The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1917-12-01

Merida today claims 82,00O people,
and among its residents are numerous
families Of wealth which have &C
quired riches in connection with the
great industry, the growing of the
maguey and the production Of hene.
quen. Merida, while not as old as the
port of Sisal, dates from 1912, when q
settlement was founded by Francisco
Montej0 on the site Of the ancient
Maya city Of Tihoo. Today one Of the
most interesting buildings to be seen
In Merida is the casa Montejo, still
well preserved after weathering the
sunshine and storms Of centuries. An
other edifice which every visitor
should see is the cathedral which was
started in 1851 and not completed for
nearly 40 years.
For those fond Of seeing relics Of
bygone ages a visit to the museum
will be full of interest, and especially
SO If some of the ancient Yucatan
ruins are to be seen and explored. In
the former one may inspect articles
and curios that have been collected
from the ruins and preserved-really
link connecting the art and trade Of
past centuries with present peoples.
Merida, commercially, industrially,
and socially has greatly improved dur
ing recent years. Streets and avenues
have been paved with asphalt, cleo
tricity has been provided, labor-saving
machinery introduced, and otherwise
life and conditions have been modern
lied.
Dramatically, Merida is hot, but
healthful. During the hours Of mid
day the suns rays are extremely un-
pleasant and the stranger Is told to
keep In the shade. Cool breezes from
the surrounding seas, however, often
temper the heat Of the whole PENN
sula. The months Of March and April
are regarded as especially trying to-
the newcomer In any part Of Yucatan;
winter by fur is the best season for
visiting the country, and during these
months the excursion to the famous
ruins existing in several different
parts of the peninsula can be made
with fair degree Of comfort. The
temperature in Merida ranges from
about Is degrees to 90 degrees Fahren-
heit.
Volan the Popular Vehicle.
The visitor In Merida for the first
time will be interested In a native ve'
hicle known as the 'volan." which
might be aptly termed half brother
of the famous calash Of Quebec. The
volan has two big wheels and is usual
ly drawn by three ponies working
abreast; it Is provided with easy-rid-
ing springs, a thick mattress floor COW
erlng offers a soft seat on the floor of
the vehicle, while top with side cur
tains protects the traveller from the
suns rays. Highways in Yucatan have
not greatly. improved with the degree
of the prosperity Of the Land, and the
volan seems to be a popular method
Of cross-country transportation. The
stranger out Of curiosity, If for moth
ing else, usually goes for q ride In this
rather novel means Of travel.
Mingling with the business men Of
Merida provides excellent opportuni-
ties for studying the commercial side
of affairs; and I found many Of these
gentlemen willing to talk freely about
Yucatan's future outlook. One OF the
first things which seems to have i'm
pressed itself upon the average resi-
dent is the improved condition provid-
ed for the laboring classes, such as
higher wages for work and generally
more freedom Of action than in for
mer years. Better wages out on the
henequen plantation Is Of course re-
flected in the business activities of
Merida, for the latter is not only the
capital Of the state but a place In
which everything centers. The work
ing day has been reduced to eight
hours, and for this time the henequen
laborer is paid the equivalent $1.5O to
So; FIVE days tho yNcatecan works
and two days Of the week are reserved
for rest and recreation. Or the larger
plantations schools have been opened
ut the expense Of the landowner, ana
numerous improved sanitary reyDa-
tons are In force.
If the stranger tarries In Merida he
is likely to have opportunities for
seeing something Of the home life of
the people. Even during a stroll along
the best residential streets glance
into open-door patios reveals charm
ing flower gardens anu q degree OF
comfort and refinement not noticeable
from outward appearances Of the av-
erage private home. Many Of Merida's
citizens are hospitable 60 marked
degree. and when the foreign visitor
finds favor and is invited to the family
circl. he is on the road to many en-
j0yahle fIActicn2