Railroad Plan and Other Opportunities

“Mr. Windom’s New Railway” news clipping is one of many within the Railroad Scrapbook. The scrapbook, itself, is one of the more complete versions within the collection, which shows its priority and importance. The reason for Owen wanting to create a colony in Topolobampo is because of his original plan of wanting to create a railroad from Texas to Mexico. As noted in Ray Reynold’s Cat’spaw Utopia, “Charles Cadwallader Johnson of Sinaloa had been warning Owen since 1872 that he would never get his railroad built unless he first settled colonists at the bay and proved its livability…A railroad to utopia would be his next, and possibly last, resort” (17). The colony of Topolobampo may have been a second thought to Owen, but his determination to create a railroad was his motivating factor. Looking at news clipping, itself, it mentions how Owen was the man to think of building the railroad to Topolobampo, describing the land “…as one of superior excellence…” Included in the news clipping is a map of current railroads that exist along with the proposed route. The article discusses the conditions and contracts the railroad company has with Mexico, but it also describes how the railroad would be used to bring valuable resources to the U.S.  from Asia, Australia, islands in the Indian Ocean, and, of course, Mexico. Mr. Windom is noted as the president of the Texas, Topolobampo & Pacific Railway and Telegraph company. This clipping is a prime example of Owen’s hopeful ideas of creating something important and how the colony at Topolobampo was often overlooked.

To help in gaining a better understanding of the scrapbooks put together, I found it important to show a more completed version of a scrapbook on the progress of the railroad proposed to start from Texas and end in Topolobampo. Included in this overview are various pages with news clippings throughout that show Owen’s obsession with completing his railroad. I believe Owen put this scrapbook together himself in order to organize material and evidence to support his own thinking of why it was such a good idea to build a railroad. The first few pages of the scrapbook are dedicated to clippings on Harvey C. Carey, one of the prominent railroad builders of the time. It is likely that Owen wished to emulate what Carey did. From there, the scrapbook begins to document the progress of the railroad along with any mention of Topolbampo and the importance of trade occurring from Mexico. On pages 143 and 144 in the scrapbook, there are clippings describing Colonel Owens of Mexican Pacific, another railroad company name of his, which describes Owen’s active role in the railroad construction. It is clear Owen sees himself as the moving force of the railroad progress, and he most likely imagined himself to be similar to those who created railroad empires during that time like Carey. However, this kind of scrapbook also demonstrates Owen’s obsession with this project. It wasn’t something he was going to make happen no matter what, which is what negatively impacted the lives of those living in the Topolobampo colony.

The article pasted on this paper was found in a folder of loose clippings about railroads not put into any scrapbooks. It is more like a collection of various clippings that were being prepared to be placed into the scrapbook but either didn’t make the cut to be placed in or Owen stopped putting in clips into the book. The article is from an unknown newspaper, and it appears to contain an interview with a Judge Grosscup. A quick search found him to be Peter S. Grosscup, a federal judge noted for his work with laborers and railroad industries. The interview has comments made by Grosscup which suggest that since the railroad was paid for by the people, railroads should be owned by the people: “…transforming the now great life from an oligarchy to an industrial democracy,” Grosscup encourages. The handwriting is difficult to decipher, and it’s unclear if it’s Owen’s handwriting or not, but I was able to distinguish the words “…for the consideration of our fellow citizens in our next Sunday issue—a plea that calls for approval and after that for action—a plea that has been…” There may be a connection here to the colony, but more is needed to be found out about who wrote this note. This article, however, stands out amongst the railroad articles currently found due to its subject matter: the idea of everyone owning part of the railroad. There’s an importance on laborers and the people working together for the same thing, an aspect that is focused on in the ideology of utopias.

In an article from a newspaper clipping titled “France Laughs at Panamaists. Britain to Waive Canal Rights,” we see the report of the French government refusing to involve itself with any plans to work with the plans for the Nicaragua canal, instead promoting the Panama Canal. This newspaper clipping is important as it highlights the discussions happening around global markets and trade. The construction of a canal in Central America would have been vital to the trades happening, cutting down the time and cost of traveling across sea. Also, another thing to note from this newspaper clipping is the mention of transcontinental railroads. It explains how useful the railroads are to the trade from Nicaragua throughout the Americas, even though the company mentioned in the article wants the Nicaragua canal to be built. What this signifies is the importance of trade globally and how trains were an important factor in it. Owen most likely used such evidence to promote selling the idea of the train to Topolobampo bay since he saw the area as a future harbor sight. Owen was a very well up-to-date man as can be exemplified in the newspaper clippings he kept. This organizational behavior to keep documents on the happenings of the world was a way in which he could continue to grow his ideas. However, this also could be used for his other ventures, such as the Texcoco-Huehuecoca Canal that he and William Crook working on together. More can be found on the Texcoco-Huehuecoca Canal here. 

From Admiral Philip Hichborn of the U.S. Navy, the newspaper clipping reveals the importance of the United States increasing its security on its shores. Once again, this type of newspaper clipping reveals the kind of research Owen was doing in order to create a case for Tompolobampo as a new harbor destination. Having this kind of knowledge would aid him in presenting his information to political powers and potential investors in his idea. It also demonstrates that Owen was considering multiple tactics for selling his idea to others. Whereas the previous clipping discussed the new routes in global shipping areas, focusing on the expansion of global trade, this article discusses military security for the United States. Owen was most likely wanting to add to the benefits of Topolobampo by claiming it could be a strategic port for the United States. If this could be done, he would have more investors and government funds into the project to build up the location. This article was most likely published in 1900 given the dates of other articles around this clipping in the Scrapbook, which meant Owen was possibly trying to hold on to the land and dream he had for it. The colony wasn’t a success, but Owen still saw potential in Topolobampo. He saw the land full of potential despite the obstacles he faced with building a sustaining city and working with the Mexican government. Regardless of these, Owen continued to create plans that would work towards his goal of making Topolobampo a place worthwhile.

In the American and Mexican Pacific Railway Scrapbook, there is a newspaper clipping of the progress in Mexico for the railroad. The article is titled “The Railway Age,” by E.H. Talbott. Published January 15, 1885, it describes in detail what the Texas to Topolobampo Railroad plans are and how it will be beneficial. It describes the agreement made between the railroad company and the Mexican government allowing the construction of the railroad, what prices passengers of the train would likely pay, and how valuable the resources are, like timber, that the train will be constructed through. They quote George M. Hatfield, who is charge of timber for the project, who says, “‘If the Topolobampo road is ever built it will be the dawning of a new era for the republic of Mexico, as it will open up a section of country abounding in heavy oak and pine timber…’” While this article is important in highlighting the possible achievements of the railroad, it also brings into question of what will happen to Mexico citizens and indigenous people of the lands the train will be crossing through. On the next page after this article is the “Topolobampo Harbor and City Site” blueprint that stands out as it cuts into the natural landscape surrounding it. The problem of this is the United States taking over the lands of Mexico and colonizing the space for its own purposes. Further in the article states: “…not only opening up a new market for American agricultural machinery and implements, but educating the people of Mexico up to the adoption of methods which must result in an enormous increase in the country’s product and in its substantial wealth.” Through these means, the American government is forcing Mexico to adapt to its ways under the guise of it being for the betterment of production and wealth.