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YUCATAN'S J BUSY CAPITAL? 4* Tho Federal Palace, Merlda. SAILING Into n foreign porl nl the break of day appears to tx> n favorite custom with tho ?v* eragc sen enptnin, nnd Uic orra. Blmi to which wo write wiib no excep? tion. For Rovornl hours our ship's course bad been guided by dashes <rom the friendly lighthouse, nml tho latter wo knew stood on the Yucatan shore nt I'rogreso. The morning broke calm nml peacefully over the troplcnl wa? ters of the gulf, mill soon the move? ment of nnchor chains automatically announced Unit tho limit hot] been renched?tho limit of deep wnter?and live mile* nwny lay I'rogreso, one of the world's nioal Important chipping Center? of hcticniien or hemp. doing ashore nt I'rogreso in rather nu exciting novelty if not n dangerous experience, writes William A. Held In ilie Hiiiioiin of the 1'sn-Amerlcan Union, 't he sen Is nllra with sharks, and they lire darting here and there about lite bin ship, to the coiiHternn tlon of the strnnger. Tita clenr waters which blithe tliU shore seem to accen? tuate the stsa of Ihcsa monaters, nml while tin- visitor shudders Ihn boat? men on the ship's tender, as we nre bounding shoreward, announce tlmi arrangements may then ami there he mnda for a shark-Ashing excursion Inter In the day. I'rogreso from the sen presents long rows of houses flunked on either end by tulles of sandy beaches, while a lull lighthouse about the center of tho port dominates the surroundings. The general npiwtirnncu Is attractive, and OVCn more so whin we nolle.- tidy buildings nnd the cleanly clothing of even the laboring class. The time was August ?Inn we arrived In I'rogreso?? about the very worst action of tin year for the foreign visitor In Yuen inn; but business matters do not wait for the most propitious occasions. At a mutter of fact, the winter season In tho United States furnishes the liest time cllmntlcnlly lot visiting Yucatan. Few Slghta to 8ee In Progrcio. Sightseeing In I'rogreso does not detain the visitor. Hut the port with Iis ?.noo people Is usually a busy one. ns the hulk of the vast henequcn crop pusses via I'rogreso to world markets. The smaller ships calling for cargo manage to draw much closer to port than tho big ocean vessels; but when the loog-tnlkcd-of piers nre construct ? 'I si veral miles out Into the roadstead the handling of the country's com? merce will bo greatly facilitated, In the shipping season tho town presents unusually active scenes with Its ii neks, mules, nnd men. One might Imagine himself amid the cotton bales at New Orleans, so much do henequcn nnd cotton resemble each other In the method of shipment nnd sirs of bales. Hy und by the day grows warmer, and one Is glnd to board tho train for M, tbin, :to miles southward. Travel? ing oh this three-foot gauge road Is cheap, being only about two cents n mile for tin- best accommodation of roil Slowly through the suburbs of I'rogreso mir train steams, but Boon ue are moving rapidly over n level country with n dry and parched ap? pearance, abounding In shrubs, cacti, mid curse grasses; but to this condi? tion Yucatan owes Its vast revenue de rlvcd from the marvelous little maguey plant mid Its product. Hero and there lire breaks In the barrenness and wo catch sigi.t of swamps With lilies and other water plants, a relief to look upon. As our tr::lu proceeds, with atopa nt Utile stations en route, the curs me Is tier tilled, and at the sumo time opportunities arc afforded for getting close glimpses of the hencqucn work? ers and their fields of maguey plants that 110 In view from the cor window. ! Long before Righting Merlda the land- . nape becomes dotted with windmills, mid when Qnnlly the capltnl city la ' reached one can almost Imagine him? self In old Holland or Harhados, about the only difference being that Yucatan hr.s the modcrh-Style mill. These wind? mills explain thnt Merlda, like other regions of the country, must pump wa? ter from beneath the surface, so few n-.v the bikes und streams. Driving About Merlda. After being made comfortable In one of Mcrldn's hotels we start out to view the city. There Is DO luck of vehicles and the stranger Is literally swamped , with proffers of it "delightful drive." j Most of these small carriages, gener- ' My drawn hy a single pony, have rub r tires, nnd many are kept consplco ? y clean and Itwllluz looking, ? spite the du-1 of the tab-urban sec- | :t>! s of the city. Morldfl today claims (12,000 people; [ ami among II? residents nre numerous i families of wealth ivhlcli have ?lulli'ii riches In connection with the 1 ttrent Industry, the growing or the 1 maguey mid the production of Ii. quen, Mcrlda, while hot nn old as the | port of Slml, dates from 1642, when it settlement was founded by FraiiclFco Montojo on the alto of Hie iinclont Maya city of Tlhoo. Today one of the most Interesting buildings to be Been In Merldu Ih the casa Monlejo, ?tili well preserved after weathering the sunshine nnd storms of centuries; An? other edifice which every visitor should see Is the cathedral which win started In mill und not completed for nearly 40 years, For those fond of soring relics of bygone ages n visit to the museum 1 will he full of Interest, und es|.lolly bo If rwinie of the ancient Yncntiin ruins nre to lie seen und explored. I" the former one inny Inspect articles and curios thnt have been collected from the ruins und preserved-- really i n link connecting the art und trade of past centuries with present peoples. Mcrlda, commercially, Industrially, nnd aoclnlly has greatly Improved dur? ing recent years, Streets und avenue)! have been paved with asphalt, clor Irlclty has been provided, labor-saving inhchlncry Introduced, nnd otherwise life and conditions have been 1.h rn lacd, Climatically, Merldu Is hot. toil healthful, During the hours of mid? day the sun's rays ore extremely 1111 pleasant nod the stranger Is told to keep in the ahnde. Cool breezes from the nurroumllraf sens, however, often temper :?.e flout of the whole penin? sula, The months of March und April nre regarded us especially trying to tin newcomer In any part of Yuonlnn; ?Inter by far I? the host season for ialtlng the country, and during these months ?!.xc'iralpn to the famous ruins existing In Several different Paris ?f the peninsula can he ninde with 11 fitlr degree of comfort. Tim [ temperature In Mcrlda ranges from1 aiioiii "Ti degrees to ns degrees Fahren? heit. Volan the Popular Vehicle. The visitor In Merlda for the first time will be Interested In 11 unlive vis hide known ns the "volan," which might he aptly termed n half brother of the famous calash of Quebec The Milan has two big wheels and Is usual? ly drawn by threat ponies working abreast; It Is provided with easy-rid lug springs, a thick mattress floor cov? ering offers n soft sent on the floor of the vehicle, while 11 top with side cur? tains protects the traveler from the sun's rays. Highways In Yucatan have not greatly Improved with the degree of the prosperity Of the land, and Ihc volan seems to he 11 popular method of eres-, country transportation. The sinniger out of curiosity, If for noth? ing else. tISUnllj goes for 11 ride lu this ntiher novel means of travel. Mingling with the business men of Merlda provides excellent opportuni? ties for studying the commercial side of affairs; and 1 found many of these gentlemen willing to talk freely about Yucatan's future outlook. One of the Urs! things which teems to have Im? pressed liself upon the average resi? lient Is the Improved condition provid? ed for the laboring classes, such aa higher wages for work und generally more freedom of union than In for? mer years, lletter wages out on the heneqtten plantation Is of course re? flected In the business activities of Merldu, for the latter la not only the capital of the atnte but n place In which everything centers. The work? ing day has been reduced to eight hours, nnd for this time the henequon laborer Is paid the equivalent fl.uO to ?;t; live days the YucalCCan worka und two days of the week are reserved for rest and recreation. Ou the larger plantations schools have been opened at the expense of the laudowncr, and numerous Improved sanitary regula? tions are In force. If the stranger tarries In Merlda be Is likely to have opportunities for seeing something of the homo life of the people. Kveu during u stroll along the best residential streets 11 glauco Into open-door patios reveals charm? ing flower gardens and ti degreo of comfort and refinement hot noticeable from outward appearances of the av? erage private home. Many of Merlda'a citizens are hospitable to a marked degree, and when the foreign visitor flnds favor and la Invited to the family circle he Is on the road to many en? joyable functions. CROP PRICES AND DOLLAR VALUES Commodity Prices Are High, but Crop! Are Higher?The Dollar la Cheap. When Is a dollar m>( a dollar? Itc latlve values shift so rapidly these days that a dollar has no d. Unit? value. It is merely n question of how much of i he commodity you want* you can got for the commodity you have to exchange?whether that commodity be labor, live slock, torn or wheat in 1914 b,^f,t VAJuld ^& * will buy W 75!-; V A bushel of corn will buy more fer? tilizer now than It would in 19t4. Kvcrj purchase inusl be considered on the basis of relativ? values rather than dollar values The hitch quotations for spring for: Milsers have caused man) farmers 10 ask whether It will he possible to use fertilizers at n profit next season. The answer lo this question may be found by 11 comparison of the relative pur chasing power of crops before ib.- war and in Ills present time. In 101-1 the usual corn fertilizer cost \l\ per ton. Today tlie same fertiliser costs aroiind ?'t- |i?-r ion ? nn increase of Ml per cent. In ll*H corn was worth about 00 cents per bushel. Ink? ing the country over. Today 11 sells at not less Hum Jl.tiO per bushel, on the farm?more than Inn per cent Increase. The saute calculation could be muds for wheat, potatoes, or sltnoSl nuy oilier crop (excepting In the case of those fertilizers contiiliitng potash), Knch Individual fanner has merely to consider ? whether fertilizers p.tld before the win ; If so they v*III pay even better now. WHY FERTILIZER PRICES HAVE ADVANCED. and Crops use the sum, food Slv hundred Ihtmsaud tons of nitrates went tu make explosives lust year. In the United Stan-' nlone. Sulphuric mid necessary for Ihe nianufaclur ? of Held phosphate la normally made from Spanish Sul? phur ores. Submarines hnvo now almost enflrely cut iilt this supply. Itrliiistone, used as a substitute source of sulphur, must he trans ported by rail nt great ex|ionse from Loutslanis und Texas, slm*e the govermuenl tins found It neces? sary lo eoinmiindeer sulphur carry Ing bouts. I.nrge quantities of phosphate rock from Florida and Tennessee must now go by rail nt high freight rates. Uncle Sam needs the hunts. Higher labor, machinery, coul ami supply costs have caused a gefi oral advance In all raw materials varying from Sfi to UKI per cent. Huriap bags which normally cost 10 cents each, now coal cents and are scarce at that. Labor which was plentiful In Hilt at ?S.tSl per day Is now almost linohtslnable at fS.fiti per day. There Can be hut one answer In nndltlotlH such as these; nullicly high prl.I fertilizers. WHAT CAUSED FOOD SHORTAGE? Herbert Hoover, f. S. Fond A h .1 ,. latrntor, says there have been two prlulclpal reasons to aceounl f..r the present food shortage, First, Hie "1111 klridliess of nature." including the lute Spring, droughts, hurricanes, 1.r con? ditions of rainfall, unexpected frosts ae.d periods of Intense bent In sections throughout the world. Second, he gives "reduced produc? tivity of the soli in Kurope." Concern? ing this. Hoover says: "This condi? tion has been brought about by laid management, unskilled work, and luck of fertilizers; ami these In turn ran be explained by ihr withdrawal of men j from farm mid held lo army mid fats I tnry, and the employment oil the soli of overworked women, unskilled old 1 men ami listless prisoners. Kurther ' more the vicious submarine has sunk boat after boat tilled with 1.Unites 1 und fertilizers, conspiring to augment the pauperization of Ihe earth, so that reduction in soil productivity was tu ' e\liable." ARMIES ARE NEEDED AT HOME. U this war Is lo be won. we shall have lo pin several armies In the Held, ihe ami) of soldiers In the trenches, the arm) of food producers In the fur? rows, the women's army of food con servers, healing back the attacks of that world old Camp follower of war* famine, and a patriotic army of clvlll. I ans In the business nnd political ' world. ? The Hunker Farmer. Oct, 1917. FARMERS AND THE WORLD WAR. The farmer's tools of production in 1 wartime become of Importance sec,.ml onlj to the needs of the army Itself. 1 Food production Is a patriotic duty, I mid the fanner Is In the second Hue of I defense, Kvery effort is needed to j increase production, to feed mir armies and allies Food prices are forced I higher In-ease the demand Is lo xcaseil gr ally tad the supply la Ilia ? till. WE'RE COMING! (By Judge atophon O. Hragraw, in Uul-) vorsity New? Letter. Chapel llill.N. C, We are corulug, Mother Kuglaud.we arc coming millions strong; Knuds across the sea are reaching, gripp? ed to rid the world of wrong, Wo uro coining, stricken llvlglutu, thttre with yeu to face the foo, Pledge to ni?kc the haughty I'russiau pay in full for all your woo. Wo are coming, c'rauce, our sister, the glorious .Old fair, lly your side we'll soon he lighting in the tranches, in the air, And the Hun shnll feel tiie power of the men from overlho sea. Wo are coining mid nre swearing that this whole world shnll lie free. Wo are coining, fair Italia, land from w hich Columbus came, We. Columbia's sous, are coming, coining in Columbia*! name. Now to raise our atarry banner where a Caesar wore a crow n. Knowing ili.it when once we raise it. naught on earth shall tear it down. Wo are cotulug, Gormau Kaiser, call your hosts from hill and plain. Mass your men and Mass your caution, but your work will be in vain. We nre coining, Herman Kaiser, nnd our Coining sounds the knell t if your boasted I tii man Kultur that has made on earth a hell. We are cotnlllg, tuen ol Klimpe, we are coming millions strong, There to stay and ne'er to taller, tbo' the the light he hatdaild long ' To the end" sli.ill be our slogan, lor the world it SHALL bo free, Ami the evil power of despots crushed at last on laud and sea. Ilohonxolierns, llapaburg, hearken to the last approaching beat (if the to listens of ? nation that has uurer know a defeat. < lad ill armor of the righteous, eating naught im llormau might, Wo lire <'Utting, wu are coming, thereto win or die lor right Do not allow the poisons ol undigested iood lo accumulate In >otir bowels, where they tire absotbed into your ByStcm. Indigestion, con? stipation, headache, bad blood, and numerous other troubles arc bound to follow. Keep your Eystcin clean, as thous? ands of others do, by biking an occasional dose Ol the old, reliable, veg? etable, family liver medi? cine. Thedford'a Hack-Draught Mrs. \V. P. Pickle, ol Riling Fawn,Ga.j writes: "We have used 'I hed i ird's Black-Draught as a family medicine. My mother-in-law could not I ike calomel as it seemed too strong lor her, so she i scd Hlack-Draught as a i I'd laxative and liver icgulator.. . We use It 1:1 lite latnily and believe it is the best medicine lor the liver made." Try It. Ir.sisl on lite Rcnuiue? '! licdford's. '.25c a pack E-75 For Justice of the Peace. We have the most complete set of forms for use by Justices of the Peace of any house in Virginia. Our prices are 75 cents per Hundred of an assortment of blanks. Cash with order which can al- j ways be filled promptly. AI-] ways order by number. Nr.. I Warrant of Arrest. !i Commitmoiil to Answer Indictment. :< Certificate of Commitment for Trist. I Commitment until Fine and Costa are | Paid, r> Commitment for Imprisonment, At II Itccogufzaucc upoo Appc.-.l. 7 Warrant Discharging from Jail, upon I Appeal. S Complaiut for Peace Warrant. !' Peace Warrant. It) Search Warrant. II Warrant in Debt. is Warrant .ti Damages, III Kxccullon i t Garnlihce S-ir taons. 15 Indemnifying l!i ud, tit Forthcoming llond. 17 Afndavlt for Summons in Unlawful I Detainer. is Summons in Unlawful Detainer. 19 Aflldarll for Distress Warrant. '.Hi Distress Warrant 21 Complaint for Attachment agalna Itomorlug Debtor, ill Attach men t Against Removing Debt or. with Oarnishee Process. Stl Attachment itond. SI Deed of I otivcyunre, with certificate. SO Deeil Ol Trust. ?Ith certificate. 50 I'. ed of Lease. S7 Homestead Deed, ss Declaration in Atsumpilt Sit Deolaratlon In Debt on lloml. BO Deolaratlon lit Debt on Promissor) Note. II Deel.ir.ition in Debt on Negotiable Note. IIS Notice of Motion on Note lluud, or Account. :i!i Power of Attorney. 51 Notice lo take Depositions ;i"i Indictment, General, as Indiclmcnt, Mqiidr, .17 Commissioner's Notice. :ts Abstract oi Judgment llcforeJustice 90 Warrant in Detinue, It) (larhlahca Summons ami Judgment II Subpoena for Witnesses IS C?ntra?t and Agreement. Wise Printing Company Aiuitlipr nroltrn Arm from CrAnkingl DON'T LET YOUR FORD BREAK YOUR ARM A ?mn lrdul ulett ii.mk not nvrslcd, m?kei accUenii It,? in. k kick hn|*Mi ta> Wuh > CARSON SAFETY CRANK Strut u r i. CofL? ...tC.,,. IO.KM At--- wT*mW4 I CTfMfl JOB PRINTING' Don't think you arc getting REAL job print? ing just because you are having your \ ork done at a ??printing office." Investigate and learn for yourself that there is a vast difference between real job printin? and ??just printing.'' We are prepared to do REAL PRINTING Not only because we have the equipment, but because we possess the "know how." Our long experience and knowledge in the printing business enables us to handle job printing on a saving basis. We will share this saving with you and will guarantee every piece of work turned out in our plant. Will you bring that next job to us and have it done right? No long waiting for the finished product. We do things "Now." WISE PRINTING COMPANY Incorporated Big Stone Gap, Virginia Southern Railway System Condensed Time Card EA9TEKNTIMK No. 1, Dally: I.v. Mountain City 0:80 a. to.; Ellzabcthtou 8:15 a. tu.: Ar. Bristol 11:20 a m.; I.v. Bristol 10.-O? a.m.; Gate City 11:10 a. rn.; Ar. Al? bert Yard 11:80 a. tu.: Counects with No. 8 at Albert Y'ard for Appalschls. No. 8, Dally I.v. St. Charles 7:4(5 a. it.; Appa'aehla 8*0 a. in.; Gate City 10:41 a.m.; Moeeaaln Gap 10:4& ? ID.; Ar. Bristol 12:10 Noon. Con. ncctsat Moeeaaln (Jap with No. B from Hulls Gap. No. :t. Dally: I.v. Hulls Cap 0:4.1 a. tn.; Moccasiu tt:n> 10:48; Gate City ]0:oo a. ni.; Big Stone Cap 12:48 p. m. Ar Appaliiehia 1:00 p. m. No. I. Dally: Lv.| A ppalachia 1.80 p. m., Itii; Stone Gap 1:4.1 p. m.; Albert Yard 8:10 p. m : Gate City 8:38 p. m.; Ar. Bulls Gap 0:1(5 p. m. Con nectaal Albert Yard with No. 0 for Bilstol ami Mountain City. No. 6, Bally: I.v. Bristol 4:40 p. m.; Gate < iiy 8:1(1 p. in.; Big Stono Cap 7:152 n m ,; A ppalachia 8:0.1 p. m.; Ar St ( buries Di-IQ p m. Ko. 6, Dally: I.v. Albeit Yard 11.015 p. m.; (tale City 8:16 p ?i.; Ar. Hrlstol 1:40 p.m.; I.V. Bristol fi:10 i>. m ; Elizabethen ll:l? p. m.; Ar. Moun lain City 8:10 p. m. No. 0, Daily, except Sunday: I.v. Bulli Gap 11:10 a. in.; Ar. Itogcrsvllls 12 ti.1 p. ni. No, 10, Dally, except Sunday: I.v. Itug ersville 7:80 a. ni.; Ar. Bulls Gap 8 liO a. in. No It, Dally,except Sunday: I.v. Bull? Gap0:10 p. m,; Ar. Itogersvilli 6:00 1. ill. No. 12, Daily, except Sunday ; I.V. Hoj ersvllle 5:10 p. m.; Ar. Hulls Usp 4:10 p. in, W. K. ALLEN, D. P. A., Bristol, Vs Nov. 29, 101-1. LEAVE NOllTON. VA. 8 i8a.rn.anJ ami'.'.oil p. in. for Hlueliold and In? termediate stations. Parlor <ar on 2:80 p. in train. Couneotlon at Blue Held with Trallia Kast and West? Puilman Sleepers, Dining Cars. LEAVE IIUISTOL.VA; Daily. 9:48 a.m. for Bast Itadford, lloanoke, Lynch burg; Petersburg, Biehmond sort Norfolk. Pullman Parlor tar w Itlchmond. Itoanoke to Ilagerstown. Pullman sleeper Ilagerstown to Niw York. 5:00 p. m for Norfolk and Intermedia!? point-, Pullman Sleepers to Norfolk 1:82 p n.l T:.v> p. m. (limited ; Solid trains with imilman sleepers to Wast liigton, iialtlmoro, Philadelphia and New York via Bynehburg, Does not make local stops. 12:1(5 p m. daily for all points bctweer. Bilstol ami Lynobburg. Connects?I Walton at 8:40 p. ni. with the Chi? cago Express for all jvoiuta west and northwest. W. O. S.mmikiis, G. P. A. W D. IlKVIIX, Pass. Traf, Mgi., (toancke.va, Dr. G. <J. Honeyc?tt DENTIST BIG STONE CAP, VA. 'Oflicc^in Willis Building over Mutua. I ?iug Store. FOX & PECK, Civil mid Mining Engineers. Big Stono Cap. Vit. Harlan,Ky Iteporls and estimates on Coal and Tim? ber Lands, Design and I'Inns of Coal and Coke Plants, Land, ltailroad slid Mine Engineering, Electric Blue Printing. DR. G. IVl. PEAVLER, TruatB Dluoatiou of tho Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat, BRISTOL, TENN. vVili bo In Anpalaclua Third Frld.ty in Each Month. ?nsfU-tt-l S. S. Masters & Co. General Blacksmith Repair Work. Boiler and Machine Repairing, II.un? shoeing s specialty, Wsgou and Bnggy Work We make a specialty of putting on rubber tires All work givou prompt and careful attention. Big Stono Gap, Va. Dr. J. A. Gilmer PhysiciaiPand Surgeoo OKKIOE -Over Mutual Drug Stor* Bit? Stone Cap, Va. DR. THOMAS F. STALEY Refractionist. Treals diseases ol the Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat. i 55 ill be in Appalaehla V'IKST KIUDAI in each mouth uutil 8 P. M. BRISTOL, TENN.-VA. J. C. CAWOOD BLACKSM ITH ING Big Stona Gap, Va. Wagon and Buggy work A Spcoialty I have an Up-to-date, .Machine for putting on IttibW Tires. All work given prompt attention. Girl mesengors arc now em? ployed by many of the Govern 'niont departments at Washing, ton.