The Municipal Economy

By 1920, the State Government liquor production taxes is raised up to $5,000 yearly, while permits for saloons cost between $300 and $500, with monthly taxes that sometimes reach $200.

In Nogales, that year every brothel pays $100 a Month in municipal taxes. The only higher tax paid locally is Juan Lung Tain and Co´s store, who pays $200. Andres Brunwow, Donnadiew Bros, Alfredo Cuanway, Yick Chong and Way On Chong, each pays the same tax: $100.

Two years later, a newspaper article reports that the income of liquor are second only to Customs in Mexico, and Nogales is not the exception.

By 1924, the Nogales beer breweries pay between $100 and $500 a month. The same tax paid by the Nogales Water Co, or the Electricity Company. Saloons pay $300 yearly, besides a monthly tax that varies between $200 and $400. Together with this increase of saloons and their associated importance for the local economy, some local fuctionaries are involved in shady businesses.

Starting the Municipal Government 1920-1921, they agree to open Calle Vazquez, as it has grown in population, and the booths located against the Municipal Market are removed. Besides this, the little booths selling fruit and drinks located in Plaza 13 de Julio are also removed, in spite of the lack of work offer. A truck for the cleaning of the streets of the new city is also acquired, as well as the road between Nogales and Saric is begun. It passes through Planchas de Plata, and La Arizona.

By November, the President proposes to ask for a loan of $2,000 Dlls to the Local Health Board for the connection of Nogales sewage to Nogales, Arizona. The loan will be guaranteed by 2% of the municipal part of Customs Importations.

On November 13, the new Governor, Adolfo de la Huerta, orders again the prohibition to be put in effect, and the following day orders that all the saloons of Nogales be closed. However, this law won´t last, and soon afterwards, as Jean Revel-Mouroz has said:

"With the "technological" and financial help of the US underworld, the mexican border cities are crowded with bars, prostibles, horse races, as well as acquire their reputation of "Hole of the world"

Soon after this, a scandal will truncate many of those projects, as that same month the Presidente is accused of having delivered Modesto Martinez to the US Authorities, while Cabildos agrees his removal on November 18.

The Interim President, by December ends the opening of Railroad Street, as well as finishes the street that enters Cañada de los Locos. This Cañada will change it´s name to Buenos Aires by next January.

The Nogales Firefighters by then have a local inside the Municipal Palace (today´s Post Office), and on February 18 they ask the Ayuntamiento to be given a truck with the necessary equipment to fight fires. The answer: make a report of your needs, to see what can be done.

When the Constitutional President returns after his acquital, Cabildos agrees to sell the building of the Palacio Municipal (today´s Post Office) to the Federal Government, and with part of the income is bought from Antonio Proto the Municipal Market, and the remaining amount to be used in the remodeling of the Jail (corner of Obregon and Gonzalez), to set up there the Palacio Municipal. This remodeled building will be inaugurated on June 24, 1924.

Besides this, it is agreed that together with the remodeling of the Municipal Market, the building will be widened to the South, while in the neighboring blocks, the strip of land to be sold to the neighbors. This is the reason that Ochoa St. is so narrow.

By July, it is ordered that the saloons must close at midnight, while the State Congress authorizes the Nogales Government to acquire a loan for $500,000 for the water supply and sewage of Nogales.

In November, Christ Kerson is authorized to open "a restaurant as well as the retail sale of beer and wines, right next to the old offices of Gral Obregon, which are owned by Eduardo Camou", at the corner of International, Elias and Railroad.

That same November, due to the increase in population towards the South, and that the Brothels zone has been surrounded by homes, the Ayuntamiento agrees to relocate it.

They agree to buy 9 Has in the Cañada del Carricito to the Reforma Land and Cattle Co, whose president is Alejandro Villaseñor, and Vice President H. H. Levy, to build there the new brothels zone. However, the old one will continue working at El Ranchito for many years more.