davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-28
PLAN OF REORGANIZATION
Telephone and Telegraph Company to Have Capital of $32, ,OOO,OOO.

Boston. Dec. 2.-Details of plan for tn, reorganization of the Erie Telegraph and Telephone Company, with a capital of s32, ,O0O. 900, involving transfer Of con troI to the American Telephone and Tele- graph Company. are made public In circular to the shareholders of the Erie Company issued today. Kidder. Peabody & CO will carry out the plan, If 1t IS accepted by the shareholders.
 That the step will be taken is thought to be assured. in view of the statement in the circular that the financial condition of the company is critical" and the dec laration that 80, 100000 in notes. with in- terest from July 10, 1901, at per cent. per annum, fall due January 10, 1902, while ''the company has on hand to meet these n aturing notes no cash or securities upon which cash can be raised. nor any other available resources, and it will, therefore, be unable to pay them" The circular also refers to the necessity of spending s6 GOO. GOO on subsidiary companies, which amount the Erie is unable to furnish.
 The reorganization plan. which the Erie directors recommend. involves the forma- lion of a hew company with Si6.OOO,OOO in nreferred stock to be 6 per cent. cumula- tive after six years of issue. and Sl6,OOO,7 0OO common stock. par value of each $lOO This stock will be subject only to an In- debtedness of $10.O00,0O0 gold bonds.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-28
NATIONS TRADE
 IS PHENOMENAL
Bradstreets Annual ReZa3w De. clares 1901 to be sy<Record
 Breaker" in Commerce.

profit in manufacture has occasioneo complaint there and in New and Old Eng land. The agricultural interest mas been favored by heavy advances in Farm pro- ducts which have done much to counter balance reductions in yield. Export trade has shown signs of hesitation after years of steady advance and imports have in- creased but mainly in materials intended for domestic manufacture and the margin in favor of exports is still enormously heavy.
 The bank clearings are estimated at SIS, 900 O00. 00O.' gain of 3S per cent. over last year and 26 per cent. over the record of 1853. The failures for the year were placed at 10,775, with aggregate liabilities of $130 000 900 and assets of $6o3OO,OOO. AS to this showing, the reviewer said;
 This is a gain of 8.6 per cent. in num- Der over 1900 and of nearly F per cent. over 1899. but back of that year compari- sons favor the current one. Liabilities have not gained relatively. as shown by the fact that they are only 24 per cent larger this year than last and S.6 per cent larger than in 1899 "A continuing un- favorable feature is the small percentage of assets to liabilities. It Is only 46.4 per cent. this year as against SIP per cent. year ago, and 52 per cent. m 1893 ana 1S98."
 As to prices, the reVlSW says
 wheat has reached the highest point since 1898; corn and oats are higher than for almost a decade. and other products have sympathized. Food products as a | whole are higher than in the general price boom of 19O0 while manufactures are lower. notably in this respect being leather, textiles, coal and coke, naval stores, building materials, chemicals and drugs and miscellaneous products.
 Prices as a whole are per cent lower than February, 1900. and December, 1899, | but are higher than in any year from 1893 until the third quarter of 1899. II other products follow the lead of food
 products, as is not unusual. further advance of the former is not unlikely Iron and steel prices seem to lead in this latter day advance, but the other metals have broken away from them, | and copper, le ad and titn are weakening | the result of failures of injurious at
 tempts at controlling production. Fooo
 products largely imported. like coffee and | sugar, have reached low-water prices oh large production"
 In summarizing the foreign trade, the 1 review declares there has been falling of in the demand abroad for American iron steel and copper, a reduction In th'
 exports of corn and oats. phenomena
 wheat shipmentst and larger shipments o
 animals and provisions.
 Exports were estimated at $1, 4S5 00o, 900
 or 1 per cent. less than thea record ol
 last year This calculation treated Porte
 Rico and Hawaii as American territory
 As to imports. the review declared:
 Imports have gained slightly; they vii | aggre gate at least $S75,0OO,0OO, a gain oi | 5.5 per cent. over 1900. leaving the bal ance of domestic exports over imports not far from s56O,OOO.OOO. or the third | largest excess in the country's history
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-28

Washington. Dec. 1.-The gathering of German warships in the vicinity Of Vene- zuela. and the presence in the same To- cality of many American. British, french and other foreign warships. is directing attention to the imminence of the naval demonstration Germany is about to make aesinst Venezuela. It is said to be prob able that the first move by Germany will he the establishment of a blockade of Venezuelan ports so as to prevent the introduction of food products into Vene- zuela, and thus starve the besieged into submission. Venezuela, it Is said, is en- tirely dependent on the outside world TOT the supply of corn, which is staple among the venezuelans.
 The Germans are expected to occupy one or more of the main ports or Vene- suela, probably La Guatra and Maracaipo. In this connection. most positive assurr ances have been given to the United States Government that the occupation IS to be temporary and only for such length of time as will permit the collection Of the debt due to Germans, thus disposing of the report that there Is any ulterior purpose to establish a German coaling station on Venezuelan soil.
 On the part of Venezuela, 1t is semi officially understood that President Cas- tro has made known that he is prepared for any eventuality. The reliance of Venezuela appears to be on the practical | difficulties Germany will encounter. Ven- ezuela. it is asserted. has no need of out side supplies, and while corn Is much used, in an emergency there are many | other cereals which can be put to use. Moreover, the natives are said to be meat eaters almost exclusively, and have no need for corn or other outside prod ucts.
 With reference to Germany occupation of one or more ports, 1t is thought to be likely that Venezuela will rely on harass- ing the invaders The fresh water supply of La Guaira and Maracaibo Is drawn | from interior streams and lakes and these | are expected to be cut off. The interior of Venezuela Is regarded as safe, as it is said that 1t would take at least 100000 German soldiers to make headway through the wild and uneven country against guerilla tactics.
 There appears alse to be much reliance on the part of Venezuela in the senti- ment and sympathy which can be aroused within the United States when an invad- ing army in actually operating on Amert- can soil, and Venezuela Issues a decla- ration of war.
 Venezuela. it is understood. also relies largely on the fact that foreign capital is invested in the large Venezuelan ports and would be the heaviest sufferers from any destruction wrought by the Ger | mans. Money from France, England, | Germany and the United States has built up Laguira, Maracaibo ana the
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-28
NEW LAW FOR METHoDIsTs.
Constitution of Northern Branch Ap-
 nrnved by Conferences.

Chicago Dec. I.-Announcement has been made that the new constitution of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which was adopted at the last general confer ence of that denomination. held at the Auditorium in 1900 and referred to the various conferences throughout the coun- try, has finally been approved by the three-quarter vote required. The vote is as follows:
 Yeas, S.S16; nays, 2.513.
 The element which opposed the new organic law of the church because it pro- vided for the admission of women as delegates to the general conference made war on the new constitution all along the line, but met with defeat One hun drod and twenty-one annual conferences voted on the question, a total of 07O9 bal lots being cast by delegates. The prin- cipal changes provided for by the new constitution are:
 It gives women the right to sit as dele gates in the general conference.
 It gives laymen's electoral meetings authority to vote on constitutional ques- tions.
 It changes the vote necessary in tht general conference to amend the consti' tuition from three-fourths to two-thirds.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-28
THE FIGHT AT DAPADO
GENERAL CHAFFEE SENDS AN
 OFFICIAL REPORT.
Seven Men of Company E. 9th In fantry Were Slain and Num-
 ber of Others Received Severe Wounds.

Washington. Dec. 27.-The War Depart ment has received a cablegram from General Chaffee at Manila giving an &C., count of the engagement near Dapado, Samar, in which Company E, 9th infan- try, lost seven men killed and a number wounded. The cablegram is as follows:
 Jacob H. Smith reports following: Dur ing scouting near Dapado, Samar, De- cember 24th (Captain) Francis F. Schoef- fel. with detachment eighteen men, Com pany E, 9th infantry, was attacked by force of bolomen springlng from thick cts. Severe hand to hand fight ensued. Following casualties occurred:
 Killed-Sergeant John P. Suisher, Cor poral James Gaughan. Privates John Maren. Frank McAndrew, Joseph A. Neippert. George Bedford.
 Wounded-Captain F. F. Schoeffel slightly; Corporal John H. Russell, Pri- yates Daniel L. McPherson. George CIax- ton. severely; Arthur Bonnicastle slightly.
 One other killed, one wounded, names later.
 No property lost. Enemy driven from field; lost severely. Lang's detachment of Philippine scouts arrived soon after assisted caring for wounded and remov- ing.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-28
GHAsTLY CHRISTMAS GIFT TO
 TWO BOYS.
Cadaver Obtained for Dissection by a Physician Was Sent to the Wrong Address-Hung
 Up in Barn.

Crawfordsville, Ind. Dec. I.-The citi' zens in and about Bowers, small place near this city, are greatly excited be- cause of a ghastly Christmas box sent to Charles Campbell. farmer.
 Mir Campbell has been on visit Tn Dakota for some weeks and before he left home he instructed his two small boys to open the Christmas box he ex- pected to send them. On Christmas day a box, which had contained package cof- fee, was received and delivered at the Campbell home. His sons opened the box and were mortified to find it contained the body of a woman. The limbs and arms had been severed close to the body to allow the ghastly object to be crowded into the box.
 The body was taken from the box and hung up in the barn, where Is was viewed by scores of people.
 As soon as the health officers heard of it, they ordered the body cut down pend- ing an investigation.
 It was learned that the body belonged to Dr. Campbell of Lafayette, who pro- cured 1t at a medical college at Indian apolis and was shipping it home for dis section, but 1t was delivered to the wrong address. He was able to convince the off, ficials that everything was regular. Dr. Campbell secured the body and took it to Lafayette.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-28
TO AMEND BANK ACT.
Representative Mccleary May In-
 troduce a Bill.

Washington Dec. N.-Representative McCleary of Minnesota has addressed the following letter to some 2, 800 persons those addressed being representative men in each State and Territory of the Un- ion:
 "It has been suggested to me by sew eral gentlemen interested in national banks and desirous of rendering them as useful as possible to the communities in which they are located, that 1t would be well to amend the national bank act SD as to permit national banks in the smaller places where the clientel of the banks are largely rural, to loan portion of their resources on real estate security
 'If the proposition seems wise to those who have practical knowledge of sucf matters, may introduce bill after the holidays providing for the amendment With that in view desire the benefit ot your Judgment In the matter and vii appreciate an early answer to the fol lowing questions:
 "First-Do you believe that such ar terestY If so, why? if not, why?
 "Second-If your first answer be af flrmative, where would you draw the line between those national banks tha may, and those that may not, make such loans? Would you make the capi talization of the banks or the .popula ton of the town where the bank is To cated the basis of such classification Why?
 'Third--W nat percentage anu Whh would you specify in the amendment That is, would you grant the, permission as to a certain percentage of the capita of the bank. or as to certain percent age of its loanable funds? Why? CSug gestions running from twenty-five pel cent. to forty per cent. of the capital o the bank have been made).
 "Fourth-Would you limit the opera tions of the amendment to farm loani or would you include town property Why?
 "Fifth-would you permit loans unde the amendment under first mortgage onIv or would you permit such loan as permit the approval of the Board O Directors? Why?
 "Sixth-Would you require that al loan under the amendment should hav inc approval of the directors before be ing made? Why?
 hseventh-Haye you any other sugges tIons as to the proposition of an amend ment if 1t should be made?
 "Eighth-Are you willing to nave m ouote YOU on the above points In any re marks that I make on the subJect?
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-28
RICHARD P. LEARY DIES
HE WAS A GALLANT OFFICER
 OF THE NAVY.
He Distinguished Himself by His Bravery at Apia-served as Naval Governor of the
 Isle of Guam.

Washington, Dec. 27--The Navy Depart ment this moring received the following telegram from Admiral Mortimer l.. Johnson, commanding the Boston Navy Yard, dated today:
 Captain Richard P. Leary, United States Navy, died this morning at Ma rine Hospital. Chelsea"
 Captain Leary was the first Governor of Guam, after that island came into the possession of the United States.
 Captain Leary was relieved of the com mand of the receiving ship Richmond on account of heart trouble and granted six months leave of absence.
 Captain Leary was held in high regard by his fellow sailors because of the nerve he showed in the presence of two German warships in the harbor of Apia, Samoa. during the stirring times which wound up in the tremendous hurricane that wiped ont the German and American navies in those waters in 1889. Leary was in com mand if the little Adams, third rate vessel of antique type, and, finding the Germans about to interfere forcibly Tn support of their own candidate for the Samoan chieftainship, he cleared the ship for action, tlrst placing himself in posi- ton to command either approach and for bade any interference. He was not mo- tested and remained at his post until the American squadron under Admiral Kim berley arrived, when he was sent north in the Adams, thus escaping the great hurricane. He was a unique figure as the first naval Governor of the island of Guam, which he ruled as he would his ship, breaking up immortality by obliging the natives to marry; calling upon the men for a certain amount of work every week and even prescribing the minimum number of poultry which should be main- tained in each family. He was appointed from Maryland and entered the naval service in 1860! He commanded the San Francisco during the West Indian cam paign of the Spanish war
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-28
GOING TO HAVANA.
Postoface Inspectors to Testify
 Against Nicely.

Washington, Dec 27-Chief PoStoffice Inspector w. E. Cochran, accompanied by a large number of postoffice inspec- tors, will leave Washington tomorrow for Havanna, to be present at the trial a of C. F. w. Neely. former Chief or the Rureau of Finance of the Department of Posts of Cuba, which will begin Jan nary : The party will consist. of Col: W, Y. Sullivan. inspector In charge of the Denver Division; John D. King. in charge of the Spokane Division, Capt, William B. Smith, in charge of the Wash ington District and inspectors A. R. Holmes. W. H. Fletcher, W. R. Keys F. M. Hamilton, J. C. Coates and c. M
 Messrs. Cochran. King and Coates conveyed Neely from Rochester to New York after his arrest in the former city MT. Sullivan was stationed in Cuba be- fore Neely's alleged shortage was dis covered and Hamilton. Waters, Keys and Smith were sent there after the dis covery Holmes and Smith made tnves- tigations for the Department in Ohio and Indiana.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-28
VENEZUELA DEFIES
 THE GERMAN EMPIRE
WarShips of Many Nations Towering Around the POrtS----War
 May Soon Come.

other large places and little Venezuelan capital, 1t is said, is at stake. A German blockade, venezuelans declare. VIII prove quite as onerous to American. British and other foreign shipping as it will to the internsi interests of vene- zuela and these shipping interests are expected to appeal to these several gov ernments. There are a few hopeful signs on both sides that at the last mo- ment a clash may be averted.
 The presence of the North Atlantic squadron and many other American war; ships in West Indian waters is the source of much speculation in Germany and Venezuela.
 The Berlin officials are assured the presence of American ships has nothing to do with Germany's plans against Venezuela. but at Caracas the presence of American ships in the neighborhcod is looked upon with satisfaction and is con strued as distinctly significant
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-28
TRIED TO WRECK TRAIN
THREE BOYS PILE oBSTRUC-
 TONS ON TRACK.
Professor Johnson Barely Succeeded in Removing Them Before Pas senger Train Was Due-The
 Lads Not Arrested.

Columbus, Ga, Dec. H.-(Special.)- What might have proven most dis astrous wreck was averted yesterday afternoon by Professor Johnson of smith Station, who discovered a lot of timber piled on the track of the Columbus ana Western road. between Smith Station ana PheniX City
 The discovery was made by Professor Johnson a few minutes before tho pas senger train leaving Columbus at o'clock for Birmingham was due With all possible haste. Professor Johnson be- gan throwing the Instructions from the track. When the blanks and timber hao been removed, the Professor discovered that spikes had been driven between the joints at three points where the rails meet. He had hard time in removing these spikes, as they were wedged in tight Fortunately, he completed the task few minutes before the train ap- peared. There were about 300 passengers on board the train. In all probability a wreck was averted which might have killed scores of persons.
 As Professor Johnson approached the place where he discovered the obstruc- lions on the track, he saw three small white boys at some distance sinking away from the scene.
 Professor Johnson preserved the spikes and communicated the facts to the rail- road officials, who thanked him most cordially for his action in saving the train.
 This morning. Officer Remington of the Columbus police force. accompanied by Marshal Wood Campbell of Phenix City left for the scene of the attempted wreck
 Officer Remington returned to the city by the noon train today. Deputy Sheriff Moon of Opelika. was also on the scene at Smith Station An inVestigatior developed the fact that the attempt was made to wreck the train by three boys named Story. The boys were aged res pectively ', and 10 years. On account of their youth. no arrests were made, Il being considered that the boys were not old enough to understand what they were doing.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-28
WOMANS BODY IN BOX ORANGE CROP DAMAGED
DUST STORM IN SOUTHERN
 CALIFORNIA
Railway Traffic Delayed and in Some Instances Entirely obstructed. Business Almost Entirely
 Suspended in Santa Ana.

Los Angeles, Cal. Dec. H.-A wind storm of unusual force and destructive ness has ragged today all over the south ern part of California The storm is what is locally known as santa Ana" and carried with it fine dust from the desert to the east that filled the air and obscured the vision at distances more than hundred yards. Reports from sur rounding towns report much damage wrought by the wind to oranges and some damage to small buildings. Rail- way traffic is delayed and in some in- stances enteirely obstructed.
 The sand was so thick and binding on the streets of Santa Ana that traffic was practically suspended all day. only those having urgent business venturing out.
 The orange crop about Santa Ana has been virtually blown away.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-28

New York. Dec. 27.-The annual review of American Trade, Finance and ln- dustry, prepared by Bradstreets, declares 1901 to be record breaker" among the five succeeding years of commercial ex- papsion enjoyed by the United States. Its pre-. eminence the review stated, was all the more notable because it suffered from combination of happenings that In a normal year you'd have proved depress- ing if not disastrous. Enumerated in the latter were the machinists and steel strikes. the strike panic of May, the failure of several imprudeltly managed combinations, the efforts of some com binations, including that in copper, to fix prices, the shortage in cotton, corn and oats. and the assassination of Prest- dent Mckinley.
 Summarizing. the general situation the review says:
 Brief summarized, during the year has been transacted an aggregate of general business as reflected in bank clearings, far in excess of any preceding period; has witnessed stock speculation, rampant be- yond the dreams of old time brokers, checked and curtailed by one of sharpest stock panics in history, and vet with 8 remarkable minimum of disturbance of general financial operations; has watched general industry and production grow steadily until new and larger figures were needed to express the output of coal and ore and iron and steel and leather and lumber and multitude of other branches: has seen the freight transpor' tation facilities of the country. strained to the breaking point. prove insufficient to handle the volume of business of fered; and finally has witnessed volume of holiday business passing all previous bounds, both in the quantity and quality and the vastly increased purchasing power of the public in sate years.
 From the standpoint of the present estimates, the clearings this year vii exceed the highest records of proceeding years by one fourth Gross railway earnings have increased 12 per cent, ana net returns have gained 16 per cent Cyel the best preceding year. Pig iron pro duction will be not far from one-seventl larger than the heaviest ever befor' recorded Shoe production and ship Yneuts, and therefore, presumably leather production, show almost as larg a gain. Iron ore production and ship ments were never before equalled An thracite coal production will be fully l per cent larger than last year and pc cent heavier than the record. Tn bituminous production promises as heav! a gain over past records. Woolen manu featuring has been helped by low cos of material and good demand for cloth ing.
 All the relations are not so favorable There has been less money in cotton fo the South this year and the margin o
The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-12-28
FRANCE HAS A KIcKs
Venezuela Said to Have Seized M
 secrestat's Property.

Paris. Dec 2I.--The Foreign office her. confirms the report from Port of Spain Trinidad. that the Government of Franct has notified the Venezuelan Government that the rights of M. secrestat of Bor- 6eaux, have been infringed by the seizure of the property in Venezuela of senol Manuel A. Matos. the leader of the new revolution against President Castro. The French Government holds that property no longer belongs to senor Matos. as he had leased it to M. Secrestat and the Venezuelan Government is bound by the recognition of M. Secrestate's title by the Venezuelan Consul here, before whom the whole matter came up.
 The French Government does not anti cipate any complications arising on ac- count of it's representation on the subject to Venezuela and is not considering the adoption of measures to enforce the claim of NJ. Secrestat, as it expects the question to be settled in few days.
 M. Secrestat's son has left Bordeaux for Venezuela to arranget the matter.