Luis Ortega Douglas: an interesting man in an
interesting time
Written by Carlos Reyes Sahagún on Jul 4th, 2011
I recover the information published in this newspaper on June 21 by my
occasional neighbor of the page, the First State Columnist, Matías
Lozano Díaz de León, about the centenary of the birth of Mr. Luis Ortega
Douglas, that was fulfilled on that date , and that in turn took him
from a job of Eng. Adolfo Padilla Muñoz.
Luis Ortega Douglas, interesting character in an interesting time; man
of extremely light blood, controversial until the scandal; to provoke
extreme feelings among those who knew him and / or were affected or
benefited by his actions.
It will be because of the "do not pull it off", or for another reason
that I do not know, but the fact is that we ignore more about local
politics than we do.
This is the case of Ing. Ortega Douglas, who governed -or "disobeyed,"
as it is seen- the state between December 1956 and November 1962, and
who previously, between 1948 and 1950, was municipal president of the
capital, in another sexenio for other stormy, that of Ing. Jesús María
Rodríguez Flores.
Perhaps the almost permanent scandal that accompanied its management is
an element that hinders a serious evaluation; objective, of those
administrative lapses; an evaluation that transcends the jocular,
sparkling, always ingenious anecdote, to consider not only the negative
that occurred, but also those aspects that contributed to the
development of Aguascalientes.
In principle Ortega Douglas was one of the first construction
professionals there was, along with also civil engineers Gustavo
Talamantes Ponce, Flavio Madrigal, the architect Francisco Aguayo Mora,
and others.
Many of the works whose construction he directed today form part of our
architectural heritage. Some examples of what I affirm were documented
by J. Jesús López García in his book Aguascalientes [1920-1944] the
architectural transition published by the UAA.
Nothing else on Madero Avenue are the following: the house that is
currently the headquarters of the delegation of SEMARNAT, the building
of the Industrial Mexicana, the old building of the Ford, and then the
headquarters of Farmacia Sánchez. In addition, we must add, in Juan de
Montoro Street, that jewel that is the old Alameda Cinema.
He also built the building that originally housed the Distribuidora
Cuauhtémoc, and which is currently the Trillas Bookstore, on Avenida
Madero, the south tower of the cathedral, the Arellano Valle school,
etc.
As municipal president, he promoted the urbanization of the capital,
based on measures as important as the Urban Regulatory Plan, and to a
certain extent, the fate of Governor Jesús María Rodríguez Flores.
Because of this, it is hard for me to understand that he was
"resurrected" six years later, to become a State Executive. As such, it
promoted the creation of infrastructure, such as neighborhood roads, the
introduction of electric power, etc. One of the first multifamily
buildings was built in Aguascalientes, in the old barracks Las Palomas,
in Galeana and Rayón, the Government Palace was expanded, the Rivero y
Gutiérrez school was built in its current headquarters, etc.
However, many of the positive things fostered by this character are
overshadowed by accusations of "highly inexplicable enrichment". I did
not hear him say it, but he did attribute that maxim of corruption,
certainly false; gossip from people who have nothing better to do, that
"if there is no work not left over", in reference to the fact that it is
in the budgets for public works where resources can be found which are
subject to an act of Magic.
Some measures attempted by his administration met with the strong
opposition of important sectors of the "living forces", which put an end
to his modernizing efforts.
To resist his intention to revalue the property, the House of Urban
Property and Users of Water was formed, and when he wanted to indebt the
Aguascalientes City Council for the construction of Avenida Oriente
Poniente, he met with the refusal of the municipal president, Ms. .
María del Carmen Martín del Campo, who was supported by PRI
organizations such as the Workers' Federation of Aguascalientes, at a
time when corporatism was the basic support of any government.
Ortega Douglas became governor in a ceremony that took place at midnight
on November 30, 1956. President Ruiz Cortinez sent as his representative
the secretary of labor, Lic. Adolfo López Mateos, who just two years
later would replace Ruiz Cortines in office. Ortega squandered a golden
opportunity to align himself with the one to whom the Veracruz citizen
would inherit the country, in a gesture that undoubtedly had to have
some consequence for the state.
With Luis Ortega came to an end a stage of turbulence that had lasted,
not without some moments of calm, since 1945, approximately; a period in
which society contradicted again and again the mythical invention of
Prof. Alejandro Topete del Valle embodied in the state's coat of arms,
which states that Aguascalientes is the "land of good people".
With Prof. Enrique Olivares Santana at the head of the State Executive,
Aguascalientes began a stage of stability that lasts until today, and if
Olivares was able to bring to a successful conclusion and without major
problems some of the most expensive projects of Ortega, the opening of
the Avenidas Oriente Poniente, Hero of Nacozari and Circunvalación, it
was because before this one had paid the political cost for such
measures.
Luis Ortega Douglas was the Governor of the Mexican
State of Aguascalientes.
Artistic and urbanistic contributions of engineer Ortega Douglas in the
city of Aguascalientes, Mexico (1948-1969)
Alejandro Acosta Collado
Summary
Engineer Luis Ortega Douglas began to build houses and schools in
Aguascalientes, Mexico. He also became Municipal President of the local
City Council. Ortega Douglas changed the built profile of the city
thanks to his entrepreneurial ideas and personal relationships - which
he used to his advantage as a political leader. He also received great
support from the then president of Mexico: Adolfo Ruiz Cortines. Ortega
Douglas worked as hard as his father John Douglas taught him, who at the
beginning of the 20th century established an important factory, as well
as contributing to the arrival of electric power in the city of
Aguascalientes. Based on primary documentary sources, it is demonstrated
in this writing that Ortega Douglas followed progressive ideologies from
abroad and nationals to contribute with substantial changes in the way
of building and conceiving urbanism in the city. Ortega Douglas built
important modernist buildings on Avenida Madero. He is also credited
with the construction of the Douglas Chalet on Vázquez del Mercado
Avenue, as well as a large cinema on Avenida Alameda. Contributing with
the previous in the change of imaginary of modernist ideas in the
citizens. He also remodeled the old Parian, using his academic thesis as
a basis. After leaving the position of Municipal President, he dedicated
himself to building in a particular way through a company. Ortega
Douglas also became Governor of the State in 1956. Thus, from the year
1956 to 1962 he returned to the scene in the planning of urban
transformation, promoting the use of the automobile as the main means of
transport, thereby increasing mobility in the city. As governor, he
continued applying urban planning ideas of his predecessor: Jesús María
Rodríguez, to evolve the city, also following some proposals from Carlos
Contreras' plan. Ortega Douglas promoted the construction of López
Mateos Avenue, as well as the vehicular peripheral rings that surround
the city, promoting the city of Aguascalientes as an important urban
planning reference in the Mexican Republic. This paper aims to
demonstrate how Ortega Douglas decided to promote the use of the
automobile, establishing novel design proposals,
Abstract
In 1948, the engineer Luis Ortega Douglas started building houses and
schools in Aguascalientes, Mexico. He also became the main City Hall
Administrator. Ortega Douglas changed the city profiles thanks to his
power and the relationships I used to have as a political leader. Also I
have got some help from the President of Mexico: Adolfo Ruiz Cortines.
Ortega Douglas worked as hard as his father John Douglas educated him,
who at the beginning of the century had established an important mill,
and also brought the electrical power to Aguascalientes City. Based on
historic papers it was found that Ortega Douglas followed foreign ideas
to change architecture and urbanism in the city. Ortega Douglas built
several important modern buildings on Madero Avenue. Ortega Douglas
built a Chalet on Vázquez del Mercado Avenue and even a big cinema on
Alameda Avenue. I have changed the city image to a modern place to live.
Also I have rebuilt the main mall in the city center, -named Parián,
based on his thesis work. After administering the city, Ortega Douglas
became a builder and continued building as well. He also became Governor
of the State of Aguascalientes in 1956. From 1956 to 1962 he was a big
influence in the city planning and promoted the use of the cars to
increase the speed to get from one point to another within the city.
Eleven a Governor, I followed the city planning Jesus Maria Rodriguez
had used, -as a former Governor, to change the city and also followed a
few designs of Carlos Contreras to make Aguascalientes a modern city.
Ortega Douglas promoted the construction of Lopez Mateos Avenue and also
the two main rings (avenues) that contained the city to show how
Aguascalientes could become an important city in the nation. The paper
pretends to show how Ortega Douglas decided to promote the use of cars
and settled new ways to design the city, based on modern ideas.
Luis was the son of José Guadalupe Ortega y Romo de Vivár and María Adela
Douglas. Born in the city of Aguascalientes, he was Municipal President
in the period of 1948-1950 and Governor of 1956 - 1962. He married Irene Hernandez Duque. His brother, Edmundo built
Castillo Douglas.
The remains of former governor Luis Ortega Douglas also lie in the Los
Angeles Cemetery.
See also:
• Castillo Douglas
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