The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-24
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
AND ELSEWHERE

with. The temperature of the atmosphere
was abnormally high; and therefore the
! weather was, upon the whole, very depress-
| ing. In the afternoon the rain ceased, and
| towards nightfall the temperature began to
fall, and at dark a cold, northerly wind was
blowing strongly, promising clear, cold
| Christmas eve and Christmas day. Traffic
in the streets was very heavy. and trade
was better than ever before. The rain IN
| doubtedly kept many persons from coming
to the city on the early morning trains
| from suburban and neighboring towns; but
the business houses had adj the customers
they could attend to. 1t was merely mat
ter of giving out goods and receiving money
with all possible energy and speed. Today,
| Christmas eve, Birmingham will bear its
ordinary Sunday aspect.
It was stated by the Associated Press in
| yesterdays Age-Herald that Professor
Council, of Huntsville, the noted negro edu-
Gator, had sent out a letter appealing for
aid in securing the passage through con-
| gress of a bill granting $4,000 acres of land
to each the state normal school at Florence,
and the state normal school for negroes at
Normal, near Huntsville of which Profess
sor Council is the able principal. A bill to
the purpose was introduced in the senate
the other day by Senator Pettus, and an
identical bill was introduced in the house
Of
unwrtten history involved in this interest
ing question. A bill on the lines of what
is now desired passed the senate at the last
session; but failed in the house, notwith-
standing the fact that two-thirds of the
members had actually signed a paper pre-
pared by General Wheeler pedging them
selves to vote in favor of the measure. The
cause of failure was Speaker Reeds dislike
of General Wheeler. 1t was arranged that
Congressman William f. Aldrich was to
take charge of the bill in the house, and
the speaker had consented to recognize Mr..
Adrich, who was to call the bill up and put
it on it's passage. At the moment of vital
Importance the speaker glanced at Mr.. Aid
rich, who was just then looking in another
direction. The speaker turned his gaze to
the right and there saw General Wheeler.
Immediately he closed his mouth firmly,
and after securing attention, he called for
the house to proceed with the regular or
der; never again looking at Mr.. Aldrich.
Thus the bill failed, because the presence of
General Wheeler was irritating to the
speaker 1t is alleged that Mr.. Reed and
General Wheeler had a stormy meeting in
the speakers private room, and Mr.. Reed
was actually insulting to the general.
Congressman Bankhead hopes to see the
school lands bill become law during the
present long session. He spent yesterday
in Birmingham, returning to his home at
Fayette to spend the holidays. Colonel
Banlkhead was in the best good humor. Be-
ing asked how he was pleased with his
committee assignments in the house he an
| swered that he had got exactly what he
wished, and consequently was entirely
pleased. The reappointment of Colonel
Bankhead to the rivers and harbors COM
mittee is matter of very great Importance
to Alabama All Alabamians are grateful
to him for his past services as a mem'ber
of that committee.
James Hilhouse, formerly state mine in
spector, and former resident of Birming-
ham, arrived in town yesterday, and will
spend the holidays here. Mr.. Hillhouse is
the superintendent of the Cumberland Coal
Mining company, operating mines in Cum
berland county, Tennessee. He says that
the company is working seam of coal five
! feet thick and of most excellent quality.
The company is prospecting and Mr.. Hill
| house is prospecting, his friends in JEFF
ferson county will be glad to know.
An odd spectacle on the streets yesterday
was made up by man and a woman with
four dogs and four babies The man car
ried one of the babies in his arms, and at
the same time managed to lead the dogs.
The woman carried another baby, and the
two remaining ones toddled slowly along
The family party, in the circumstances,
presented a picturesque appearance.
1t is understood that the plans have been
accepted for converting the Walker build
ing at First avenue and Twenty-first street,
now occupied by Drennen & Co., into a
high class hotel. The hotel will contain 100
perfectly furnished rooms one hundred of
which will have bath rooms attached. 1t
will be run on the European plan, and will
be h.gh-class in every particular. The
property is owned by William A. Walker.
Allen c. Benners of Baltimore, is in the
city visiting his father A. H. Benners.
General Michael L. Bulger, of Tallapoosa,
who served with distinction in the Mexican
war and in the war between the states, and
who is now over 80 years old, is visiting
| friends at Avondale.
HIS RAISE
| From Golfers Weekly.