The copper era., 1905-07-13
NACO CITIZENS ARE HOMELESS.
Free Zone Abolished by Order of the
 Government.

A HOIlCc pOSI6Q dL Lne COullSdfld O1 Naco, Sonora, last week, and hence forth to be in force and effect, will have the result of practically wiping the town off the map; it will force the people living there to give up their homes and betake themselves elsewhere, and the merchants must retire from business.
 This notice of such evil portent an nounces the annulment of the free zone, and that in future people living within its limits must pay the full import duties on everything they take across the line. In the past residents of the free zone (which ex- tends 20 kilometers, or twelve miles, from the boundary were required to pay but 10 per cent. of these duties.
 People who live at points like Juarez and Nogales, for instance, which have rail communication with Mexican ports and the chief markets are not particularly injured by the new ruling, since if they are denied the privilege of buying four in the United States they may purchase the homemade article. But the resident of a place like Naco, Sonora, or Agila Prieta, which have no rail connection with the interior of their own country, and must perforce buy their supplies in the Great Republic, are almost denied the right to exist
 
 Now, however, it is different. To illustrate, the housekeeper buying his supplies on this side of the line must pay five cents per pound dnty on flour; on potatoes and fruit, one cent per pound; on meats, six cents per pound; on preserves, 40 cents per pound; on canned goods, seven and one-half cents per pound. And so on down the line.
 "The enforcement of this order," remarked one of the leading citi- zens of the town across the line, ''simply means that the people of Naco, Sonora, must give up their homes and leave. It is impossible to pay these duties. Nine-tenths ot the people must move to this side of the line, and I shall put up tent on the American side and make my home in it. And hundreds of others will fol- low my example,"
 This is the prevailing opinion. But worse than this is the consequent de- preciation of property. As leading ing buseness man remarked, 'prop erty today is not worth over ten cents on the dollar of it's previous valuation. The enforcement of this order has caused property loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
 It seems that the abolition of the free zone is due to the protests of merchants in Juarez, Laredo, Ia maulipas and Porfrio Diaz, who did not like the competitor of American business houses.
 The editor suggested to several of the leading citizens across the line that public meeting be held and petition sent to the federal govern ment asking that the ruling be sus- pended as regards Sonora points.
 i've cannot hold meeting like that in Mexico. Everyone of us who took a prominent part in such a gathering would be arrested. 1t was only last April that a petition was drawn up to be sent to the state authorities asking that Armada be required to live up to the terms ot his contract for supplying the citizens of the town with water; some of those who signed the petition were arrested and fined. And then efforts were to be made to put stop to crooked gam bling, but the tip came direct from the powers that be that such action would be regarded as unfriendly. As d free country Mexico is warm one.'
 It is a hard situation when the citizens of a town are forced to give up their homes through the action of their own government. And that is what the ruling amounts to. NacO, Sonora, is off the map.
 It was hostile power that drove the Acadians from their firesides and birthrights, so touchingly de- scribed by Longfellow. But it is their own people that drive the Citi- zens of NacO, Sonora, from their domestic lares and penates.-Naco Budget.
 The Old Dominion copper mining commands nrOdurtiOn for JI1ne wa c