davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The age-herald., 1899-07-09
FIT UP THE CoUhTRY SCHOOLS

From the Greenvile Living Truth.
 There is no doubt whatever that from the country comes the strong, healthy blood which keeps up the towns and cities A comparative estimate will prove that of the men who are today great factors in the de- velopment of the different resources, the greatest number are from the country.
 This hypothesis admits of no doubt, hence it behooves the state of Alabama to aid the country boys and girls at least to the eX- tent of better schools than they now have
 Such schools as they have in the country districts are next to no schools at all; their terms are short and they have no equip ment whatever. How in Gods world can the boys and girls of the country hope to be educated, when all the state furnishes to- wards that end is an extremely poorly paid teacher?
 This order of things should be changed, and the country schools each have an ap- propriaton for school equipments. What on earth is the use to spend the money on state schools which are only attended by children of weli-to-do people. Put the money where it should be put, in the schools throughout the country districts where the children. of the poor attend.
The age-herald., 1899-07-09
Boys Industrial School.

When one considers the great amount of good that has been accomplished in Ten- nessee through an industrial school or re- formatory--when, too, one stops to think of the consequences of confning young boys among hardened criminals-when one, in short, thinks what possibilities of citi- zenship lie hid in every bright boy one can not but be grateful and glad that Ala bama is about to have a reformatory of it's own. Its location in Jones Valley is due club, and in part to the henevolence of the Birmingham Railway and Electric com- pany.
 The state appropriation and the utmost efforts of our good people will not enable the new institution.to start richly endowed or handsomely sheltered. It will be start ed in modest manner, and it will grow as experience and the needs of the state dictate. The best and strongest growths are those that start at the bottom and build in accordance with wants and in- 
 the institution just planted at Hillman, in this valley, will grow and prosper, watched and supervised as it will be, at the outset at least, by the women of Alabama. Mrs. R. D. Johnston, of this city, has been devoted friend of the proposed reform in the handling of young boys in this state who may get into trouble, and she at least vii lnot soon lay down the work of su- peryision. Tho people of the state will in time become interested in it, and when they do they will see that it has a reasonable appropriation each year for it's support and extension. In the meanwhile it needs and should have all possible support from those who have surplus of this worlds goods. No one will put out money amiss who con- tributes towards the support of a citizen making school.
The age-herald., 1899-07-09
Board of Trade Day.

The Birmingham Board of Trade is a young organizat ation, but it is full of vigor, and will be much in evidence from this time on. Nearly all of our merchants are members Of 1t, and by harmonious CO., operation they will be able to accomplish great things for the mercantile interests of this rapidly expanding city.
 Birmingham is advertised throughout the country as a throbblng, thriving, industrial community. But its general trade is well worthy of attention, too, and the time has come when the merchants will leave noth ing undone to advertise it as the foremost shopping and jobbing city in the state.
 And it is to inaugurate a new progressive movement that the board celebrates July % as Board of Trade Day. That date will be memorable in the history of Birming ham. There will be a merchants parade in the afternoon, and speaking and other attractions in the evening. The railroads will sell half-rate tickets from all points within a radius of 100 miles. It is estimated that not less than 15,0O) visitors will come to Birmingham on July 25-the more the better All will receive q cordial welcome
The age-herald., 1899-07-09

of doing every thing else In their power to- wards securing the location of a govern ment mill in or near this town.
 Mir. Underwood presented the subject in a practical and forcible manner on Friday night at regular monthly meeting of the Club, which represents the larger conner eial interests of the mineral section of the state. All the essential facts were brought out, and he did not hesitate to express the opinion that an armor plate plant would be built by the government. He believes, too that it will be built where the greatest nat ural resources exist. but MT. Underwood did not hesitate to say that persistent and united effort is needed in order to make the resources of this district known.
 Two lines of effort seem to be necessary. In the first place, every southern congress- man-every congressman, for that matter should have in good form, with all needful illustration, every fact touching the case This must be done in pamphlet Then an exhaustive and searching case must be made up for use before the board that will be appointed to locate the plant. Here are two lines of work that should engage the attention of the committee of thirty-onc. Here is work enough to occupy good share of their leisure time.
 The thanks of the club were very properly extended to Congressman Underwood, but the club can please the untiring representa- tive of the district best by working early and late to secure-ell possible support for the effort that he will make in the next congress for government plant and for Birmingham.
The age-herald., 1899-07-09

Consolidation seems to be the order of the day. Railroads, iron furnaces, steel plants, rolling mills and all manner of manufac- tories. are combining; primarily that oper- ating expenses may be reduced and profits increased.
 Several days ago The Age-Herald printed a story that there was talk of a consolida- ton of the Southern and Louisville and Nashville railroads. This was more than q mere rumor. It is probable in the not far distant future
 Not only this, but several great financiers of this country are ondeavoring to map out a plan by which there will be a general consolidation of from eight to ten of the largest railroad systems in America under one general management and with one gen. eral set of securities. This proposed con- solidation contempates a system that would run from the Canadian border to the gulf, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific, touching the principal states of the union. This is the most mammoth undertaking perhaps, seriously contemplated in this country.
 Resides the proposed consolidation of the two great southern systems of railroads, there is plan to consolidate all the coal and iron properties of this section. The Tennessee Coal and Iron company has ex- tended it's arms and acquired the Sheffield furnaces, together with the coal and iron properties belonging to the same A deal is now on by which the Sloss company and several of the large coal and iron properties in the state are to be combined into one great company. And recently the Interna- tional Trust company, of Baltimore, has underwritten a company known as the Alabama Coal and Iron company, which takes in practically all the coal and iron properties of Alabama, which are not con- trolled by either the Tennessee combina- tion or the Sloss combination.
 It is now proposed that when these com binations are thoroughly effected and or ganized that they may all be consolidated into one great concern There are those who say this is probable; there are those who say it is possible; and there are those who say 1t can never be effected. However that may be, bright minds and wealthy in- dividuals are planning to this end.
 In the meantime banking business in Bir- mingham is increasing wonderfully. The last bank statements issued shows the de- posits of the Birmingham banks to have climbed higher and higher for the last seven months. They are almost double what they were a year ago at this time, and prominent and careful banker pre- dieted< to me yesterday that they might
The age-herald., 1899-07-09
sunScRIPrION RATES.
Gen. Wheeler in inc Philippines.

Gen. Joe Wheeler is not a comfort to his political enemies. He refuses to go to tine Philippines and stay there. He goes to re- turn early. He goes on special mission of some sort-a mission whose nature is not at present disclosed; and he also goes to a place where the regular army is omnipo- tent. He will encounter in the Philippines its jealousles for and antaginism to all not of it's own guild. General Wheeler is a vol unteer officer despite his education at West Point, and his achievements in two wars, and he will not therefore have an opportunity to earn any of the honors that belong-in their own minds to regulars only. General Otis and his brother officers General Wheeler is a better soldier than they are. They will not give him a square chance and the president will not compel them to do so, because he proposes to hold them responsible for the conduct of the coming campaign.
 General Wheeler will therefore execute his special mission and return in good sea- son to take his seat in the Fifty-siXth con gress, and he will also be on hand in good season to lead the democrats of Alabama in a wakover campaign if he and they are so minded. This is sad news to the Mont gomery Journal, but this alas, is the situ- alton up to date. If General Otis will as- sign him to duty. he will fight fast and furious, but that is just what General Otis, who is first and always a regular true to all it's traditions, will not do. President Mckinley has met the public demands by sending General Wheeler to the Philip pines, and General Otis will meet the ex- pectations of tho regulars by failing to find a proper command for him. He will then return, and proceed to serve the people as the next best opportunity open to an in- defatigable public servant. Unwelcome as this intelligence is to the Reorganization element of this state, yet it will have to be accepted as true, for General Wheeler him. self has said it. And he certainly knows what his work will be better than do the Journal and all its advisers in the state house, from the executive office down to tine adjutant generals headquarters.
The age-herald., 1899-07-09
The Johnston-Reyno!ds Controversy.

Ex-President Reynolds of Montevallo says he received in the lobby of the house note from Governor Johnston to the ef- feet that the passage of the constitutional convention bill would be followed by veto of a bill approprlating S15,O0O to the Montevallo school He says he was again threatened with a veto in case the bill appropriating $G0OO0O to the public schools became a law.
 The controversy is in progress, and the facts will doubtless be brought out. The lulewarmness of the executive office to- wards both the convention bill and the public school bill are not at all surprising. In his annual message Governor Johnston leaned against a convention, and subse- quently he took steps that took away from the people the right to say what they wanted as to constitutional revision. He leaned, too, against direct appropriation for the public schools, proffering instead a dog tax and other chips and whetstones Captain Reynolds revelations are not therefore in these respects surprising.
 But it is surprising to hear that Gov ernor Johnston was engaged in lobbying the lobbyists-that threats of Vetoes were ex- pended in the shaping of legislation. The veto was never intended for use in the lobby. It is not an appropriate argument for or against any measure. It was not designed as a guide or a menace, and lob- byists who are a-lobbying should not be held up by it. even fl caught in the act
 But Governor Johnston denies that he case of the convention bill and to some extent he denies the charge when made in connection with the school appropriation. Captain Reynolds reply is needed. The controversy is young as yet, and all the facts pertinent to the two subjects involved have not been brough tout. Extended com ment should therefore be withheld. There may be much of interest in coming dis closures. Captain Reynolds is now free to publish any note relating to the twin sub- jeets >that he possesses, and until he is heard from in reply to Governor Johnston's denial no one can say how the case does stand. Let the note in question be pro- duced. The executive memory may have become confused, and the publication of the note in question would clear the atmos- urlai inh iS -;tl charges and counter-charges.
The age-herald., 1899-07-09
GREAT CANCELLATIONS PROPOSED IN
 AND ABOUT THE BIRMINGHAM DISTRICT

of $25OO,o0O and surplus of 8 2,50O 900, wit Ashbel P. Fitch as president. This con eern has among it's directors several prom inent and wealthy men who are directl!4 interested in the properties of the Birmingy ham distriet-both railroad, coal and iron-1 and there is current gossip to the effecd that this great concern will act as fiscal agent in contemplated consultations in this section.
 We hear all of these things, we know they are in contemplation, we know what is being done, but no one can tell whether such great things can be effected or not. Only time can show that. Great works are effected these days which men would have laughed at if suggested few years ago. Men would have been considered maniacs had they mentioned such things as feasible five years ago. And yet great combinations with millions upon millions of bonds and stocks are HOW formed almost daily. The total capitalization of trusts and combines in this country today runs into the hundreds of millions of dollars. Ii amounts, in. dollars, hundreds and thous- ands of times more than all the combined currency of the world. Even the smallest of these combines is of greater proportions than the average mind can grasp.
 
 The wealth of the world appears to be wild on the subject of bonds and stocks It is in Birmingham as 1t is elsewhere, yet there are smaller fish, who are going ahead quietly, buying real estate and mak- ing money out of it. Real estate in Bir- mingham has been gradually going up for nearly a year. There has been no boom about it-there should be no boom. Prop erty is yet cheap here, except in a few in- stances where owners are indulging in wild speculative dreams. The property bought by Miner Kettig yesterday in Twentieth street was cheap, and other property has been sold recently at less than it's actual value, although in the neighborhood of a thousand new buildings are in course of construction in Birming- ham and vicinity, and in face of the fact 100000 has been invested in manufa ctur- ing enterprises and business and residence buildings and property within the past year.
 With good, businesslike and intelligent administration of city affairs and with an effort on the part of real estate dealers and others to curb speculative instincts In buyers and sellers of real estate Birming- ham is now in a position to become one of the greatest, if not the greatest, city in the south within five years. At least that is the way it appears to
The age-herald., 1899-07-09
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR,

From the New York Press.
 Love may have it's limits, but there aren't any limits to loving.
 Heaven lies about us in our infancy, and it may be that our infancy lies about us in Heaven.
 The mind that is best fitted to criticise a great work of art is one that it holds to silence.
 There is no such thing as a woman who loves her husband and who does not be- lieve in hereafter.
 The man who is most conceited about himself is generally the least conceited about his wife.
The age-herald., 1899-07-09
double the present amount by this time

double the present amount by this time next year.
 Other consultations being in the air, banking consultations are contemplated and are being attempted. Even the casual readers of stock quotations in the local papers of Birmingham will have noted the wonderful increase in the bid price of local bank stocks within the past week. Ber- ney Bank stock alone has been bid up from D to 90 within four days. and I understand there were offers yesterday of par for small blocks. Alabama National Bank stock has likewise gone up from 60 bid to D bid, and perhaps more. Bids of 12O for First Nation al Bank stock were declined Friday. There is no First National and no Trust company stock on the market, and it is said that all of the stock of other banks, which hap pened to be on the market, has been taken up in the last few days and that none can be found for sale.
 It is known that the directors and stock holders of two of the largest banks in town have been trying to buy up the stock of the other banks. For several days it was thought probable that a consolidation of three of the banks into one would be ef- fected. Strong efforts in that direction were made. Stocks were bid up high but the present officers in each of two of the three banks managed to buy enough of the stock of their respective banks first to maintain existing organizations. Thus, for the present at least, proposed bank con- solidations are off.
 It is well to say in this connection that each of the six or seven larger banks in Birmingham is doing splendid business, and each one is earning considerably more than expenses. It is not believed that there is one which will not pay per cent. divi- dends from now on.
 If, however, the contemplated consolida- tion of the coal, iron and steel interests of Alabama is effected, Birmingham may re- quire one great clearing house bank, larg- CT than any now in existence. Naturally each one of the several existing banks would aspire to be the nucleus around which this great banking institution would be formed, and to make that more sure, each of the two or more which aspires to that end, would seek to enveop the ac- counts, business and influence of one or more of the other existing banks.
 In this connection there are those who have noted the recent organization of the Trust Company of America with a capital
The age-herald., 1899-07-09
Chairman Shocks Committee of 31.

Mr. Underwood Is not to be left to fight sngle-handed the battle for an armor plate mill in this district in the next congress-
 as he did in the last congress. He is, The Age-Herald is glad to state, to have home support of an organized nature The Com mercial Club has appointed committee of thirty-one, who are charged with the work of gathering and publishing statistics relat- ing to Iron and steel in this district, and
The age-herald., 1899-07-09

The Bryan and Morgan ticket of the disorganizationists represents both schools in the new possessions matter. and yet they are to be hitched together in order to create a senatorial yacanaey.
The age-herald., 1899-07-09

Birmingham's merchants are charged as high rates of freight to points i50 miles dis miles, and this discrimination in rates re- lates, too to Alabama towns.
The age-herald., 1899-07-09

The Montgomery Journal slangwhangs Senator Morgan in one paragraph, and in the next it names "Bryan and Morgan" as the ticket in 19OO Anything to create senatorial vancancy.
The age-herald., 1899-07-09

Rates from New England points to cities 200 miles south of this city are lower than such rates are to Birmingham.
The age-herald., 1899-07-09

night granted to the al-night rounders Is not long enough to taper off in. Nor does it meets the wants Of statesmen returning from Montgomery.
The age-herald., 1899-07-09

Uncle Sam is delivering to Spain the Spanish prisoners held by the esteemed Aguinaldo just about as fast as Spain is delivering the Philippines to him.
The age-herald., 1899-07-09

The Nashville American should send out a map or explanation of it's statement that the price of writing books has been reduced by a Tennessee commission from 15O to 2SS per cen.
The age-herald., 1899-07-09

The Montgomery Advertiser should get into frame of mind that will permit it to accept the Chicago Records proposition of a stadium on wheels.
The age-herald., 1899-07-09

 it meets the wants of statesmen returning from Montgomery. The Montgomery Journal slangwhangs Senator Morgan in one paragraph, and in the next it names "Bryan and Morgan as the ticket in 1900, Anything to create a senatorial vancancy.
 The Nashville American should send out a map or explanation of it's statement that the price of writing books has been reduced by Tennessee commission from 15O to 293 per cen.
 Uncle Sam is delivering to Spain the Spanish prisoners held by the esteemed Aguinaldo just about as fast as Spain is delivering the Philippines to him.
 
 The Montgomery Advertiser should get into a frame of mind that will permit it to accept the Chicago Records proposition of a stadium on wheels.
  Poetry will get another black eye in this ulitarian age when the horse of the char tot and of the military hero is supplanted by the automobiles.
 Miss Helen Gould receives coo begging let ters month. The appeals aggregate about s1 1c0O,0OO month, and some of them are refused.
 
 The kissing bug is said to carry about it's person all the bad qualities of mos quito. a copperhead snake and an epi- demic.
 George Washington and George Dewey are our two Georges. There may be two more somewhere, but they are in a lower rank.
 In point of unanimity, spontaniety and slop-overness the populist papers are standing up nobly to the state administra- ton.
 Thus far it has not been claimed that the rampant automobile will supplant the fes- tive mule between the cotton rows. The cold weather of the Klondke does not seem nearly so dreadful as it did a few short months ago.
 Illinois may love the black man, but she wants him to stay in the Black Belt of some other state.
 The infant tinplate industry is now en- gagged in starving its 50,GOO employees into submission.
 -Four more years of Alger" will be an issue if old Canned Roast Beef stays in the cabinet.
 The dispatches that chronicle the march of General Wheeler to the Philippines are not censored.
 Candidate Goebers single scalp may not suffice to carry him through Kentucky canvass.
 Six American senators at once in London is overdoing the senatorial globe-trottng business.
 The summer resort that fits the season is in the Klondke.
 Now is the time to enlist. It is the last call.
 The airships are distanced by the auto mobiles.
 The Columbia will not need a pacemaker.
The age-herald., 1899-07-09

The Anniston Hot Blast seems 10 think the additional fifteen minutes after mid
The age-herald., 1899-07-09

Poetry will get another black eye in this ulitarian age when the horse of the char tot and of the military hero is supplanted by the automobiles.
The age-herald., 1899-07-09

Thus far it has not been claimed that the rampant automobile will supplant the fes- tive mule between the cotton rows.
The age-herald., 1899-07-09

The cold weather of the Klondike does
 not seem nearly so dreadful as it did a few short months ago.
The age-herald., 1899-07-09

The kissing bug is said to carry about it's person all the bad qualities of a mos quito. a copperhead snake and an epi- demic.
The age-herald., 1899-07-09

Miss Helen Gould receives coo begging let ters a month. The appeals aggregate about s100O,OOO month, and some of them are refused.
The age-herald., 1899-07-09

Six American senators at once in London is overdoing the senatorial globe-trotting business.
The age-herald., 1899-07-09

Illinois may love the black man, but she wants him to stay in the Black Belt of some other state.
The age-herald., 1899-07-09

George Washington and George Dewey are our two Georges. There may be two more somewhere, but they are in a lower ranlS
The age-herald., 1899-07-09

The dispatches that chronicle the march of General Wheeler to the T Philippines are not censored.
The age-herald., 1899-07-09

The infant tinplate industry is now en- gagged in starving its 50,G00 employees into submission.
The age-herald., 1899-07-09

In point of unanimity, spontaniety and slop-oyerness the populist papers are standing up nobly to the state administra- ton.
The age-herald., 1899-07-09

-Four more years of Alger" will be an issue if old Canned Roast Beef stays in the cabinet.
The age-herald., 1899-07-09

Candidate Goebels single scalp may not suffice to carry him through a Kentucky canvass.