In this image is a harbor in Panama City, listed as taken some time between 1850 to 1900. This image speaks to the rapid and sudden boom in production and exports during the neocolonial period of Latin America. Shipping and rail systems, crucial to the economic development of the region, are pictured here both prominently in the fore and background, with various goods in between. On the center left is a building with a balcony banner labeled Royal Mail Steam Packet Company. On the train is either an unidentified agricultural product, or given the presence of wooden planks, likely a construction commodity.

The presence of a British shipping venture present in the image indicates that this harbor either was or was about to become incredibly important in the perspective of global trade and shipping. It is important to note that during this period, Latin America was making immense strides in logistical infrastructure. The railroads being built during this era facilitated rapid transport of trade goods both domestically and to ports headed internationally. As the transport network quickly expanded, goods could reach harbors such as this one with increasing ease, perpetuating the means of furthering the global economic foothold of Latin America.

Keep in mind that the Panama Canal was being financed and built during this time in history. From this, we can infer that the contents these specific trains and ships carried likely went towards the construction of the project. Ultimately, if Latin America’s mineral and agricultural markets had not developed the ability to move immense quantities of resources during their export booms, the infrastructure necessary for such a project would not exist, making the trade and transport crescendo that is the Panama Canal an impossibility. 

One very interesting detail in this picture is that there appear to be electrical poles and lines running throughout the harbor, signaling the onset of modernity in Latin America. I wonder exactly how far ahead Latin America was in regards to modernization, in relation to the rest of the world during the prosperous times pictured above.