MER IDA, Mexico, the capital city of "Yu :atan. The city was founded in 1542 and is situated on a plain. There are railway con iections with all important points in the in erior and several lines of steamers ply be ween its port, Progreso, 25 miles distant, and Vera Cruz, New York and other prominent :ommercial ports. The surrounding country is ilmost entirely devoted to the sisal hemp in lustry, which has reached enormous propor ions in the state. Hides, sugar, chicle and ndigo are also exported. There are tnanufac ories of cotton goods, cigars, panama hats, cattier, soap, etc. The principal buildings are he government palace, the municipal palace, he Casa del Conquistador Montejo (the first Spanish house built in the city), the old cathe lral, the School of Arts, the Penitentiary, Lit va Institute or State College, Normal School or Teachers, Meteorological and Astronomical Observatory, Yucatan Museum, Catholic Col ege of San Ildefonso, schools of medicine, ;urgery, pharmacy, jurisprudence and notarial nstruction, the Literary Institute for Girls, he College for Girls, the Catholic School for ;iris, the Tereseano College, the Primary of Arts and Works and the Institucion le Beneficiencia Privado, founded by Leandro L. Ayala at an outlay of $1,000,000. There are
an asylum for maniacs, a lazareto, a mater nity hospital, three other hospitals, an asylum for mendigos, two theatres and an arena for bull fights. The Hidalgo Park contains a statue of Gen. Cepeda Peraza, and one symbolizing the peace of the state. Near the great cathe dral are also large statues of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. A body of public security, a jefe politico and an inspector-general preserve order and ensure safety to all. The streets are paved with asphalt. Merida contains two local financial institutions — the Banco Yucateca, with a capital of $8,900,000, and the Banco Mercantil de Yucatan, with a capital of $6,000, 000, and a branch of the National Bank and an agency of the Bank of London and Mexico. Pop. about 50,000.