The Inauguration of the railroad
The people of Mexico City and the pre-Hispanic city of Texcoco experienced the inauguration of the railroad differently as it had varied outcomes for each of its populations. As Altamirano states, the inauguration of the railroad signified hope to the impoverished people of Texcoco. After three centuries of strife and poverty, the arrival of the train marked new development in the region. The train would not only link the region to Mexico City, but also to Puebla and other regions of the east such as the Gulf of Mexico. This would not only increase trade, but also awaken and restore the region’s former vitality (Altamirano, 109).
In addition to new development, the inauguration of the railroad also signified an end to Texcoco’s humiliation. Texcoco often sent fresh produce and articles of value to Mexico City through the Lake that linked them, however all they got in return was waste, death and fever as the city treated the lake as an open sewer (Altamirano, 111). Therefore, through this new mode of transport, Texcoco could avoid being treated as a humiliating open sewer by the larger city.
Unlike the people of Texcoco, the reporters and guests from Mexico City did not expect the train to wield any benefits for their region hence they regarded the event as a time to share witty remarks. The belief that the inauguration of this train would not be of significance to Mexico City is especially evident as there was slight notice about the event in Mexico City. In addition, the few newspapers that featured this event only provided modest announcements and the number of invited guests were significantly fewer that was typical of such events.
