Chapter 2 – Politics, Economics and Society

POLITICS: In the reign of King Rama V, the government system was authority centralization. The governed areas were divided into municipality regions. Lampang was under the region of Phayap (Northwestern) Region together with Chiangmai, Lamphun, Nan, etc., in 1900 whilst Lampang City was still ruled by the prince under the dominion of Siam Kingdom. The last prince of Lampang is Prince Boonyawat Wongmanit.

ECONOMICS AND SOCIETY: Lampang was modernized when the northern route railroad from Bangkok arrived on 1st.April 1916. By that time, Bangkok had motor cars in replacement of horse carriages. So, all the obsolete horse carriages that were used to buy from England in the reign of King Rama IV had been overused. Then all horse carriages were transported to Lampang by train. That is the first time they were used as taxis of the city and later has become the show case of Lampang for tourist’s sightseeing tour of Lampang City until now. FORESTRY IN LANPANG: In 1899, Louis T. Leonowens opened his company in Lampang named Louis T. Leonowens Company Limited that was granted for forestry concession from Siam government at that time. Lampang was the center of forestry business that made Lampang quite a busy city. After the forestry booming period, Lampang became a busy city again at the time of World War II in 1939 when the downtown was full of Japanese soldiers. There were many entertainments complex such as night clubs, restaurants, Thai opera house and opium smoking house (which was still legal at that time)

ECONOMICS AND SOCIETY: Lampang was modernized when the northern route railroad from Bangkok arrived on 1st.April 1916. By that time, Bangkok had motor cars in replacement of horse carriages. So, all the obsolete horse carriages that were used to buy from England in the reign of King Rama IV had been overused. Then all horse carriages were transported to Lampang by train. That is the first time they were used as taxis of the city and later has become the show case of Lampang for tourist’s sightseeing tour of Lampang City until now.

FORESTRY IN LANPANG: In 1899, Louis T. Leonowens opened his company in Lampang named Louis T. Leonowens Company Limited that was granted for forestry concession from Siam government at that time. Lampang was the center of forestry business that made Lampang quite a busy city. After the forestry booming period, Lampang became a busy city again at the time of World War II in 1939 when the downtown was full of Japanese soldiers. There were many entertainments complex such as night clubs, restaurants, Thai opera house and opium smoking house (which was still legal at that time) In the next issue, we will present you with Lampang Temple and City Tour.