Re: Interesting Thought

IN 1870, Denver was a booming city and growth potential due to the mines in the nearby mountains was seemingly unlimited.
There was also lots of mining in the mountains around Mexico City. If the ore from Mexico could be brought by rail to Denver, it could have been a very profitable venture. Also when a rail line exists, it draws people, towns, and industries, and that all generates traffic and revenue.

There were some major obstacles in Palmer's way besides the AT&SF which stopped any chance of the D&RG expanding towards Mexico.

The Mexican-American war was fought just a few years back in 1846-1848 in which Mexico lost what is now California, Nevada, Utah, New Mexico and portions of Colorado to Mexico. I am sure that Mexico was still upset over that by 1870. Palmer intended to handle this by setting up a separate railroad company in Mexico.

If Palmer had achieved his goal, things in the US and Mexico might be very different today.

It is also interesting to suppose what Poncho Villa might have done about the Mexico City to Denver railroad line if it existed when he was running around Northern Mexico.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/18/2014 11:01PM by guymonmd.