davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19
Personal Appointments.

President Mckinley Is getting himself
into very deep water upon the subject
of appointments. 1t is natural that every
republican in the United Stats should
apply for some office under the present
administration. There are few men who
labor for party supremacy that do not
believe themselves entitled to political
reward. Where one thousand men apply
fer an office, but one rs selected. That
is about the average. This shows in a
most forcible manner tbs tendency of the
American people to desire to hold office
President Mckinley has made some
very good appointments. He has made
some unwise appointments. No prssi-
dent has ever made all good appoint
ments. Mr.. Mckinley is, in some re-
spects, worse than Mr. Cleveland in fail
ing to recognize party workers. Cleve
land ssldom appointed personal friends.
Mr.. Mckinley has made numerous per-
sonal appointments. So far the presi-
dent has appointed but one relative and
that was Gen. William Mckinley Osborne
as consul-genera1 to London, the emolu-
msrts of which are the best within the
presidents gift. Mr. Mckinley has ig-
nored long petitions signed by heading
republicans asking the appointment of
their friends He has turned these aside
and appointed some personal friend.
While the wisdom displayed by the
president may be good, he is causing
great indignation among the party
workers. II President Mckinley lives to
serve his term out there will be few
personal friends who apply for office
that will not receive them. when he
was a member of congress he formed
very close friendship with a number
of colleagues from various states. All
of those who have so far applied for
office have been appointed. President
Mckinley seems to be friend to all of
them, and a friend in med is a friend
indeed, when there is an office to be
given out.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19
The Yellow Pine Industry.

Thu Coosa River News states that
there is a demand for long leaf yellow
pine lumber, especially on a tract of two
or three thousand acres, near the river
or near a railroad. Inquiries of this ma
tu,e will increase. They will increase
too rapidly, perhaps, for the good of the
state. All the timber of marketable
size will soon be needed. A period of
growth, and therefore of building and of
NV construction generally is at hand.
and the depletion of The Alabama forests
will so on rapidly. This is in some re-
spects regrettable but 1t is demand
that will be met while there is a trea
standing, and there is naught to do ex-
cept to express regret over the, process
of defors situation.
yellow pine is now sought for by I'LL
the countries Of Europe, as well as by
the countries of the Americas south OF
the gulf. And the home demand lis
constantly expanding. Returns from:
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19
PARDEE HALL.
The Magnificent Stone Structure Badly DAM
aged by Fire.

Easton, Pa, Dec. 1S.-Pardee Hall, the
magnificent stone structure that stood on
the brow of College Hill, this city, and was
the pride of Lafayette college, was badly
damaged by fire early this morning. Only
the east wing was saved from the flames.
The center of the structure and the entire
west wing was Quilted, and only the black
ened walls are left standing. Besides the
damage to the building thousands of dol
lars worth of valuable property belonging
to professors at the college was destroyed
by the flames. A heavy portion falls on
James NJ. Porter, professor of Topographic
cal studies. His machines, instruments,
etc., were valued at $4,000, on which there
was no insurance. T. c. Porter's botanical
collection probably the finest in the United
States, was also destroyed.
The Ward library, consisting OF 10000
volumes of valuable books, Is. in the ruins,
along with valuable museum of minerals
and birds. The fire was discovered at
o'clock this morning. but 1t had evidently
been burning long time. Tho flames
ragged SO fiercely and spread SO rapidly,
aided by stiff wind from the west. that
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19

eighty-sG mills in Alabama. MissLs-
appi, Louisiana, Texas. Arkansas, sAi.s1
souri, and Indian Territory, show ship
merits in the month of October of 100,-
1S4,725 feet. Stocks on Nov. had been
reduced in a month over 100000 feet,
although the average cut of zach of the
eighty -eGght mills was 1,O21,5SS feet in
October.
Kansas is the leading home consumer,
taking about Is per cent Of home ship
ments. Texas Missouri Illinois; Ne
braslza, Indiana and Ohio are in order the
other large consumers. Ohio. the last
of the list, took in October 1851, 269 feet
That was just about the October produce
ton of the SEVEN Alabama mills that
made reports to the clearing house bu-
reau of the Southern Lumber Manufac-
turers association. Comparatively
speaking the amounts taken by this east
ern states are not large. The northwest
is the. chief consumer Of yellow pine.
The industry is steadily growing strong
er, and if an active building campaign be
inaugurated in 1898, as now seems prob
able, prices win be advanced.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19
Confess Your Sins.

The board of aldermen meet Monday
evening. At that time the committee
appointed to investigate the violation
of contract on the part of the Birming-
ham Gas company win probably report.
The COMMITTEES appointed to investigate
the Water Works company will probably
defer its report to later day.
These matters of gas and water
charges imposed upon the citizens Of Bir-
mingham are of the utmost Importance
Birmingham can never thrive and ex-
pand until the necessar5es of life, such
as gas and water, are given the people
as cheap as they are in other cities The
Gas company defies tha people and the
board of aldermen. The Water Works
company promises to do the right thing.
1t is the duty of the board of alder
men tn issue an ultmatum in both mat
tiers without unnecessary delay. The al
dermen have had all the facts in the
gas matter. They will soon have all the
facts in the waiter case. They should
act, and act at once.
Birmingham is entitled to dollar gas
and good gas. Let not the main issue
and facts be beclouded by threats of law
suits. Sbft tbs matter and act upon
the city has been violated annul 1t, and
proceed to make a new contract with
persons or corporations who will fulfill
the contract soJemnly entered into. A
tract and impose upon a people is no
more honest than an Individual who
seeks to impose. upon another indivfd-
ual.
Let the board of aldermen do this duty
without unnecessary delay. Let them
demand good gas and cheaper gas-good
water and water at Reasonable prices 10
all the people. The water works COM
pany signifies a willingness to readjust
rates. Let this be done ait once.
Adjust these matters without further
delay. Then every citizen will be in posi-
ton ito blow the trumpet of Birmingham
to the world.
There is too much internecine warfare
in Birmingham. There has been cause
for it. Now LIT the people get together
in a grand camp meeting, so to speak;
let the presiding elders, the deacons and
the leaders mount the stand, confess
their sins, repent and then we can all
shout in unison and trumpet the praises
of Birmingham from the hill tops and
the house tops.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19
Home Consumption of Iron.

While the production of pig iron in
this state has been carried from 401, 900
tons in 1888 to about 96S,OOO tons in 1897
the consumption of iron in the state has
also baen correspondingly advanced. In
fact, while the former has in round fig
ures been doubled, the latter has been
increas ten fold. About $4,000 tons of
the product Of 1888 was turned into goods
in tn state, and this year fully 100000
tons have been and will be taken for
home use by the pipe works, rolling
mills. foundTies and various other iron
consuming industries of the state. A
part of the increased consumption Is due
to the steel mill, and DIT points the way
to a still higher percentage of home uses.
Birmingham's prosperity depends
much more, all may be sure upon the
home consumption of iron than upon an
increase in the output, and the prospect
is that next year will disclose much
more favorable record still in the direc-
tEcn of home utilization.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19
Capital in Small Sums.

IAN of the cotton mill stock for sale
in Spartanburg and Is in two othsr South
Carolina mill towns, and in two North
Carolina cotton manufacturing ceters,
was bought by a number of the New
England party of capitalists and cotton
manufacturers who paid a visit of in
spection to the Carolinas recently" SO
runs recent Raleigh, N. c., dispatch.
If the people of the south accept offers
that will surely b. made to them as soon
as the mills they build begin to earn
dividends, this section will continue to
pay tribute to the shrewd men of the
east. One can't eat his cake and have
it, There Is, however, a remedy. AS
fast as the stock of an established mill
is sold-at a profit--let the proceeds of
the sale be put into another mill. Let
this be the south's endlsss chain In that
way the southern people can keep grip
upon the industries established amid the
cotton fields.
After all it may be we'll in the long
on. 1T is a transferrence of northern
CAPITAL devoted to cotton manufacturing
to the south, and that is what most of
the southern states must have If they
are TO line up with North Carolina in
putting their respective crops of cotton
into marketable: commodities, letting no
bale escape,
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19
ETCHINGS FROM
CURRENT TOPICS,

The fearful tragedy which occurred
onstrated several very unpleasant facts
beyond the actual, awful butchery of five
human beings. 1t emphasizes the ten
dency of newspaper reporters to ascribe
influential families of the SOUTH" thereby
enhancing the interest which naturally
attaches to every form of tragedy.
1t is the unfogtunate habit of correspond
ents in many portions of the country to de-
scribe the majority of the embezzlers and
men who wofully mix their finances with
those of their employers, as prominent
members of exclusive social circles, re-
CARELESS of the fact that many of them
had literally no social position whatever,
and many of them were only permitted to
occasionally peep into the suburbs of So
cety.
It is a sad, uncontrovertible truth that
many men, who have gone wrong in vari-
Gus ways, were tenderly reared under the
most refining family and social influences
but these are the exceptions, not the rule.
In murder cases the fiaring scar heads"
generally announce, with flourish, that
the perpetrators of the crimes come of in
f1uental family connections, especially If
the deeds have been committed in the
south.
Whether these reckless assertions are the
result of ignorance, or come or a desire
to add to the morbid interest of the public
1t is difficult to say. Whatever the mo-
tive 1t is oftimes an unjust, unwarranted
and misleading statement, which should
not be received In silence by the people of
this section.
That many of the murders committed
in the south were the work of men who
can claim the best social position, no one
can deny nor can it be contradicted that
many of these men have escaped the pun
ishment due for their criminal deeds, be-
cause of the influence of their family con-
nections; more's the pity.
But, when butchery occurs, in any way
side howell, among people in the lower
walks of life, it is an outrage to charac-
terize it, as the deed of men of family
position and prominence.
The tragedy near Macon was undoubt-
edly the work of men of the palmer classes
who had become inflamed with whisky,
and were well provided with pistols. I'm
fortunately the use of whisky in excess
and the carrying of pistols is not confined
to any class or condition in the south.
But the better social element of this Sec
ton has enough sins to answer for with
out having to bear the burden Of every
murder or embezzlement, which occurs, be-
low Mason and Dixons line.
whan newsnoner correspondents are
not capable of distinguishing in social mat
tiers, it would be well Tor them to ignore
thai phase of the story and give the SIM
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19

pie facts. unembellished with hurtful as
sumptions.
The south has always cultivated GER
tain pride in the social position of cer-
tain families and her enemies have used
this characteristic of the people as a
means by which to humiliate and deride
them whenever the opportunity offers.
The pride in an honorable ancestry has
been the cause of the elevation of the peo-
pie of this section in all matters pertain
ing to a keen appreciation of all that is
noblest and best. 1t has set high stand
ard of morals, and of conduct and demands
that this standard shall govern the lives
of those persons who desire social eonsid-
Grafton.
Pride in a distinguished ancestry
amounts to nothing. unless it proves an in
SEPARATION to noble living. To fall below
the honorable record made in the past by
a long line of ancestors, is to- be doubly
unworthy, and contemplate, in the estima-
ton of good men and women.
To have gained nothing from the inheri-
lance of good blood, but an evaporation,
snobby self-satisfaction, is to prove one
self a very offensive, useless descendant Oh
a worthy race, one who has inherited none
of the virtues, which entitled his fore
fathers to respect and esteem.
But these miserable blots and failures
are not abandoned and the better element
of the south, rebels against having to bear
the weight of all the iniquity that is
flashed over the wires from this section.
Enough evil is perpetrated by members
of the 'best families" heaven knows, but
they are not guilty of all the crimes as
cribed to them by sensational correspond
ents. BALL.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19

of South American countries are not ac-
cessible. but the trade now in English
hands is known to be up in the millions
of tens.
Is not the Warrior then vsry properly
a national river? And should not con-
gress hasten the day when the great
coal trade of Latin America can be taken
from British hands and placed within
the grasp Of the people of this country ?
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19
whisky Company Assigns

Greensboro Dec. 1S-R. Monarch, for him
self, the Glenmore Distilling company and
the Eagle Distilling company, assigned to-
day to the Columbian Finance and Trust
company of Louisville. The assets and La
bilities are estimated to be each about
$4,000 and $4,000 The long depression in
the whisky business and inability to con-
tinue loans is given as the cause. The Glen
more is Incorporated at 100000 and the
Eagle with $1500O0 capital. Monarch says
his embarrassment is caused by trying to
save his brother, M. V. Monarch, who
fai ed some time ago.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19

The Halstead family is In favor at
the white house. This may come from
the fact that thsy were once residents
of Ohio. The appointment of Marshall
Halstead, son of Murat Halsrtead, for
cial-Gazette as consul to Birmingham,
England, may be regarded in the nature
of the payment of a family debt con-
tracted SOM years ago in Ohio. Young
Mr.. Halstead is clever gentleman and
WILL without doubt, make good
CONSUL
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19
Nominations Confirmed

Washington, Dec. 1S.-The senate today
confirmed the following nominations: Ethan
A. Hitchcock of Missouri, to be minister to
Russia; Archibald j. Sampson, of Arizona,
minister to Ecuador; William B. Finch, Of
Wisconsin, minister to Paraguay and Uru-
quay; Laurits S. Swanson, of Minnesota.
minister to Denmark; George M. Bridge
man, of New Jersey, minister to Bolivia:
w. Godfrey Hunter, of Kentucky, minis
ter to Guatemala and Honduras; also a
long list of conSulS,
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19
MM-MZuev-

for three hours the work of the firemen
was of no avail. Then aid came from
Phillipsburg, N ]. The fire originated in
the biglogic laboratory on the second floor
of the west wing. 1t is believed to have
been started by defective gas burner I'M
der an incubator. The old Pardee hall was
destroyed in 1879, and the structure which
was burned today was built in 1880.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19
Bismarck Declining

London, Dec. 1S.-A special dispatch from
Hamburg says:
prince Bismarck, who braced up for his
visit, has lapsed into his former weakness.
dependency and persistent insomnia. Men
tally and physically Prince Bismarck Is
RAPIDLY declining"
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19
Nixon Cared For

Washington, Dec. 1s.-The president today
sent the following nominations to the sem
ate:
Treasury-William P. Williams, to be as
sistant treasurer of the United States; Will
liam Penn Nixon, collector of customs for
the district of Chicago: John L. Hodges.
assayer in chief of the mint at Denver.
State-George L. Dart, of Pennsylvania
to be consul at Martinique, West Indies.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19

Kiel, Dec. 1S.-The North German Lloyd
steamer Darmstadt, having on board half
the number of volunteers bound for China
and an immense amount of war material,
left here today for the far east. The
steamer Crefeldt will follow in a fortnight
with the rest of the volunteers and more
war material.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19

Before Benton McMillin, of Tennessee,
proceeds further in his campaign for the
senatorship he should make haste in
acquiring the art of playing the fiddle.
The people of Tennessee are very much
devoted to the fiddle and so long as Bob
Taylor can make that instrument play
a conspicuous part in the senatorial con-
test, all other candidates should either
take to the fiddle or the woods. Fiddling
Bob will be a hard man to beat.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19

1t SEEMS like a waste of time and lung
power for Senator Wolcott to tell what
the bimetaMic commission did. The
country knows now that it did nothing,
and that should settle it,
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19

i'm this public mind now as is Col. Kid
Mccoy, the eminent masher of mugs"
who won his laurels in the fifteenth
tenth.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19

It will require the services of but a
small hack to- accommodate all the able
statesmen who will attend the meeting
of the Palmer democrats In the stats
who are soon to assemble to Consult as
ITO the best method of conducting the
next campaign.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19

that the people in THE south are expert
encing hard times and that he should
have compassion upon those of his dis
trict and not expect them to read all his
speeches which h. sends to them.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19

Rome, Dec 1S.-Strong earthquake shocks
lasting twelve seconds were felt at $3.50 this
morning at Curta di CASTILLO, province of
Perugia, central Italy. The walls of the
houses split, many chimneys fell, the bells
rang and panic prevailed among the in
habitants. The shocks were registered by
the instruments here
There was also a slight shock felt at
Bc,cgna today.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19

1t may be necessary for Secretary
Gage to first pacify Joe Walker, chair
man of the banking and currency COM
mittee before he will consent to report
his financial bill to the house.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19

Florence. Dec. 1s-Marquis Alferri di
Sostegno Riari. a nephew of Cavour. the
great italian statesman. and father-in-law
Of the Marquis Visconti venosta, minister
for foreign affairs, il dead. He was born
In 1917.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19

When Carl Schurz was in the senate
and afterward secretary of the interior
under Hays, he placed more personal
fhneds in office than any other man
in public life. His ideas of civil service
reform seems different now that he is
out cf office himself
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19

Col. William Greene Sterrett of Texas,
but formerly of the Pennyroyal district OF
Kentucky, is achieving the reputation
in Washington of being the handsomest
dressed man in that city. Unlike Mr.
Bailey of the Lone Star state, Colonel
Sterrett has been known to wear a dress
sniff
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19

Judge Coleman will no doubt think it
wise to establish quarantine against the
Mckinley papers which are demanding
his nomination.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19

The Ohio legislator who cannot Gauss
Mark Hanna ito part with some of his
wealth will not be a credit to either his
state or his politics.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19

The water company does not seem t
be loved for the friends 1T has made4
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19

If WeyIer can cause a revolution in
Spain he will b. doing more good than
he did in attempting to suppress the re-
bellion in Cuba.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19

If Mr. Croker should get TO the senate
he will no doubt insist ON painting the
capital building green. .
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19

David Bennett Hill is gradually gettin
his bearings on the outside of Wolfort
Roost. 81
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19

If members of the police force have
gene into the burglary business 1T is time
for the people to take to the woods.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19

Speaker Reed may find, after 1T is toe
late, that he is not the whole show
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19

The theatrical trust may, in time. be
convinced that the public can form a
trust of its own in remaining away from
the theaters.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19

Mark Hanna will opsn up his market
place in few days.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-12-19
Earthquake Shocks

The coil is gradually Tightening about
tha gas octopus.