The age-herald., 1898-12-31
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE

dent J. K. Mcdonald yesterday. "The amount of stock already deposited at the various Repositories designated in our cir cular of some weeks ago gives us reasona- ble assurance that everything concerning the company will be settled satisfactorily to the bondholders. stockholders, and the great interests of Birmingham. The out look Is gratifying. All of our company in- terests are getting together, and l believe will work steadily together for the good of all concerned and the welfare of Birming- ham is most concerned.
 "The present movement to reorganize the company is of vital importance to this city, in that the winding up of the company's affairs at this time would almost neces- sarily result disastrously to real estate in- terests. The Elyton company owns real property here to the value of A,00O,O00. The sudden throwing of this great property upon the market as a forced sale would unsette values to an alarming extent, as may be easily understood. That is just what we are seeking to avoid, and we be- lieve that it will be avoided, judging by the answers already received to our proposition looking to an entire reorganization, the pur- pose of which is to protect every interest" The bondholders of the Elyton company have the right to foreclose after the 1st of January, and in consequence the stock is practically unsaleable. But the responses from the stockholders give the best of promise that no such foreclosure will take place Not only would the stockholders get their money back under reorganization. but they could count on far more than the face value of their stock. The actual value of such stock. as matters stand is nothing. Therefore. 1t would appear to be the plan of mere common sense to go into the reorganl- zation scheme.
 Interest in the constitutional convention continues to grow, locally and throughout the state The business men of Birmng ham are considering. the matter very seri- ousy, and that is a hopeful sign. Yester- day forenoon a delegation of wholesale merchants waited on MT. B. F. Roden and asked him to consent to be a candidate for delegate from Jefferson to the convention, as a representative of the business element. MT Roden expressed hearty gratitude for this mark of confidence on the part of his business associates and after some hesita- tion, declared that if they considered his services required and that it was best, he would consent to be a candidate and would serve them to the best of his ability. The meeting was very pleasant one, and as result MT, Roden may be considered can didate for delegate.
 -'It seems fairly well assured that Hon. Robert J. Lowe, General Charles M. Shelley and Hon. John P. Tillman will be in the list of candidates, not of their own seeking, perhaps, but through public demand" said a politician. "As for MT. Lowe, his posi- tion as the working head of the democratic party in the state makes him certain delegate if he desires the honor. None of these has declared himself, but it seems a matter of natural selection. General Shell ley twice led the democracy to victory; and MT. Tillman is known all over the state as one of the states ablest lawyers, and as one of the fairest and best judges of law Alabama now contains. Others are talked of, amongst them being Colonel John J. Altman, Colonel Sam Will John and MT. Robert G. Hewitt, very strong and true men,"
 The death in Washington yesterday of Senor Romero. the veteran Mexican am- bassador, will cause personal regret to many thousands of Americans who had the honor of knowing him. He died from the effects of surgical operation for appen- dictis.
 I'll tell you how to account for this ex- traordnary increase in appendicitis, said learned and distinguished Alabamian. "It all comes from adulterated flour, Seven or eight years ago one almost never heard of appendicitis, and never knew of any person who had actually suffered from it. Now it is almost as common as typhoid fever, and l believe, is less fatal One firm of bright young surgeons in Birmingham had four teen cases in about four months, in each of which they had to use the knife, and they did not lose case
 '"rhe dreadful ailment arises in my opln- ion, from the mineral so much used in adul- terating flour. The mineral is fine clay and is so finely pulverized that there is no grit in it, and it is entirely tasteless. There is firm in North Carolina that makes a business of supplying the adulterant, hav- ing regular scale of prices. They sell the adulterant for the highest grade of flour at SIS a ton. It was maintained that the war revenue act requiring a stamp on adulter- ated foodstuffs would drive impure flour out of the market; but it seems to me to be easy enough for dishonest millers to swear falsely and impose upon dealers flour that | Is not pure. A man who would knowingly sell mineral product for wheat flour would not hesitate to swear to a lie. He | is certainly poisoner, and therefore the worst of criminals"
 q have often heard the Messiah ren- dered by large oratorio societies, with great soloists and with orchestral accompaniment, | but have seldom listened to it when the chorus impressed me so favorably as did
 tnat on Thursday night at Seals hall,"
 said William Ryan, of Virginia, who has
 been actively identified with musical enter
 prises during the past fifteen years. "Bir- mingham Is indeed to be congratulated upon being able to hear oratorio so intelligently, religiously and artistically sung. The chorus