davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-09-12
SENATOR PETrus AT sa.

W. P. Curtis in Chicago Record-Herald.
 Senator Pettus of Alabama. who Is S2 years old, has declared himself candi- date for reelection. His term expires on March 4 next and the legislature will meet in September to choose his success sor. He has Issued card to the public announcing his desire to retain his seat. accompanied by an indorsement from a committee of citizens, who describe him as "a brave soldier a great lawyer and patriotic statesman
 Never before has a man of Judge Pet tus' age ever held seat on the floor of the senate, although half dozen or more of the present senators have passed the line of threescore and ten If he should be sent back again and outllve his term he will be nearly 90 years of age He is man of vigorous constitution. excellent health, frugal habits. and declares that he was never sick a day in his life He drinks large quantities of whisky and chews tobacco copiously, but his health has not suffered from these habits. He retires at g o'clock at night, rises at 6 o'clock in the morning, and by the time that other senators are getting their breakfasts has disposed of his corre- spondence and is hustling around the de- partments with his old slouch hat full of papers, doing what he calls "errints" for his constituents. He always carries his papers in his hat instead of in his pocl- cts, and he wears an old-fashioned pat tern of trousers. waistcoat. collar and stock.
 Deliberate in his movements and digni- fled in his manners, he Is never in haste and never shows fatigue. He Is as tough as Joey Bagstock whom Dickens tells about, and, like him, Is "dev'lish sly" Many interesting anecdotes are told of the shrewd manner in which he has cir cumvented the civil service commission in securing offices for his constituents and the appointment of his democratic friends and supporters to offices under a republican administration. The old gen tleman has a keen sense of humor, an inexhausible fund of anecdote, and among his fellow senators is known as Confucius because of his great wisdom and sup posed resemblance. physical and mental, to the great Chinese philosopher and sage.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-09-12
wAsHlNeToN,s FORTUNE.

From the Richmond Dispatch
 Whether Washington can be put into the envied category of millionaires no one can assert positively. According to the late Paul Leicester Ford, whose work, "The True George Washington" |" has received wide recognition, ''the Father of his Country when he died was worth s5SO,OOO. This fortune did not include his wifes property, but never theless. it made him one of the wealthi- est Americans of his time. Ford adds: And it is to be questioned if a fortune was ever more honestly acquired or more thoroughly ueserved."
 John Adams, however, probably would have differed with Ford on this point, had the two ever come together. In one of his recurrent moods of bitterness and jealousy toward Washington Adams asked:
 Would Washington have ever been commander of the revolutionary army or President of the United States if he had not married the rich widow of MT. Gus tis?"
 According to Mir. Ford, it seems tha, he would. for he had achieved colonial military fame before his marriage. That lle Widow Custis was a desirable par tie'' is not to be denied, however, as her part of the Custis property equalled Eff teen thousand acres of land, good part of it adjoining the city of Williamsburg several lots in the said city; between two and three hundred negroes and about eight or ten thousand pounds upon bond,' estimated at the tune at about l e.. 900 in all This property was fur ther increased upon the death of Patsy Custis in 1773 by a half of her fortune which added ten thousand pounds to the sum
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-09-12
SDindIes of the World.

Northern capitalists" says the Providence Journal, "are year by year becoming better satisfied that the south possesses many advantages as regards cotton spinning, particularly in the manufacture of coarser yarns, and the more ready to invest in new enterprises" No paper is closer to or better acquainted with the textile industry of New England than the Providence Journal, and it's admissions are significant.
 The Journal, in fact, goes on to show by the closing figures of the cot ton year that the south had on the first day of September 5S9,139 more spindles in actual operation than it had one year before; that 19 additional mills containing 170,1S2 spindles will go into operation before January 1; that F more mills containing 2O5 5,0S0 spindles will be ready for operation in the south before next September. It puts the total increase of the present cotton year in this section at 975, 5,262 spindies.
 This is very satisfactory indeed, but still there are today in the south in
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-09-12
In the Business World.

It is remarkable that while trade and industrial depression is as pro found as ever in Germany and to some extent throughout the rest of Europe, and to a limited extent in England, yet a high degree of prosperity pre- vails in this country. The condition on this side of the sea promises to be even augmented by great crops of wheat, corn, oats and cotton, all of which are now well out of the way of serious harm. The wheat and oat crops are harvested. and another week will put the corn crop beyond injury by frost. Despite the percentages re- ported by the government the i'm pression prevails that the cotton crop will exceed ten million bales.
 There are some drawbacks, however, none of which are serious or perma- nent. The hard coal strike and the car famines are interfering with fuel supplies. The banks in New York are near the legal reserve line, and money Is commanding higher rates. Wall street spectators are creeping in, and exports of manufactured goods are de- creasing. Not one of these troubles is of a serious nature-not one of them will be known as factors in the mar llet six months hence. The crops will be moved, and money will become easy. The strikes will be adjusted, and the fuel stocks will be replen' ished If the exports of manufactured goods continue to fall exports of food products will take their place, and 6 trade balance of large proportions will again be reported. At present every factory is pushed to the utmost in or der to supply home demands. Int shoe factories cannot fill orders; tht textile mills are satisfied with tho outlook, and the iron and steel mills are selling products to be delivered next year. The failures are compara lively few in number, and railroad earnings were never larger. The de pression in Europe means nothing here, and business men see no clouC on the horizon.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-09-12
sTEEPLE IS STEEL.
Notable Church Structure Being Built
 In New York.


 A steeple that has attracted much at tention as the work upon it has progress ed owing to the novelty of it's construc- ton Is that of the new Church of St. Joseph, of which the Rev. Peter Farrell Is pastor and which Is now approaching completion in The Bronx.
 This spire is 225 feet in height and so far as the architect is informed is the first of its kind to be built anywhere, says the New York Sun. It Is of steel frame construction. built in and faced with stone.
 For years steel has been freely used in church constructor, for roof trusses, floor beams and other parts, and there is in New York one church at least that is of steel-frame construction throughout, but that church has no steeple. The spire of the new St Josephs is believed to be the first steel-framed stone steeple.
 But while in it's spire is presented It's most novel feature this church, fronting on Bathgate avenue and extending back to Washington avenue, north of Ire mont avenue, is distinctly modern in con struction in every way. It is 164xS7 feet in its greatest exterior dimension. lis roof is supported by steel trusses which are carried down to the level of the floor there to rest upon stone piers.
 The floor beams are of steel with con- crete arches between. There are no side galleries The side walls are 40 feet in height, the distance from the floor to the peak of the roof 76 feet.
 With the roof supported as it is. there is on the main floor, between the chan. eel rail and the organ loft. in that loft, main body of tAe church. an area of HON P feet that Is unbroken by any column O, support whatever.
 Built of stone, St. Joseph's is construct. ed largely of stone quarried on the spot in making the excavation for the base. ment. Its walls are three feet and more in thickness.
 The light and airy basement of this church is 20 feet in the clear, the unusual height for a church basement having been the more easily attainable because of the slope of the ground on which the structure is built. St. Joseph's is to have a tower clock striking the hours and half hours and having -four dials, each five and one-half feet in diameter.
 The cost of this church building will he about $2Oo,OOo The architect is John E. Kerby.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-09-12

products may be assured ready mar ket, he has not been able to count upon and can hardly hope to command the ap- proval of his Cuban programme by a ma 1ority of the coming congress, and advises the president of Cuba to prepare his peo- pie for the principal act of the play by telling them in plain words that in order to enjoy the benefits of the United States markets Cuba must become a sovereign state of the union, admitted upon the petition of her own insular congress and people.
 President Pelma, the Mundo states, is thoroughly indignant, consequently has made no attempt to hold the subject mat ter of the circular as confidential" and has written the distinguished members of the committee, whose names are ap- pended to the communication mentioned, that Cuba, as a matter of personal grat- itude due the Rough Rider hero of San Juan hill. considers it to be her duty to support his personal propaganda to fur ther the interests of reciprocity so long as the Washington executive may require such demonstration of confidence from the people of the new Cuban republic he so much helped to free and put upon its feet as an independent nation; further than this the youngest of all the Ameri- can republics should be last to enter a continental federation; and as a matter of modesty. Cuba will do no more than follow in the wake of her elder sister and chosen protector in this as in other matters affecting the common interests of the states of the new world.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-09-12
A Steady Increase.

The demand for buggies and spring wagons in the south has increased stead fly in the four years that have been doing business in this territory" said J.. L. Oliver, who travels for an old Cin- cinnati carriage firm.
 Trade has been better this year than ever before. In Mississippi and in parts of Alabama one hears 8 good deal about short crops. but I am used to that. While some of the Alabama farmers have suffered on account of the drouth, the agricultural sections have averaged up pretty we'll And besides, the re- sources of this state are so diversified that even if corn and cotton happen to be short there is enough money in cir eulation to keep trade a-going."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-09-12
IN HOTEL LoBBIEs.
Medical Profession In Europe.

Tn many respects the medical profess sion of London and Paris is ahead of the profession. in this country" said Dr. L. c. Woodson, who recently returned from trip to Europe
 T spent most of my time while abroad in the hospitals and was greatly inter ested in the clinics A community like London, of six millions of people, has the advantage over our cities from hospital point of view, because of it's wider elin- ical field. All sorts of cases are crowding Into the London hospitals, and physicians and medical students get no end of ex- perienoe.
 When it comes to particular diseases, England, as all the members of our pro- fesslon know, is ahead of the United States in the department of Drain dis orders. All of our knowledge of bram trouble comes from English specialists, and one specialist in particular. While we have many eminent physicians and surgeons the English and French, on the whole, are better grounded in theory anc have batter laboratory training. In the old world the governments approprl- ate the money to fit up and maintain complete laboratories, whereas in this country the government gives no such aid, and as laboratories are very cxpen- sive, there are comparatively few of them on large scale to be found in American cities But as our people are wonderfully progressive, 1t will be only a question of time when the medical profession of the United States will catch up with that of England and France"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-09-12

operation but 6,4os.974 spindles. while in the north there are 15.150.Oo0. In the world there are now 110,S4s.s74 spindles, as follows Great Britain. 46,- roc. .0OO; the Continent, s5.5o0.OOo; the United States, 21,5ss.974 the East In dies, $500 ,0oo; Japan. 100000; China, 690 1000; Canada, 0O.OOO, and Mexico, 300 1000. These spindles consumed last year 14,15O, ,sSO bales of cotton, of which 1O,ss0, ,sS0 bales were grown in this country.
 While the north has more than double the number of spindles that the south possesses, yet the southern con sumption of cotton was nearly equal last year to that of the northern mills. and in the present year southern con sumption will exceed northern con sumption. This is due to the spinning of coarse yarns in the south, and of a greater proportion of fine yarns in the north. When the south has 10,- 000,000 spindles-a number that will be reached in less than five years, it will be in position to command the trade of the world in coarse cotton qoods
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-09-12
WOMEN AS kIckERS.
They Can Accomplish Wonders as Such If They Kick Wisely and We'll.

From the Saturday Evening Post.
 The women of America need no advice from anyone on moral questions, as wit ness what the power of women did in a southern state campaign against con- gressman who had been proved of unfit character to represent an upright body of people. and later what women did in A national fight against a western congress- man who reckoned their power so little that he even attempted to take his seat in congress in defiance of public opin- ion. Everybody admits that those two instances represent a fight of two men against the women of America. and who won? That shows what women can do, and 1t has never been alleged that in either instance any woman went outside of her woman's sphere or was unwoman ly in any effort she made in the cause of pure representation and good govern ment.
 A senseless and ridiculous system of kicking against everything and every body is not urged. The chronic com plainer is a nuisance to himself as well as to his neighbor. although, if he were forced to choose between the chrome
 kicker'' and the chronic lamb of a citi- zen who bears all municipal injustices patiently, and who meets all attempts at reform with the watchword, Don't make a fuss about it. we should choose a kicker. For a chronic kicker, though he may often be too catholic in his ef- forts, Is bound sometimes to kick goal n-11
 Therefore, while we do not approve of his ubiquitous methods. we boldly claim that even the chronic kicker comes nearer to being the ideal citizen than the meek sheep of man who bears all imposition without protest.
 In the matter of personal rights, noth- ing uproarious or unsexing need be ad- vocated. little consideration of the matter and a little quiet and persistent effort in ones own immediate circle of friends is all that Is necessary. The American woman uses tact with men as naturally as she breathes. That is the reason she gets everything she wants
 First. be sure of the law on the mat ter Never write letter or utter a pub- lie protest until you are sure you are within your rights as bounded by the laws of your state. You wi.. Joe amazed at the excellence of your laws and ordi- nances and the criminal laxness of their enforcement
 Most of the things which harass and annoy you could be done away with if you only knew how we'll you are pro- tected by law. But not enforced. you say? Well. whose fault is it but yours7
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-09-12
Country Butter.

"The new oleomargarine law has had the effect. of course, of putting the price of country butter up," said Morris ave- nue merchant.
 12 cents now commands 20 cents, and choice butter that formerly brought IS and 20 cents now brings 2S and 30 cents. The demand for country butter is so brisk that the supply is not sufficient to meet it."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-09-12
PLAN TO FORM A GREAT
 AMERICAN FEDERATION

Havana, Cuba, September 11.-El Nun do, the principal newspaper organ of the Cuban nationalist or military party, headed by Gen. Maximo Gomez, in. an editorial leader gives publicity and great importance to recent communication received by the president of Cuba by registered mail and under "confidentiar' cover. from the Hon. Elihu Root and two other representatives of the money kings of the United States; who, upon behalf of the National League for the Promotion of a Continental Union, in vites the Cuban executive to cooperate with them, with a view to bringing the Island of Cuba into the union. as a state of the coming great continental republic ito include the Dominion of Canada, Mexico, the several states of Central and South America and the West Indian Isles in a single political confederation for the common veal and mutual defense of the interests of the new world, as--the United States of America.
 Whilst purporting 10 be the proposition ward Cuba, the circular warns them that as a matter of fact, they must not expect too much from the present re- publican administration at Washington for the reason that, while President Roosevelt is their friend and wholly sim cere in his efforts to induce congress to grant reciprocal trade relations to the island in order that her sugar and other
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-09-12
THE OLD FOLKS AT HOME.

 Way down upon de Swanee Ribber. Far, far away Dare's whar my heart is turning ebber Dare's whar de old folks stay All up and own de whole creation. Sadly I roam Still longing for de old plantation. And for de old folks at home. All de world am sad and dreary, Eb'rywhere I roam; Oh, darkeys, how my heart grows vesry. For frop de old folks at homel All round de little farm I wandered, When l was young: Den many happy days I squandered. Many de songs l sung. When I was playing wid my brudder. Harry was |; n Oh. take me to my kind old mudderi Dare let me live and die, All de world am sad and dreary, Eb'rywhere l roam; Oh, darkeys, how my heart grows weary. For from de old folks at home! One little hut among de bushes, One dat I love Still sadly to my memory rushes. No matter where I rove. When will I see de bees a-i.umming, All rourd de comb? When will I hear de banjo tunniing. Down in my good old home? All de world am sad and dreary. Eb'rywhere I roam; Oh, darkeys, how my heart grows weary, For from de old folks at homei
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-09-12
About Persons.

J. A. Church of Cincinnati is at the TIllman.
 II. F. Holcomb of Boston is at the Hillman.
 Thomas E. Kilby and wife of Anniston are at the Hillman.
 W. c. Tunstall. Jr., of Anniston is at the Metropolitan.
 w. M Wedgworth of Greenville, Ala, is at the Metropolitan.
 Alex W. Garber, candidate for the nom- ination of attorney general, is at the Metropolitan.
 William B. Charles of New York is at the Metropolitan.
 A. M Tunstall of Greensboro is at the Metropolitan.
 W. w. Sanders of Chattanooga is at the Morris. W. E. May of Louisville is at the Morris.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-09-12
THE REJECTED coLoRED VOTER

From the Boston Herald.
 Republican acquiescence in the doing away with the colored vote in the south is spreading. We find the Indianapolis Journal. an able paper of that political faith. rather congratulating itself that the colored voters of Alabama are willing to take a back seat, and thus to give the white republicans full control of the party in that state. The plan in the mind of our Indianapolis brother is to have a white republican party formed which shall attract many democrats to it's mem bership, and. after the latter are well in- stalled there, to have the negroes invited back. But this is likely to take as much time as would the adoption of the con- stitutional amendment us regards the trusts that President Roosevelt advo- cates, besides raising doubts as to it's eventual operation on the basis laid down for it.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-09-12
Birmingham Beer.

''The hot summer, the prosperous con- dition of Alabama and certain other con- ditions have combined to make big busi- ness for the Birmingham breweries this season." said a beer dealer yesterday.
 ''The brewery product of this city is in more popular demand now than ever before, and the consumption of beer gen erally is all the while increasing Bir- of Alabama and it has a very large sale here at home"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-09-12
Bird Shooting.

Bird game in Alabama is unusually abundant this year and shooting promises to be very fine in November" said a field sportsman.
 "Dry Junes and Julys always give us birds in plenty. And the summer just ended has been remarkably dry.
 'In some of the counties the game laws permit bird shooting as early as October 15 but in other counties No- vember l is the date. There should be a uniform bird law for the state. In Jeffer- son county there Is no game law but as there is very little game here the ob- servance of a fixed date is of no conse- quence."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-09-12
WhistIlnq in Church.

"of all the fads that some of the churches in the north have introduced, that of the whstling solo is the most in- appropriated" said church musician.
 "The whistling artist does very well for a concert novelty, perhaps, but even on the stage or in the parlor a little of th.s sort of thing goes a long way. When it comes to the whistler in the choir can imagine nothing more out of place The church that has to resort to cheap advertising tricks to fill It's pews might as well close up for all the good it is doing
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-09-12
N. 0. Thompson Killed.

Mobile, September 11.-This afternoon at a point about twelve miles from Git ronyille, Mobile county. N. Q. Fhomp- son. a leading merchant. was shot and killed. He had levied upon the OK team of creditor and was driving the team away when he was shot, whether by the owner of the team or some other person, Is not known
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-09-12

"Our city continues to grow fast" said a prominent Ensley man, and every vis- itor who comes to see us only occasion ally marvels at our metropolitan appear ance.
 "Ensley's population is perhaps some thing like 120O0 now, but we are al- ways looking ahead and have become accustomed to speak of what it will probably be three years hence. A con servative prediction is 25,0OO for 1sO5.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-09-12
Apartment Houses,

"New corners from northern cities re- mark the absence of apartment houses in Birmingham" said a young married man who has recently taken up his resi- deuce here.
 "It Is hard to understand why some of the local investors do not put their money in flats. Such buildings pay in all progressive cities and two or three of them would certainly prove profitable in Birmingham."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-09-12
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New York Press.
 Men put money into stocks and women Into stockings.
 Politics and horse trading are child's play beside picking a wife.
 IL is easier to love some women than to tell them why you do.
 Womens clothes are always built to either hide something or to show some thing.
 Some women are so particular when they go into mourning that they do it with the ribbons in their night gowns.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-09-12
OVER IN GEORGIA.

From the Roanoke Leader.
 We read in Sundays papers of a man who declined an office after 1t had been rendered him by the governor. But he didn't live in Ohio-nor yet Tn Alabama but in Georgia.