Lost in thought I imagine the whispers of bygone eras swirling around Mojón 10. Today we stand before a silent sentinel of Buenos Aires history. It is Mojón 10.
What is a Mojón? Mojón is a permanent marker that establishes boundaries. The word comes from the Hispano-Latin Mutulus. This means the protruding head of a beam. Some say it might come from the Etruscan. It may even have relatives in Basque.
Back in 1887 Argentina needed a capital. Buenos Aires was the historical capital of the Province. After a revolution in 1880 the National Government succeeded. In 1887 the Province ceded the districts of Flores and Belgrano. An indispensable condition was that the Nation build a boulevard. It would be at least one hundred meters wide. It would mark the edge of the ceded territory.
In January 1888 engineers were appointed to mark the boundary. Pablo Blot and Luis Silveira were chosen. One was chosen by the National Government and the other by the Provincial Government. On February 6 1888 President Juarez Celman approved their report. Governor Maximo Paz also approved the engineers’ plans. The districts of Flores and Belgrano would hand over the ceded territory. Iron boundary markers were placed to define that boulevard.
The Avenida General Paz has a polygonal shape. It is determined by boundary markers A, B, C, D and E. These were placed at the beginning of the layout. They also marked the points where the ring road changed direction. The A marker is the starting point. It is closest to the River Plate. Today it is buried 0.80 cm deep. It lies on land now occupied by a police club. B was at the intersection with Republiquetas Avenue. C is near F. Beiró Avenue. D coincided with Km 16. It was on Tonelero Street at an angle to Díaz Vélez Avenue. E was placed at Km 23. It was a bend in the Riachuelo. This was before it was straightened.
The remaining markers were placed one kilometer apart. There was a total of 23. Each mojón is approximately 0.80 meters high. It is 32 cm wide on each side. One side reads “Capital Federal”. The opposite side reads “Provincia de Buenos Aires”. A third side indicates the kilometer. The opposite side shows the mojón number. The exact boundary between Province and Capital runs through the center of the mojón. The Avenida General Paz belongs entirely to Capital. The Province begins at the outer edge of the Avenue.
Today only 10 of the original 27 markers remain. Some are embedded. Others are more prominent and visible. Some are half-buried. They are lost among the weeds. Two mojones are set into walls. A resident may sleep and live in the province. Yet when they leave their house they are in the capital. These residents have addresses in the Capital. They vote and pay taxes in the Province.
When these mojones were placed everything was fields and farms. They were lost in the immensity of the pampas. Yesterday these mojones marked a new path. They divided sown fields and groves. Carts and carriages crossed them. Today they silently witness the intense traffic. This traffic circulates along the Avenida General Paz.
It is important to know Mojón 10. It is also important to preserve it as heritage. It has significant historical value. It is a reminder of how Buenos Aires became what it is today.