Working papers series - Universidad Pablo de Olavide

in this case lesser figures were used. In 1847 they hired the MP Daniel Carballo, who
speeded up the authorisations to carry out works at the railway and the port, and to
accelerate machinery imports. From then on, he was in included, by virtue of his role in
favour of the company until 1889, on the payroll, with an annual salary of GBP 1,200 38 .
Until 1896, he was followed by Enrique Bushell, but from that date onwards, the
company considered that it was more profitable and discreet for the company to lean on
the candidates of the conservative party in Huelva and Valverde del Camino, with the
commitment from them to support the Rio Tinto Co. in Madrid.
To reinforce this presence, the existence of an official representative in the
Capitol city was institutionalised. He had the mission of managing the administrative
issues of the company, directly with the Government. This job was assigned, from 1873
to 1904, to Gabriel Rodríguez and his son Antonio; but it was from 1905, with José
Valero Hervás, that the Río Tinto Company would reach its highest level of influence in
Madrid.
The way in which this company would get involved in the hidden corners of
political corruption of the Restoration period is really striking. The company dominated
and biased the encasillado 39 in the Huelva constituencies with total authority, which
turned them into the most powerful cacique in the region. From then on, the company
operated in order to gain favour with of the Government, justifying their presence as the
only factor that could drive the dynastic parties to win in the mining area, in opposition
to the republicans and the numerous socialist groups. Such a “service” was paid to the
company by means of manifold political and economic privileges that rendered them
virtually untouchable 40 .
V
As far back as the Napoleon Wars, the Rothschild family ensured the way to
take advantage of the fluctuating commodity and currency markets, with the prospect of
increasing profits in the drawing of international bills. Working in several venues and
coordinating their multiple family businesses as one was an asset that soon allowed
them to get to know the development of exchange rates, the movement of troops and the
outcome of military battles beforehand, for their own benefits. This was the time when
the Rothschild legend was born. Tales were told about their art to get information on
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