Romero was also focused on business , and especially with the idea of attracting foreign investment to Mexico . After seeing the success of the Sonora Railway Company in doing so in 1879 , he turned his attention to railroads and Grant . Even before the 1880 Republican National Convention , Romero approached Grant about railway promotion . That October , with Grant 's political chances foreclosed , Romero visited him in the United States and offered him the presidency of a potential railroad , which he hoped to build south from Mexico City to the Guatemala border . The governor of the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca granted Romero a concession to build there . Romero and Grant held a banquet at Delmonico 's in New York City to pitch the idea to wealthy American investors . That winter , they worked to convince the New York state legislature to incorporate the venture , which they did on March 1 , 1881 . Grant served as president of the new company , with Union Pacific executive Grenville Dodge as vice president and Russell Sage , another railroad man , as treasurer
1880 Republican National Convention
1880 Republican National Convention
Mexican Southern Railroad