The Colonial Iron Horse: Railroads and Regional Development in the Philippines, 1875-1935

by Arturo G. Corpuz

The Colonial Iron Horse identifies and discusses urban and regional development factors in late 19th to early 20th century Philippines by looking at transportation in general and railroads in particular. It begins with an overview of early patterns of production and settlement organization, and relates these to developments in colonial markets, trade, and transportation. It tells stories of how railroads were planned, built, and operated, how they influenced and in turn were affected by the growth of urban centers and regions, and how various technological improvements, cultural and economic practices, and political events--from the introduction of automobiles to political conflicts in other parts of the world--figured in these developments. It discusses the strategic role of the railroad during the Philippine-American War, and the varying relationships between railroads and military bases and the production and distribution of key agricultural products. These topics provide glimpses of an era when railroads were active agents of change, describing where and why railroads were built and how these were involved in stamping out in shifting relief the social and economic geography of Luzon.

Genres: History

262 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[Tito Quiling, Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this copy at this year's Manila International Book Fair, and was immediately sold upon reading that this is a history of the (seemingly defunct) railroad system in the Philippines. The "Iron Horse" that was the Manila Railroad Company was at its height during the pre-war years. While the title may seem a bit mechanical and cold, for the history buffs, the content delves into the rich history of transportation scheme that was an offshoot of the mighty trail of the Pasig River.

The amount of research about this partially-neglected part of Philippine history is commendable and the historical mapping of the the previously-existing lines in relation to the current names of these places, are described succintly. the On another note, the maps--on the existing and proposed lines were quite disheartening to read through because had these railways continue to run, the amount of traffic in the urban setting may not be as extensive at it is today and inter-provincial and perhaps even inter-island travel could have improved by leaps and bounds.