A Mexican Family Empire: The Latifundio of the Sánchez Navarro Family, 1765-1867 9780292762589

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MEXICAN

FAMILY

EMPIRE

The Latijundio of the Sanchez Navarros, 1765-1867

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I I I

I I I


O With Coahuila subject to periodic droughts, the importance of irrigation to agriculture cannot be overstated. The Sanchez Navarros continually strove to expand the irrigation networks at their haciendas. During the 1851 drought, for instance, the administrador took advantage of the low water level to overhaul the network of canals at Patos and to construct a new dam. 101 Much of this backbreaking work was still performed, as in the colonial period, by peons using shovels, but there had been a growing trend toward using blasting powder on irrigation projects. The most elaborate networks were at the northern haciendas of Soledad and San Juan de Sabinas, at Patos, and at the Tapado-Hermanas complex. In 1846, Hermanas had an estimated one thousand acres under cultivation, while there was "considerable cultivation" in the vicinity of Tapado. 102 While they owned Rosario and San Lorenzo de la Laguna, the Sanchez Navarros also relied heavily on irrigation at those estates. The extent to which irrigation was practiced often provoked comment by travelers passing through the latifundio.103 As with other aspects of agriculture, however, a lack of data prevents the precise reconstruction of the irrigation system. Agriculture still centered around the production of maize for the peons' rations and wheat, the principal cash crop. There was some diversification: at the haciendas of Soledad, San Juan de Sabinas, and Hermanas, cotton and sugar cane were raised extensively on a commercial basis; and some barley was grown at Hermanas and Patos. In further contrast to colonial times, there was increased emphasis on the raising of fruits and vegetables for local consumption; seeds and

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THE NATIONAL PERIOD

(1822-1867)

cuttings were periodically brought from Mexico City to improve the orchards. Distribution of agricultural commodities within the latifundio centered around Hermanas and Patos. The northern haciendas shipped their production to Hermanas, retaining only enough maize for rations. Occasionally, as in 1828, crop failures at Soledad and San Juan de Sabinas forced a reversal of this procedure, with Hermanas providing maize rations for the other two estates. Patos, on the other hand, was the clearinghouse for the remainder of the landholding. The wheat from San Lorenzo de Ia Laguna and Rosario went to Patos, where a quantity of it was ground into flour, the surplus being shipped on to Saltillo for milling. Patos also received the maize production from Castano and Castafiuela. In turn Patos provided the rations for those estates where agriculture was not emphasized, such as Hedionda Grande, the Punta de Santa Elena, and Bonanza. Yet, despite the trend toward diversification and increased production, the primary objective in agriculture remained the same as in the colonial period: ensuring that the latifundio was self-sufficient in foodstuffs. The Sanchez Navarros labored mightily for generations to achieve this objective; in the end they failed, not because such traditional problems as Indian depredations, drought, or the chronic labor shortage overwhelmed them, but because it was impossible to insulate the latifundio from the political convulsions that wracked Mexico in the nineteenth century. Because Coahuila was usually on the periphery of the turmoil, for decades the Sanchez Navarros escaped much of the destruction endured by hacendados in central Mexico. Occasionally the army would demand supplies, as in 1836 when maize was requisitioned at Hermanas during Santa Anna's ill-fated Texas campaign. 101 Even though payment was problematical, these exactions were more of a nuisance than a threat to the family's interests. A more serious situation arose during the Mexican War, but here again the Sanchez Navarros were relatively fortunate. The United States Army requisitioned large amounts of supplies, but these were generally paid for in cash. The only real damage to the latifundio was the burning of Aguanueva in 1847, and the Sanchez Navarros rebuilt that casco in short order. Not until1855 did the family's luck begin to run out. This occurred

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during the revolution of Ayutla, which finally ended Santa Anna's dominance of Mexican politics. Forces loyal to Santiago Vidaurri, who had come out in support of the revolution, descended like locusts on the latifundio, helping themselves to remounts and supplies and levying forced loans in the name of the cause.105 Jacobo protested indignantly to Vidaurri in 1856 that the perpetrators of these outrages all claimed to be acting under Vidaurri's orders. Now that the latter was in control of the state government, Jacobo expected to be reimbursed; and he presented a substantial claim for damages. Vidaurri disavowed responsibility, blandly suggesting that in any case the total might perhaps be exaggerated. 106 There ensued a bitter correspondence between the two men, in which Jacobo haughtily requested that his claim be returned, as he was not accustomed to having his word questioned. With relations badly strained, Carlos intervened to effect a reconciliation of sorts, persuading Vidaurri in 1857 to acknowledge a reduced claim and recommend to the national government that it be paid. 107 Perhaps not coincidentally, about this time Vidaurri broached the subject of purchasing the Hacienda del Alamo from the Sanchez Navarros. Despite outwardly correct relations with Vidaurri, the Sanchez Navarros' ranching interests continued to suffer while he remained as governor. Some of the brothers' tenants were harassed by the authorities, forced loans were the order of the day, and rustling increased significantly. In fact, rustling took on political overtones, for Jacobo was convinced that Vidaurri protected the malefactors, some of whom were his own kinsmen and partisans. By 1860, according to Jacobo, the incessant robberies had "ruined" the Sanchez Navarros' northern haciendas. 108 Furthermore, in 1861 the state government seized the haciendas of Nacimiento and Encinas for alleged nonpayment of taxes, and when this pressure proved insufficient Hermanas was seized the following year_1