Spanish abstract: El presente articulo tiene por objeto explicar, a partir de un metodo historico juridico e inductivo, la importancia de la sentencia de la Corte Suprema de Justica del 20 de octubre de 1898, en la que se condena al Estado por el decreto que da por caducado un contrato de concesion de obra publica que termina siendo adjudicado a un tercero. Esta decision ensena el grave vacio en la historia, asi como la existencia de figuras contractuales que se han mantenido por mas de 120 anos. A traves del analisis del contrato de concesion y la declaracion de caducidad estatal, se pretende aportar a la comprension y armonizacion del sistema actual de contratacion publica. English abstract: This paper aims to explain, through an inductive legal historical method, the importance of the Supreme Court’s ruling of October 20, 1898. In this decision, the Colombian State was found liable for ordering the termination by default of a concession agreement of public work and its adjudication to a different bidder. The judgement of the Supreme Court shows a serious historical gap, as well as the existence of contractual forms and practices that have endured for more than one hundred and twenty years. By examining the concession agreement and the unilateral termination by default institutions, the research seeks to add to the understanding of the Colombian current system of public procurement.