davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The age-herald., 1897-11-10
PERTINENT QUESTIONS
 PRESENT THEMSELVES

"Franll P. OBrien, att present sheriff of Jefferson county was virtually the founder of the gas industry in this city" :" said a man who ought to know. r'He, with J. F. B. Jackson and associates, in 1881, obtained the proper credent als from the city and built the gas plant. The reservoir had a capacity of 50.0O0 feet. The first main was eight inches and ran from the reservoir out Second avsnrIe to Sixteenth street. From that point a, six-inc[h main was run to the intersection of Second avenue and Twen- tieth street. A six-inch main was run from Nineteenth street and Second avenua to the opera house. The outlay on this plant and mains was 900.
 At that time. you must remember, Birm,ngham was in her infarcy. There was Lu: little damIand for gas. I can't say exactly what the price of gas was at that time, but am sure it was not as much in proportion to the amount ma de and consum;d as it is at present.
 'Snce Sheriff O'Brhen and his asso- ciaItels turned over the plant to the pres ent owners it has been enlarged tre- unanimously "A reservoir more than five times as laI7ge has been built New works have been added. Mile upon mile of gas mains have been laid In fact, the plant shows for Itself tha expendi- ture.
 Does not the question readily come to you, If $20,000 was expended on a. reser- NOlf UL oU,UUU ItcI CctI3hCily dfnu Ofliy eight blocks of main, what is the amount at present. involved?' Another question. If that plant cost only $20,0O0, why is it tha gas company only pays tax on $2S,- GOO now, with all Improvements since 1881. tihe year the infant industry was brought into existence 2 "
 Some Arbitrary Methods
 Capt. D. w. Booker was not in a very good humor> several days ago when he came into the city.
 'T burn practically one light in my residence" said the captain. My bill for one month was $3.25. This is not large. but I considered it enormous for one light. Besides this, the gas company sent a man to my residence to see some thing about the meter My daughter asked him to go in the dining room and see something about a light in there. for the service all over the house had been very bad.
 "He was very ungentlemanly. I went to the company's office to see about it. The man who talked to me there was very indifferent. He said he did not re- member the gentleman he sent to my residence told him he did not send a gentleman at all
 Finally the bill was reduced to $2.70. I told him to take the meter out. I will burn no more gas until the price is re- duced to $1--within reason"
The age-herald., 1897-11-10
THE KlOND.kE ATTACHED.
The Magic Name Not Proot Against Misfortune
 and the Arm of the Law.

The magic name of Klendyke, with its dream of hidden wealth and its legends of Alladdan-lll<@ splendor, is not proof against the failures and vicissitudets of human Ingenuity.
 When the KIlondyke fever was in it's zenith, J. c. Smiuh & Go. were in the sa- loon business on the South Side. They S cured a location in the Hewlett block in Twentieth street, between First and MsirI'is avenues. and moved their saloon to the new location.
 It was re-christsned under ths nalme of "The Klondyke,' no doubt from belief that the name was synonomeus of cer- tain success. But human effort is futile at best. How practical is Fife, though lured by th5 voice of some mysterious Geni, or popular superstition.
 Expectations were not real ized-busi- ness did not flow Into the coffers of the Klondyl1e, andl in a few shd.t weeks MT. J. c. Smith, one of tn proprfeitors, sickened and died. Yesterday the final chapter was enacted. The Klondyke passed into the hands of Sheriff O'Brien on an attachment for rent. Little stock was found on hand. The liquors had probably been frozen i'm making the ChilkOOt Pass.
The age-herald., 1897-11-10
ELLA BARNES BOUND OVER Bond Was Fixed at a Low
 Figure. A PLEA OF SELF DEFENSE Was Put Up By the Attorneys For the De- fense-Has Not Made Bond and
 She is in Jail.

Ella Barnes was bound over to the
 grand jury under bond of $500 The tiGal was completed alo 5:20 o'clock yester- day afternoon.
 The attorneys for both sides appeared satisfied, although MT Thach, for the prescott tion, thought the amount of bond
 rather small. He said the result showed that the doctrine of sslf-defenss had
 been successfully combatted. but the evidence tended to prove that the affair
 had been "a mutual combat and the crime would be considered as man. slaughter.
 Judge Allen, who was defending the alleged 1nurdefess, said he considered
 the bond very fair and was perfectly satisfied with the result of the preEhml- nary trial.
 The evidence was all 1n before the hour of adjournment at dinner. The most important witness was, of course,
 Ella Barnes.
 She told of the fight Tn the little room.
 Of how Bessie Thomas had seized the scissors and she the lamp. She claimed theJ Bessie, who was of greiat physical strength, had knocked 1Ber down repeat edly. She admitted having broken the lamp tn her efforts to defend herself,
 but denFed the ifs endish deeds credited to her.
 The Argument Begun At 3:30 o'clock Assistant Solicitor Ed ward Johnson began the argument. He was followed by MessEs. Tanner & Allen, for the defense, and MT. Thach closed in behalf of the state. All of the argu- ments were forceful and often abounded with Wit, humor, pathos and eloquence. Immediately on closing the arguments Justice M. F. Cahalan announced that, | in his opinion the case was a bailable | one, and he would set the bond at $500. Tine large number of friends of the | woman were pleased with the result l and looked upon it as tantamount to an I acquittal. They asked for bond at once and announced that they could readily | make it.
 l A blank was furnished several of the | negroes, but they did not succeed in se- | curing the sureties and the woman was returned to the county jail in the GUS tody of Deputy Will J. Love. Created Excitement The killing of Bessie Thomas caused great excitement among the negroes. It occurred in the Thomas womams house. It was g neral fight. It was then charged that Bessie Thomas and Ella Barnes were jealous of esch other on account of the attention of a man. A wordy altencation prefaced the fatal part of the fight.
 Bessi. Thomas armed herself with g. | pair of scissors Ella Barnes grabbed | a lamp and hurled it alt the unfortunate | woman It wss then charged that after | the wonan's cl5thing was ignited that 1 Ella Barnes stood over her and fed the | fares win tha ol from the broken bowl.
 Ella Barnes fled, but was captu1eld and brought back from Annistcn.
The age-herald., 1897-11-10
ANOTHER CLAIM
PROVEN FALSE

The gas company people here say be- cause Atlanta furnishes dollar gas is no criterion why Birmingham should do the same, because of the difference in size of the two cities and the amount of gas consumed
 That might be all right were it not for the fact that much smaller cities than Birmingham have dollar gas.
 "The little city of Danville, up in southern Virginia, has dollar gas," sad a well-known citizen yesterday. "I have paid many gas bills there. The town has but 10000 inhabitants. It is several hum dred miles from the coal fields, and coal costs $2.50 ton. Yet it is made into gas and furnished to the city at a profit, and good one, for $1 a thousand feet. In consequence everybody burns gas.
 'sThe city, too, is as scattered as Bir- mingham The distances there are mag afficent. Yet the mains are laid and the city makes a good profit out of its gas company. gt pays per cent. on fhe bonds issued to construct the plant and gets a considerable revenue from the plant which goes to general expenses, besides lighting public buildings and some streets. The Birmingham Gas conn., pany, with coal at its door, and in a city of 60, ,000 people, can certainly do shat which little Danville, Va, has done"
The age-herald., 1897-11-10

confronted with table filled with chrysanthemums. the most beautiful specimens ever exhibited in the city. All colors, from a pure white to the beautiful tints of the variegated vari- ety, are to be seen and admired.
 Tastefuly arranged tables, presided over by charming lady waitresses, are sufficiently inviting to induce many to partake of the dainty refreshments.
 feature of the show is a model din- ing room, decorated in white draperies intertwined with ivy and cut flowers. It is perfect representation. The walls are formed by large scanvas-covered frames. The inside is fitted with a beautiful dining room suit delicate china and elaborate plate and presents a most inviting appearance.
 The show will continue four days, opening at 10 a. m. and closing at 10 D. m.
 A large number of people visited the show yesterday and last night and a neat sum was realized.
 The following excellent menu is served: Oyster soup Hot roast beef and potatoes. Ham, turkey, salads, etc., at all hours and at reasonable prices.
The age-herald., 1897-11-10
NOTICES FOR 1896 LICENSE.
There Has Been Some Complaints h.
 stances Were Overlooked.

Tn the past few weeks a good many notices calling for the payment of 1Sea license have been issued from the city license collectors department.
 There has been some objection to this and the clerks alt the city hall have been called upon to make explanations
 The way it came about is just as will always 1lappen. Some items were missed and this has just been discovered and the officers consider dt their duty to collect the amounts now.
 Several firms running mercharlIt-t ing estaJbllshme have been sent no tices. The way this came about is that section 1 of the city license ordinance levies a license of $25 per annum on g. merchant tailoring establishment. In section 2 are additional amounts, vary ing according to the value of goods. put on The line of gents furnishing gen. orally carried by such establishments. In 1896 the license on the latter was pGis:isd in several instances.
 It is the same way on plumbing es- tablehments. An additional license is charged on the stock carried. Several of the plumbers escaped in this manner
The age-herald., 1897-11-10

ter tickets was offered to the "boy in the Birmingham public schools who will first send to this office the correct result Of the following problem:
 The Problem
 eff ton of coal costs S5 cents, and it costs 30 cents to convert the ton of coal into 10000 cubic feet of gas, at what price per one thousand cubic feet should this gas be sold to consumers to cause the gas company to make 100 per csnt?'
 At 7:3O o'clock yesterday morning Sam Ledbetter, a bright, chubby-faced little fellow came rather shyly in the Age Herald office and left his answer to the problem. He declared ns had worked it without assistance.
 The answer was 23 cents.
 It is correct. .ii4
 At the present price of coal the gas company can make gas and sell the same at 23 cents a thousand feet and make one hundred per cent on the amount expended for material and labor. Yet it charges $1.65 a thousand feet for gas.
 To Know the Result
 Late yesterday afternoon the boys who worked the problem came in to ascertain the result.
 Master Sam Ledbetter was the winner, being the first to hand in the correct answer
 He preferred three silver dollars, ex- hibiting at once his financial ability. He was given the prize, as the appended receipt shows:
 Birmingham, Ala, Nov. 9, 1897. Received from Age-Herald Three Dol lars for solution of prize problem of- fered in in issue of this date. (Signed) SAM LEDBETTER. Bright Little Fellow Sam is a bright young lad, the son of Dr. T. l.. Ledbetter a prominent physl- elan.
 Of course Sam is for dollar gas, and when he grows to be a man he will make his influence for right felt in Birming- ham. His photograph herewith shows him to be the bright lad he is. Other boys who sent in correct ans- Wers to the problem but were too late for the prize were: Charfis Hockstadter, of Henley school. James F. Johnston. of High school. Irving Fies, of Paul Hayne school. Carl White McRayen, of Powell school. Fernando Wood, of Henley school. Boys For Dollar Gas
 The boys, like their fathers, want cheap gas in Birmingham. They want it because they know the present price their fathers are forced to pay is grind ing them down. The gas is so bad the little fellows nave to light two burners at night in order to study their lessons. or els. ruin thebr eyes. To burn two jets costs their fathers much money, and many of them cannot afford it.
 All the boys want cheaper and better gas, and so do all the people of Blrming- ham.
The age-herald., 1897-11-10
NOW IS THE TIME
To Cure Catarrh-Don't Wal For the Damp,
 Disagreeable Days of Winter.

It is true Anti-Catarrh will cure any case of catarrh in any season. But why wait until you take fresh cold and suffer as you did last winter? At this season of the year perhaps you suffer but lit- tie, and by using Anti-Catarrh you can secure relief, eradicate the disease from your system and never more be tortured As soon as cold weather comes on the dry, hacking cough, splitting of putrid phle gm, sneezing and sleepless nights of misery will return. We offer you an infallible and guaranteed cure.
 In using Anti-Catarrh you are not try ing an experiment., for 1t has been fully rested ard is highly endorsed by leading citizens, editors, druggists and officials of Birmingham. It is not only posi- tive cure for catarrh, but is also valu- able specific for tonselitis, bronchitis, hay fever, and instantly relieves infiu- enza, and headache. For sale by all druggists. Price. one and two dollars. Take no substitute, for there Is none.
 10-30-su-w wed-fri-tf
The age-herald., 1897-11-10
GUARDING BUD BEARD.
Gov Johnston Received News of Further At
 tempts to Lynch the Negro

Governor Johnston yesterday received a telegram from the sheriff of Picl0ens county asking for assistance with which to prevent the lynching of Bud Beard, the negro charged with committing rape at CarrolBton.
 Beand was taken to Eutaw for safe keeping, and the Eutaw detachment of the Warrior Guards was ordered to assist the sheriff of Greene county in protecting the prisoner.
 The sheriff of Pickens county went to Eutaw yesterday to take the negro back to Canollton for trial today and it is supposed that he feared 0 mob would take the prisoner from him en route.
 The governor at once wired the sheriff to take the militia, at Eutaw, along with him if he deemed it necessary and to protect the prisoner at all hazards.
The age-herald., 1897-11-10
THE AZ TERMATH
 OF POLICE RULINGS

Josephine Wesley and Susie Taylor be- came involved in a quarrel. During it's continuance Josephine used a knife care lessly. Yesterday morning Judge tea- gin informed her that her carelessness would cost her $1250. Susie paid $5 for disordarly conduct.
 Oscar Laney, familiar figure on the streets, desired companion in th.s eyen- ing strool He was not particular and walked with a member of the other half" This was a dinect violation Of the city ordinance, and he was fined S7.5U.
 Harry Haynes Is a neat dresser and has many trerds. He went to a resort Sn Second alley in a highly hilarious con- dftion On his person he carried re- volver which he proceeded to practice with on ithe inside of the place. He used a lamp globe for a target Yesterday morning the fashionably aIb.fred inmates of the place complained the occurrence to Judge Feagip. They told how Officer Scott interrupted Haynes fun and placed him ur,der arrest. Tine young rnar was rand:d three cards. representing a total fine of $S0 It was paid.
 e. E. Lee, the white man who was caught trying to beat members of the colored population at their own game of craps entered a plea of guilty. As in the eases of his dusky fellow players. Lee was fned $z4.So.
 Rob Williams was enbroiled in a dis p,,te with several colored women. The affair seemed to be getting sfitous. and Dick Sogers attempted to act as peace maker. This enraged Bob, who pro- ceeded to attempt to carve the peace maker. IA tota1 fine of $40 and thinty days extra was registered against him. He win be given fssors in gentle lbe- haytor in the mines at Coalburg.
 Several young men were arres.ed re- cenjt1y for gambling in a. saloon. w K. Hunt, white man, was in cha 'ge. Of the place. He was arrested and charged with permitting gambling in saloon. Tha facts in fhe case were a1ducad yes terday but Judge Feagln reserved de- cision until this morning. In tha m an- time the appea rance bond was fixed at S195
The age-herald., 1897-11-10

lar gas because of an opposition com pany, and that no wise man would put money In another plant in Birninghaim.p said Mir w. J. Morlen. M
 ''The company would have had oppo- sition ten years ago had it not been for very peculiar proceedings" he continued.
 sTen years ago and probably a few months over the gas company was fur m'iSlang very poor service. When an en- tefSafnment was in progress at the opera house or other public buildings where lots of gas was used sthe pressure was very bad at the ptavate residences.
 ''rhe people rebelled just as they are now going to do. The city council took hold of the matter and annulled the coun- pany's charter. Advertisement was made for bids from a new company to fur nish gas.
 At least three bids were received from outside sources. represented an Ohio concern and put in a bid. Before the meeting of the council when the bids were to be opened, joint meeting or some of the members of the gas com n1ittee of the city council and ofhclais of the gas company was held in a promi- nent attorneys office.
 'It was a star chamber proceeding and a certain member of the council res lgned to keep his skirts clear of tthe affair. The a trade was made whereby the city be- came a partner of the company and was supposed to share in the profits.
 "There was no further notice taken Of the bids. The outsidens were simply frozen out by some hook or crook Of the gas company.
 Dollar gas can be made profit in Bsr- mingham and if the present company don't furnish another will"
 Tried to swindIe the City
 ''I ann for dollar gas straight from the shoulder" said B. A. Thompson, Who was formerly mayor of the city Of Bir- mlngham, but Us now engaged in the neal estate business.
 "I made the race for mayor with the gas question as an diselteb" he continued My opponent was Colonel Jackson, who was the president of the gas company The race was made when the company wanted the city to become partner and put up $50000 to pay a floating debt. 'sEhe people were against any such procedure. The company had already been bonded for three times its worth and wanted to take the city in to keep it out of its financial difficulty The city would not have it that way. Shortly af- tetrwards the plant was sold at public outcfY for something like $140,00O. Al though his name was not mentioned, l am pretty sure Isydore Newman, a wealthy stock broker of New Orleans was the buyer.
 ''I have it on good authority that he now owns the bonds and may eventually own the entire concern. A cOmpara- lively small proportion of the stock is held in Birmingham"
The age-herald., 1897-11-10
UNDER THE GOVERNMENT.
J. s. B. Thompson Advocates Putting Quaran-
 tines in the Hands of the Government.

J. s. B. Thompson, superintendent or the Southern Railway at Atlanta, Is agitatfng national quarantine reguaa- tions In a letter to The Age Herald he says:
 "I enclose herein copy of a joint 1eso- lution which was offered in the Georgia legislature today, which has in view the bunthen and responsibility of quarantine regulations dn the stepe by the United States marine hospital service bureau, or, fin other wort1s, the placing of these matters under national quarantine, rather than under so many local organi- zattons from which the south has so greatly suffered during the late epi- demic.
 'I am satisfied, from my observati ton and discussion of the matter With the representative people throughout Geor- gia, Tennessee, Alabama and Mississippi, through which states [ have travelled a good deal within the 1aat six weekss that there is a very general sentiment that this should be done.
 "A great many advantages are to be secured thereby:
 '1. That of uniformity sn regulations, something which is very much desired. It due to the many dfferent and con fiicting kinds of regulations that so much confusion, inconvenience and real injury have been caused. ALI of this is to be avoided by the enforcement of the na- tfIonal quarantine regulations under one general system
 ''2 The saving to the people of these states of the heavy expenses to which they have been subjected in the enforce ment of quarantine regulations, such ex- penses hereafter to be borne by the gem eral government
 "3 While this section of country has suffered very much by reason of the late epidemic, the damage done will not be comparable with what is to follow thereafter by reason of the criticism that ths south is not only subject to epi- denies of this kind but has clearly dism- onstrated that they are unable to defend themselves against it, notwithstanding the great inconvenie nee, hardship and expense to tts people, and thereby 1t is a section of the country which is to be avoided.
 harm averted if we now come forward on the very heel of this epidemic wath the statement that we have by experi- ence learned what was necessary for proper protection and have secured it in the shape of national quarantine regu- latTons for future occasions.
 Many other strong reasons will pre- sent themselves as to why this course should be pursued.
 "In order to give this movement strength have to ask that you will get your chamber of commerce or board of trade to endorse this resolution and so advise your representatives in the legis- laturs. Will you not also have your newspapers give their endorsement to so desirable an object while the public attention is drawn to the subject"
 The Commercial club has already in-
The age-herald., 1897-11-10
BEAUTIFUL DISPLAY OF SWEETS D
The Ladies of St. Mary's Opened their Flower
 Show Yesterday.

The ladies of St. Mary's church opened their flower show yesterday in the Will son building, corner Second avenue and Twenty-first street. q The decorations are in charge ? of Chas. H. Reed, the well known florist, who has displayed much artistic taste in his arrangement. te .
 As the door is entered, the visitor is
The age-herald., 1897-11-10
FELL FORTY FEET
And Then Was Able to Walk-Strange Case
 of Dan Walker

Daniel Walker, carpenter at work on the nsw building of the Birmingham Fertilizer company, near East Birming- ham, met with thrilling accident yes- terday, falling from a Scaffoid forty feet from the ground.
 Walker was standing near the end of the scaffold and reached up to saw off a plank. He made a false step and fell to the ground below. striking his head on piece of the sub-structure of the scaffold.
 Walker soon recovered from the shock and was able to walk with assistance.
The age-herald., 1897-11-10
Judge Banks Sees His Finish

A large meeting of Jefferson Valley Lodge No. Il. Knights of Pythias. was held last night In the castle hall on Third avenue. Many visiting Knigh;s were
The age-herald., 1897-11-10

The Commercial club has already in- augurated a movement to have the gov ernment take hold of the quarantine regulations. Such a resolution was in- troduced and passed by B. Steiner at tine last meeting.
The age-herald., 1897-11-10
SAM LEDBETTER AH
 IS THE WINNER ia or the A6e-HeraIdS Prize Gas Problem
 Offered Yesterday. 23 CENTS A THOUSAND FEET Give the Gas Company Profit of One
 Hundred Per Cent. THE BOYS WANT CHEAPER GAS The Older People Insist Upon It. and Must and Shall Have It From the Grinding Monopoly of Gas Company.

Sam Ledbetter, Il years old, of the Powell school, sixth grade Is the winner of the prize of three dollars in The Age Herald's prize problem contest offered yesterday morning.
 The contest was between grammar school boys A prize of $3 or four thea-
The age-herald., 1897-11-10

present to witness the work in the ranks. Judge J. J. Banks was given the am- pNfled third In most impressive man. ner, and is now a full-fedged knight.
The age-herald., 1897-11-10

ter tickets was offered to the "boy in the Birmingham public schools who will first send to this office the correct result Of the following problem: