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554 1830. Strong objections, however, were raised to the establishment of such lines, on the ground that they would throw out of employment so many thousands cf muleteers, and others who gained their livelihood by the transportation of goods. Nevertheless, by decree of August 22, 1837, President Bustamante granted to Francisco Arrillaga the exclusive privilege of building a railroad from Vera Cruz to the city of Mexico; but the concession was afterward declared forfeited, as the projector failed to begin the road. On the 31st of May, 1842, Santa Anna reëstablished the abolished tax, called the avería, and appropriated the proceeds to the construction of the railway. A contract was entered into with Antonio Garay, a Mexican by birth, and the work was at last commenced; but progress was slow, and by no means corresponded with the outlay; nor was it until Antonio Escandon obtained in 1857 a franchise to construct a line from Vera Cruz to a port on the Pacific, that any energetic interest in the undertaking was shown. Still, active operations were for some time prevented by the troubles of the nation; and revolutions and the French intervention rendered it impossible to resume work before 1865. After that time, though various difficulties periodically affected the enterprise, the work was pushed vigorously forward