Paper short abstract:

This presentation explores the impact of diseases and labour shortages on forest industries and infrastructure development in the Yucatan Peninsula during the late 19th and the first half of the 20th century.

Paper long abstract:

During the late 19th and the first half of the 20th century, the tropical forests of the Yucatán Peninsula served as a vital source of valuable export commodities, including mahogany, logwood, and, notably, chicle. This region witnessed substantial investments, infrastructure development, and a growing labour force amidst war and revolution. However, diseases posed significant challenges to commodity production, labour control and infrastructure expansion.

This presentation explores the impact of diseases and labour shortages on forest industries and infrastructure development in the Yucatan Peninsula. It provides insights into the intricate dynamics of extraction, processing and logistics of rainforest resources, as well as how environmental conditions influenced commodity production in the region.

The presentation reveals that many locals resisted participating in the forest industry and railway construction due to extremely harsh working conditions. Additionally, recruiting migrant labourers proved challenging due to the demanding work environment. Various health issues, including malaria, yellow fever, dysentery, tuberculosis, and snake bites, deterred people from entering this region. The combination of hot and humid weather, hygiene problems and abundant insects and parasites contributed to deadly diseases among local and migrant forest workers. Of particular concern was "la mosca chiclera," a carrier of leishmaniasis, a longstanding endemic illness in the area known since prehispanic times.