nationalized by the Mexican government more than a half-century after it was constructed? Iron Horse Imperialism reveals that the relationship between the Mexican government and the Southern Pacific Company was a complex one, complicated by Mexico’s defeat by U.S. forces in the mid-nineteenth century and by SP’s failure to understand that it was conducting business in a country whose leaders were ambivalent about its presence. Lewis contends that SP executives, urged on by the media of the day, operated with a reflexive imperialism that kept the company committed to the railroad long after it ceased to make business sense. Incorporating information discovered in both Mexican and American archives, some of which was previously unavailable to researchers, this comprehensive book deftly describes the complicated, decades-long dance between oblivious U.S. entrepreneurs and wary Mexican officials. It is a fascinating story.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“A thoughtful treatment. His work fills an important historical void.” —Journal of American History “Iron Horse Imperialism is a solid, engaging study of a relatively unexplored topic, and a worthwhile contribution to the history of Mexican economic policy and American business in Mexico.” — Hispanic American Historic Review

About the Author

DANIEL LEWIS is the Dibner Senior Curator for the History of Science and Technology at the Huntington Library in San Marino, California. He is the co-author of Star Struck: One Thousand Years of the Art and Science of Astronomy.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: University of Arizona Press; annotated edition edition (May 31, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0816526044
• ISBN-13: 978-0816526048
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,768,881 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Iron Horse Imperialism, September 4, 2009

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This review is from: Iron Horse Imperialism: The Southern Pacific of Mexico, 1880-1951 (Paperback)

This book is a thoroughly researched elaboration upon a dissertation. Perhaps because of this the book might seem a bit dry to someone seeking a casual read, but the author is obviously knowledgeable about his subject and has a career in the field of railroad history.
This is a very narrow topic and it isn't a lengthy book because of that, but if a person is interested in both Mexican/U.S. historical relations, the history of railroading in general, and Southern Pacific in particular, it may be worth a read as the book clearly covers the territory it aspires to and gives a fascinating look at this bit of railroading history.