1896 to 1910

The last days of 1896, Governor Ramon Corral arrives at Nogales in search of a better place than the hot Hermosillo, to establish the State Government residence during the summer months. He finds a place in the Eastern corner of Camou and Pesqueira Streets, right next to Plaza 13 de Julio.

The location of a home of the Governor, as well as the strategic location of the place, makes other prominent nogalians to also build their homes nearby.

During July, Engineer Ignacio Bonillas decides also to build his residence at the adjacent corner. It will be finished on July 1898, a two levels home, built of brick, in Queen Anne style.

Then, Prospero Sandoval will also begin his home in April 1898, located just South of Corral´s building, also North of Plaza 13 de Julio. Following both, the widow of Gral. Ignacio Pesqueira will buy from Ramon Corral the lot located just South of the Bonillas home. It measures only 11.5 meters wide, although extends all the way back to Juarez street.

Also in 1896 begins an activity which will be basic for the local economy: that Spring, El Luketich and Co. from Hermosillo start sending tomato to Southern Arizona and California.

During 1897 there are problems during the elections for Presidente Municipal of Nogales. The current Presidente is Cirilo Ramirez, and on August 29, at 11 AM, when the elections are being undertaken - the incumbent Ramirez has Bonillas as his opponent- the Chief of Police, Antonio Martinez with 8 men, tries to take the voting booth, breaking the table in the process.

Those who were voting at the moment decide to move to another place. When the votes are finished, Bonillas is the winner. However, on September 4, in a Council Session, Ramirez arguments that the record of the results is false and orders the arrest of the two voting judges.

The judges appeal then to the Governor, and print a pamphlet in which they explain what happened, with the result that Governor names Bonillas as Presidente Municipal.

During his government, the most important problem Bonillas will have to deal with is the local repercussion of the war between the United States and Spain. He orders the suspension of the yearly celebrations, besides reinforcing police to avoid any kind of disturbances.

Besides this, during his government, many advances in social infrastructure are made: the road between Nogales and Saric is built. It passes through Agua Zarca, El Bellotoso Canyon, La Arizona, and Saric. The Nogales Ayuntamiento builds the part along the Bellotoso (at a cost of around $2000); Mr. Barnett that located between Las Avispas and La Arizona, while Saric builds the section between La Arizona and Saric.

In March 1898 is inaugurated the public illumination of Nogales: 7 arc lamps and 10 incandescent, and two steel bridges are started. One, with 18´long and 16´wide, in Campillo Street, near the Municipal Building, and the other one, with 35´long and 14´wide, on Arizpe and Agurre.

Beginning 1899, Alejandro Joffroy inaugurates a Customs agency in Nogales. That same year, due to the growth of the population, the Law No. 64, signed by the Congress on July 13 and by the Governor the following day, declares Nogales a Villa.

By June, the main attraction in Nogales are two small bears that were caught in the Santa Rita Mountains, and are being exhibited in the Monte Carlo Casino, in Nogales, Arizona,

IN 1901 is signed the contract through which the Sonora Railroad rents a surface of 2,205 square meters to the Ayuntamiento. It is where the Plaza 13 de Julio is located. The price is a symbolic $1 per year. That same year is opened a telegraph office in Agua Zarca, although it would seem that the railroad still isn´t well received.

On May, 1904, somebody tries to burn the railroad stations of Both Nogales. The company offers a reward of $250 to the informer of who attempted it, although the following month the US side station is burnt down. Ending the following year the stone building on the US side is finished. It will last until the 1960´s.

In 1907, another railroad line is started at Lomas. It will communicate Nogales with the Cananea-Naco rail line. By August 1908, the company has built 62.1 Km up to Zorrilla, and by December 58.7 Km more, up to Del Rio. Nogales has turned by then into the main Sonora port.

Everybody thinks that the economic boom will continue for many years to come. Nobody can imagine that the Revolution will begin shortly.