1922 to 1925

Beginning 1922, Juan N. Beltran donates to the city a piece of land located at the entrance to Barrio del Embarcadero Viejo. His reason:

"I founded eight years ago the Barrio del Embarcadero Viejo, when I built there the first building"

And now he wants to facilitate to it´s neighbors a way out of the barrio. Also, during those days, the old Sandoval residence is aconditioned and transformed into a casino: The International, which is inaugurated on January 7.

Also that year another school is opened. The Centenario, built by the Junta de Beneficiencia Privada near the Rosario Graveyard, on Flamencos St. By May, the Communist Party complains to the Sonora Government, that in the Nogales drugstores, all kind of drugs are being sold "...at any time of day or night..." and accuses that the local authorities are involved.

When asked, the local authorities answer that "...there is no knowledge that there are stores selling drugs." Also, then the US soldiers located in the Nogales, Arizona military camp discover a new way to have a good time. Because in Arizona the prohibition law is still in effect, they like to have their parties outside of town, right at the border, and ask for mermission to the Mexican authorities to cross the border and "be able to drink some beer." Of course, the permission is granted.

Ending the 1921-1922 government, in August some declarations involve the Presidente in bribes related to the construction of the new red light district, as well as his participation in a scandal being drunk. The State Government then makes an investigation, finding some $5,000 missing from the Treasury. His arrest is ordered, and is substituted on September 14, at 5 PM.

The new Municipio government, authorizes the President to move the slaughterhouse to a better place than the Arroyo del Carricito. It will be built on today´s 18 de Marzo St. Besides this, the Governor authorizes the opening of the new Panteon Nacional.

Also then, the President informs that he bought four lots in Colonia Moderna "in the baseball field, which will be destined in the construction of a park" This will be the "Parque de los Heroes"

That year, Nogales has the following schools: Superior (today´s Pestalozzi), Melchor Ocampo, Centenario, Mixta No. 1 as well as at La Arizona. During the night of August 24-25, Nogales fights the largest fire in Nogales history. The building where El Cosmopolitan was located, owned by Eduardo Camou, as well as other buildings, all burn down.

In communications, that year is started the building of the railroad South from Tepic. It will be finished in 1927, and Nogales will be finally communicated directly by railroad to Mexico City.

In June, 1924, trying to fight the criminality associated with drugs, liquor, gambling and prostitution, the US Treasury Department orders the closing of the border gate every night at 9 PM. Nogales, Sonora, immediately condemns the measure, while many of the bars and saloons of the city are forced to close. However, another source of local work begins then with the construction, on Calzada America, of a brewery as well as ice factory (today´s Malta, located just North of the Secundaria Federal)

The nightly closing of the border won´t last, however. Six months later it is cancelled, while by 1926 the Chamber of Commerce of Nogales, Arizona, declares that "the moral situation in Nogales, Sonora... is better than in 1924 [thanks to] the close colaboration between the municipal governments of both towns"

Nogales has by 1924 a new hospital, Del Socorro, built by the Junta de Beneficencia Privada, near the new brewery, at the Southern end of Calzada America.

The same year, the Councilmen Bernabe Soto and Jesus Alvidrez are commissioned to establish the location of the Barrio Chino, and on May 18, the Public Library is opened, while by June the Night Adult School for both sexes also opens. These two cultural activities are directed by Luis and Emelida Carrillo, and Natalia Suarez who, after studying High School in Los Angeles, decided to return to Nogales to teach "the popular masses" some of what they have learned.

In October 10, the Chinese Nationalist Party Kwo Ming Tang convention starts "with the assistence of several delegates from several of Mexico´s States" It will be held in the building located at Calzada America No 100, and therefore it´s organizers ask for security to held it.

However, on the 15, the arrest of the delegates is ordered, while on November 1 the Presidente is ordered also to arrest the leaders of the Chinese Nationalist League, and apply to them Article 33 of the Constitution. However, the delegates go into hiding.

Ending the year, the urbanization of the following colonias is asked for: Moderna, Municipal, Municipal Anexa, Rosario, Bolivar, Buenos Aires and Reforma.

The following year, Manuela Y. Vda de Murrieta sells the Rancho del Ruido to Ramon M. Moreno, and Chris D. Kerson, James Alexander, and Nick Kerson form the Kerson, Alexander Co. with a capital of $18,000. The reason, they had rented the previous year La Caverna.

Also that year, a new bridge is authorized to be built on Pierson St, between Arizpe and Morelos. There are already 30 taxis, and 165 private cars, of which some 18 are trucks in the City

Around those days, the Governor sends a telegram to the Presidente, warning him that "in case that due to the celebration of our parties the border is being closed, you should cancel immediately the celebration" The answer the Presidente sends is as follows: "according to an agreement reached between authorities of both Nogales, the celebration will continue, with the condition of cancelling our card games and roulette. The border won´t close" which tells us that the governments of both Nogales had by then designed a harmonious system to solve international potential conflicts.

The last day of the 1924-1926 local administration, the Secretary of Industry, Commerce and Labor, Luis N. Morones, is received in Nogales. He is asked for the construction, here, of a High School "...of a complmentary nature, the construction of the city sewage network as well as the change of the water and electricity services to be under the property of the municipality..." as these two last belong to foreigners, with the consequent loss of some $22,000 a month in rents for Mexico.