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110 formally opened in January, 1873, and the coast of Mexico at Vera Cruz was connected with its capital. By a decree of Congress in 1874 [two years before Diaz came into power] a concession was granted for another line northwardly from the City of Mexico, which was the initial step taken in the great movement connecting the capital with the chief cities of the United States. Roads and telegraph lines were now projected in all directions; commerce, both external and internal, developed with great rapidity, and in the fiscal year of 1878 the exports from Vera Cruz alone amounted to more than $16,000,000."

It may be noted in passing that the line referred to by the historian when he says: "By decree of Congress in 1874 a concession was granted for another line northwardly from the City of Mexico," is one of the lines named in a Carranza propaganda pamphlet which alleges that Diaz "paid his first debts by concessions for the building of two railroad lines from the Texas border to Mexico City." The fact is that the concession for this line was granted under the administration of President Lerdo de Tejada, two years before Diaz came into power.

The most important railroad concession and subsidy granted by the Diaz government was for the line which subsequently became known as the Mexican Central and this on account of its importance and extent, may be taken as being fairly