Propitious economic conditions do not greet Porfirio…

Propitious economic conditions do not greet Porfirio Díaz upon his rise to power in 1876.

Mexico remains saddled with a huge foreign debt and an empty treasury.

An army of bureaucrats is owed back wages, the country has a poor international credit rating, and persistent current account deficits cause serious balance of payments problems.

Investment, whether foreign or domestic, is scarce, and the mining industry has yet to recover from the revolutionary wars.

The relatively few mines in operation in 1876 are exploited haphazardly, and extraction and smelting techniques are archaic.

Only a few miles of rail have been laid, transportation and communications are rudimentary, and dock facilities are dilapidated and unsafe.

Endemic rural violence further hinders commerce.