Tranvías cárnicos. Los Mataderos. Buenos Aires. 1899.

Vintage copy toned in sepia, mounted on a white cardboard. Measurements: 17.3 x 22.4 cm / 6.81 x 8.81 in. Work in good condition, it is exhibited framed.

The tramway development of Buenos Aires has been fundamental for the growth and consolidation of this great South American metropolis. It all started around 1863 when a horse bus service was implemented to transport passengers from the north and west rail lines to the center of the city.

But the trams as a regular public service have their founding date on February 27, 1870, when the companies "Tramway Central" of Julio and Federico Lacroze "and" Tramway 11 de September "of the Agustín, Teófilo and Nicanor Méndez brothers simultaneously started that On the same day - blessed be the commercial competition - its urban routes. Two years later, six were the transport companies and, by 1880, the large companies were already emerging, among which "The Capital" stood out. All of them positioned this capital to the world leader for its extensive tram network, to the point of being known as: "Buenos Ayres, la cité des tramways".

A spectacular technical advance took place on December 4, 1897 when "La Capital" started the electrical service that would end with blood traction. Precisely from this leading company we present today an excellent record of work executed by an unidentified photographer. In front of his camera, around 30 machinists, operators, technicians and workers pose attentively. As the background of the scene, we appreciate the three huge ships with their bridge cranes; This construction adjacent to the well-known Vail Station in the Boedo neighborhood - located in the block comprised by Europa streets - current Carlos Calvo- Loria, United States and Liniers - bears the enormous legend: "Electric Tramway" La Capital "- 1899 - Meat Transportation".

The renowned tram historian Aquilino González Podestá informs us that, at this Station, the containers of meat from the Mataderos Market were received and destined for the different distribution points in the city. That building and after many vicissitudes - such as the total closure of the tram service during the Frondiz government - was finally demolished and in 2011 the "Plaza Mariano Moreno" was inaugurated. As can be seen in this single image, different and complementary stories related to the city, its trams, working-class work and the nutrition of its growing population are combined.

Abel alexander

President

Ibero-American Society for the History of Photography