The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-04-29
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
AND ELSEWHERE

The laws OF all but two OF the seapoaIu
states of the union provide that ships
owned in each state shall be assessed and
taxed practically as any other property.
Vessels are, of course, property, and are
subject to taxation. The two states which
exempt shipping from taxation are Ala
bama and New York In order to encour-
age the ownership of vessels by citizens of
the state, and to aid the shipping industry
the legislature of New York enacted that
vessels be not taxed. The Alabama legisla-
ture took similar action, and the law of
each state stands today as an incentive to
its citizens to become interested in
shipping.
This fact becomes of very great interest
to Alabama, in view of the increasing devel-
opment of the states mineral wealth; the
American acquisition of the Spanish West
Indies; the growth of American trade in
Central and South America, and the GER
tain building of the Nicaragua or Panama
canal. 1t must have its effect in making
Mobile one of the great ship-owning ports
of America
81 don't plant any cotton at all" said
Colonel j. NJ. Falkner, of all-the-state.
1OlOHSl ONllS OhC VI tiiC OOeA III
proved and most fertile cotton" planta-
tons in Montgomery county, but he doesn't
throw away money on cotton. He plants
corn, and about all the other crops grown
In his district. He raises hogs and cattle,
and, incidentally, probably the most COM
plete dairy in Alabama.
"There is great uneasiness amongst cot
ton growers as regards a stand, =" he said
last night. much of the seed was rotten.
Cotton was picked wet ginned wet, and
the seed stored wet and doubtless no small
portion of the seed rotted on the stalk be-
cause of the continuous rain throughout
the gathering time. Farm work is pro-
crossing very satisfactorily. Up to last
Sunday, for several days, the ground had
become hard stiff, making blowing slow;
but on that day there was fine rain, and
the ground was well wet. 1 am not in a
position to say whether the farmers are
planting as much corn and other grain as
last year. have been very busy with my
law practice, and haven't investigated the
matter"
Speaking of a new constitution for Ala
bama," said a veteran in the lobby, ire
minds me of the experience of a western
man who went to Mississippi and, in the
neighborhood of where 1 was staying at the
time, invested about $25O,0OO in farm lands.
Sometime before 1 met him Mississippi
had adopted its present restrictive consti-
tuition.
Are you pleased with your investment?
1 asked him.
" 'Delghted.' he said. Ef{sl@i
And the people around your is,i
" Best people 1 ever met he said.
" And the new constitution
" The new constitution he said has
enhanced the value of my property so per
cent, for it insures political tranquility and
safety. I say this as a republican. The
new constitution eliminates the negro vote
That is enough
Captain Henry Bankhead sailed from
Savannah yesterday to rejoin his regiment
the Fifth United States volunteer infantry
at Santiago. He returns to Cuba after
short leave of absence spent with his father
and mother, Congressman and Mrs. John
H. Bankhead, at Fayette, Ala. At Wash
ington Captain Bankhead was presented to
the president, who congratulated and
thanked him for his services. He will re-
turn from Cuba with his regiment almost
Immediately to be mustered out with that
body; Immediately after which he will be
assigned to duty as second lieutenant in the
regular army, position to which he was
appointed many weeks ago. There was no
necessity for him to rejoin the regiment in
Cuba, but he preferred to be mustered out
of the volunteer service with his COM
rades.
f. b. Fiske, of Montgomery, is in town.
John S. Foster, of Jasper, well known
civil engineer, was in town yesterday
General Charles M. Shelley has returned
to town.
Attorney General Charles G. Brown is in
Birmingham.
convict inspectors e. w. Booker and
w. II. Blake were in the city last night.