Nogales, from 1887 to 1891

On March 25, 1887, President Diaz orders the removal of every building in Nogales located near the border, to avoid any potential international problem, and on May 4, the publid telegraph is inaugurated. It will serve a population that already reaches 886 inhabitants.

On July 19, 1889, local law No. 64, declares that Nogales is a Villa. That same year, the State Government issues the only State concession made for the building of a narrow gauge railroad. The concession allows the communication between Cerro Blanco mine to "any point of the Sonora railroad..", within the Imuris municipality, although the builders will be able to extend the line up to Cananea. By March, 1891, the old Sonora railroad station, Farrell Stop, is renamed as Cerro Blanco Station, as it has been chosen as the terminus of the 24 english inches wide rail. However, to several problems in the construction due to the roughness of the mountains it crosses, and the need to perforate several tunnels, on May 29 the company is given an extension of 6 months to allow the line to be finished.

On June, Governor Corral attends to the first trip of the railroad: starting from Cerro Blanco station, the travelers continue through mainly level ground, until they reach the edge of the Pinito mountains, where they are marveled on looking how that small engine takes them uphill, going through several tunnels, until they reach the mine.

Even today, the travelers between Imuris and Cananea can see, along the road, parts of the tunnels that have remained as mememtos of this railroad.