The age-herald., 1900-02-24
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
 AND ELSEWHERE

"Millionair1sm is rapidly on the increase in this country" said an ex-banker, in speaking of financial matters, yesterday. "Twenty-five years ago millionatres were rare. Even ten years ago they could be counted. But today they are too numer- ous to be reckoned. The Frick-Carnegie row brings out the fact that Andrew Car negie is worth anywhere from two hun dred and fifty to three hundred millions. Carnegie and Rockefeller are the richest men in the world. and compared with these two thrifty republicans. the Astors and the other rich men of a few years back were paupers. Young Clark, son of the Mon tana senator, confessed in his testimony before the senate committee to annual income from his own business of quarter of a million, which. on a 6 per cent. basis, would make alim worth over $40 900. Ac- cordtng to ideas obtaining forty or fifty years ago an energetic, shrewd man of business might during a long lifetime &C., cumulate million dollars. That seemed possible. But now it is common for men favored by high tariff to accumulate fab ulous fortunes in "a few years. It seems that the time has come when the man worth only a million or two is regarded as simply one in comfortable circumstances. A quarter of a century ago an American millionaire was marked mana man to be wondered alt and stared at. Not so now"
 There were at least one hundred and fifty out-of5town people in Birmingham last night to attend the Paderewsh piano recital About twenty-five registered at the Morris, fi0teeen or twenty stopped at the Arlington, and about the same number at the Florence. The others were distrib- uted among the boarding houses. In party from Montgomery at the Morris were Mrs. Ellenbertg, Mrs. Dunn, Miss Bennett, Miss Rizer, Miss Gay and Miss Elouise Tenville. Mr. A. A. Kincannon and wife chaperoned "a party of eleven school girls and several lady teachers from Columbus, Miss. Nearly all of the visitors had bought their tickets before coming to Birming- ham, and most of them paid the highest price, s4. Probably not half of the visitors appreciated the genius of Padere wslxi, but 1t marked an event in the nves and the money spent on the concert was not spent unwillingly; certainly without a murmur. Speaking of fancy prices" said gentle man in the lobby of the Arlington, q trav- eied two hundred miles to Washington to hear Patti. I bought a reserved seat, through friend in Washington, a week in advance, and paid $7 for it. I did not complain, but after taking my seat in the large opera house I saw many vacant seats just as good as mine for all musical purposes that could have been bought for s2. When exorbitant prices are charged 1t is usually the out-of- town people, like myself, who put up the money. The home folks who so to concerts or operas for the music generally flee to the galleries"
 
 "The Seaboard Air Line is certainly com- ing to Birmingham" said a railroad Iawyep, in discussing the question. Ut will probably be here inside of twelve months. The Sea- board Air Line is making great fight in the Virginia legislature for line from Richmond to Washington, and it will win. The bill for the charter passed the Vir- ginia senate day before yesterday. and 1t
 
 fight on the part of the existing line-the R. F. & F. R. R.
 'The lesson of the fire" said B. Steiner, lis that Birmingham needs better water supply. The old mains are inadequate to present conditions, and they should be re- placed by larger mains. It seems to be the Birmingham rule that whenever we have hotel fire the water pressure is not on. There was no pressure when the Caldwell house burned, and there was no pressure when the Metropolitan took fire. This city should spend from a quarter of a million to a half million in getting itself in shape for protection against conf1agrations."
 ''The internal revenue business in Ala bama is keeping up with the general pros- perity," said a government official. "Six years ago the collectors salary was only $2750 Now it reaches the maximum, $45Ou, which is based upon the amount of collec- tions"