davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-27
Good Roads in Alabama.

There is plenty of material for road making purposes in this state. Coun- ties that have no material with which to build hard roads can procure chert in this district, and the haulage can be contracted for at reasonable rates, because the railroads are deeply in- terested in the construction of good roads. Every hard highway is feeded of the railroads, and all may depend upon it that the railroads will do their part
 No locality or county can have rural free delivery until it gets out of the bondage and detentions of bottomless dirt roads. There is nothing more ex- pensive to the farmer or merchant or other business man than impassabls roads, which prevent the farmers from marketing their products or from pro- curing the articles they need in farm ing operations. The burden of the tax is heavy. The agricultural department puts the cost of transporting goods in wagons over southern dirt roads at S3.05 per ton, while in the northeast ern states 1t is but s1.S9 per ton, difference in favor of good roads of S1.16 a ton. The weight of the aver age load in the east Is 2,216 pounds, whereas the weight of the average lead in the south is but 1897 pounds. These figures may not be accurate, but they are at least approximately so, and they show how heavy the tax incurred on account of poor roads really IS.
 Many counties in other states im- prove their roads by means of bond issue, and this may be the only way in which the Alabama roads can be brought up to high standard A load of debt is not desirable, but a debt bearing a low rate of interest is much less of a burden than impossible roads. The counties of Alabama can not afford to retain dirt roads full of pithoes. They are out of date, and they should be supplanted by some form of hard roads,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-27
Rosters oi Confederate Soldiers.

The governors of Mississippi, Louis jana, Kentucky, Georgia, Virginia and North Carolina have each and all as- sured by letters the secretary of war that they will promote to the utmost his efforts through General Ainsworth, chief of the record and pension office, to secure full rosters of the officers and enlisted men of their respective states. Governor Heard of Louisiana says in his letter:
 This publication will be extremely gratifying, l am sure to all the people of this state Qouisiana) and particularly to the participants In the great struggle, and to the descendants of those who have passed away. The contemplated work has my entire appreciation and commendation and I desire to assure you of my readi- ness to extend to it all the assistance that will lie in my power"
 Governor Jelks undoubtedly has or will cooperate in the patriotic enter prise of the war department, although he has not as yet announced his plans. He need not hesitate on account of the want of an appropriation, for plen- ty of good men will serve the state in securing full lists and depend upon the legislature to vote them reason ahle remuneration
 The bureau of history and archives could no doubt lend helping hand, and for that matter all should take hold of the work, especially after Governor Jelks has formulated a plan to be followed. In one way or another tine Alabama lists should be perfected until they do not lack the name of single officer or enlisted man who served the Confederacy during the titanic struggle. At the best this will be difficult, but the task will be less difficult, if some one from each com pany, battery or squadron, will see that the list near and dear to him is carefully prepared.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-27
The Late Dean Farrar,

There are various estimates of the late Dear Farrar's rank in the world of letters remarked a layman. q have read many glowing tributes to his mem- ory. l was in London while he was canon of Westminster and rector of St. Margarets, but I missed hearing him preach. I have read many of Farrar's works. The great preacher was a man or wonderful power of expression. but more of a rhetorician than a scholar. In his earlier years he taught at Harrow and at Marlborough, and wrote some successful books for boys. It was his Life of Christ that made his name household word. The book had lie merits, but exact scholarship was not one of them; and the same observation may be applied with equal truth to his other theological ventures He did much. however, to awaken interest in matters of religion. even if his own opinions werA not always judicious; and he will doubt less continue to hold a secure place in the history of the church which honorea him with distinguished preferment.
 Those Anglicans who assess Farrar as a scholar of the first rank-and many or them do-have been influenced, I sus- pect by their admiration of him as 3 brilliant man of letters'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-27
SPECIAL cAskET FOR BIG MAN.

Chicago, March 25.-James H. Mahler, probably the biggest man in Chicago in point of weight, died Sunday evening at his residence. He had been i'll for several days with complication of troubles and his huge bulk made treatment difficult
 He was buried from his late residence today, a special casket having been or dered to accommodate his remains In good health he tipped the scales at 4oV pounds. He was about 50 years of age.
 At birth Mahler weighed but three pounds. and there was nothing unusual about his size until he was nearly ~ years old His height was rect l0 inches, but in a few months after his thirtieth birthday he had taken on flesh at sucb rate that he weighed nearly BOO hounds He was in the best or health constantly, but his ever-increasing weight annoyed him greatly and he sought vainiy for some remedy. For dozen years he had weighed in the neigh borhood of 450 pounds, and his size caused him endless annoyance. It was impossible for him to pass through the turnstiles of the elevated roads or of the Illinois Central railroad suburban sys- tenn. On this account he was forced to conflne his riding to the street cars which were provided with double doors. It re- quired twelve yards of cloth to make a suit for him, and his other articles of wear had to be made to his order Insur- ance companies declined to accept him as risk notwithstanding his general good health, because his size was considered as enhancing the risk. All these things MT. Mahler felt keenly, being exception ally sensitive, and 1t embarrassed him be- yond measure when he was abroad upon the city's streets to have passersby stare at him and comment on his unusual girth of waist. something that was invariably done. Mr.kMahler was married early in
 life. He is survived by bis widow and
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-27
TO THE NIGHT.

By Percy Bysshe Shelley. Swiftly walk over the western wave,
 Spirit of Night! Out of the misty eastern cave Where all the long and lone daylight Thou wovest dreams of joy and fear. Which makes thee terrible and dear
 Swift be thy fightl Wrap thy form in mantle gray,
 Star-inwroughtl Blind with thine hair the eyes of day, Kiss her until she be wearied out. Then wander OCT city, and sea, and land Touching all with thine opiate wand
 Come, long sought When I arose and saw the dawn,
 I sighed for thee; When light rode high, and the dew wal gone, And noon lay heavy on flower and tree. And the weary Day turned to his rest,
 I sighed for theel Thy brother Death came and cried
 Wouidst thou me? Thy sweet child, Sleep. the filmy-eyed. Murmured like a noontide bee Shall I nestle near thy side? Wouldst thou me?--and 1 replied.
 No, not thee! Death will come when thou art dead,
 Soon, too soon Sleep will come when thou art fled; Of neither would I ask the boon I ask of thee, beloved Night-st Sweet be thine approaching flight
 Come soon soani
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-27


 The waters now pressing upon the levees of the Lower Mississippi come from twenty eight states, and the vast yellow-brown volume represents the surplus of precipitation in all those states.
 Fortunately for all the vast areas named do not send down their surplus waters at one time The present tide comes from the Ohio, reinforced by freshets in the Arkansas and Red rivers. If the Missouri and the Upper Mississippi poured in a flood at the same time no dykes could hold the ac- cumulated waters, and the Lower Mis- sfssippi valley would become uninhab- itable. As a rule the water from the Ohio and Red and Arkansas rivers runs to the sea before the waters from above are unloosed. The latter are ~nct generally due in the lower river until June.
 Thus far the levees below Memphis are holding and confning the vast tide with but few breaks and none of these are large enough to be impor- tant. The engineers and business men who are members of the Missis- sippi river commission have faith in the levee system, and if the levees hold the present floods their useful ness will be established.
 These levees are, as a rule, about fifteen feet high. The guage figures published from day to day at river points show the rise from and above extreme low water. The chief trouble is, there is little or no descending grade in the river below Vicksburg, and 1t is the pressure of the water be. hind that causes the river to flow sea- ward.
 + the levee system should be pro- nounccd a failure, then the cutoff sys- tenn would be adopted The Arkansas river would be turned into the Trinity river of Texas; the Red into the Sa- bine, and the Tennessee into the Ala bama river, The cost of these changes would, however, be immense, and so far as one can see now the leyee sys- tenn will indefinitely continue to be the dependence of the people in the lower valley of the mighty river.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-27
AT eAosDEN.

From the Gadsden Journal
 H. S. Ryar, manager circulation; Wal ter Blackman. the celebrated Alabama cartoonist. and w. H. Kavanaugh' rep of The Age-Herald reached this city this morning and will write us up." One of the best features of their work, it Is said is the fact that no charge for the Gadsden edition of The Age-Her- aid will be made. It Is to be entirely free.
 reporter for the Journal has been told that MT. Backman intends to find some characters here who will not be shown as Dickens reveals, but actually pictured on paper in a humorous and most pleasing way. Tn this manner 1t may be that the edition will be one of great profit
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-27

are to be charged and no stamp tax required on the conveyanees. The proposed law is to go into effect No vember II.
 This proposition means that home rule is to be denied, and the hope of pacifcation is based upon a eontented and interested peasantry. Peasant ownership is to take the place of alien landlordism, and the chances are very good that this measure will bridge over the Irish question. and perhaps render the island peaceful and prosperous again.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-27
HOPES TO
 OVERCOME OPPOSITION

Tn California the Presidents steadfast support of the Cuban reciprocity treaty has arrayed the fruit-growing and ship ping industries against him. In Missouri his friendship for Secretary Hitchcock has built up a barrier between the White House and Richard c. Kerens, national committeeman whose political affilia- tions naturally are in sympathy with those of the eastern money center.
 The Beveridge-F alrbanks sauabble in Indiana also dlscomforts the Presidents political advisers. Senator Fairbanks does not look with enthusiasm upon the re- tention in the White House of a Presi- dent who has aided his liveliest political opponent in every possible way. In fact, in almost every state there is the ne- cessity of the President demonstrating to this or that faction that he is popu- lar with the people, and this is said to be the primary reason for the journey which will keep him out of the White House for over two months.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-27
Successful oneratlon.

G. Rotholz and daughter have returned from New York, where Dr. Frederick Mueller, a pupil of Dr. Adolph Lorenz, performed successful operation on lit- tie Miss Rotho1z to reduce a congenital hip dislocation.
 The operation Is considered a very skill ful piece of work in view of the fact that the child Is Il years old. The limb will have to be kept in a plaster cast for about six months, and while the cast im pairs now her movements somewhat, she will be entirely restored when the cast Is removed This operation is the first to be performed in this country except by Dr. Lorenz himself.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-27
PLAIN DUTY-WITH A STRING.

From the Chicago Inter- Ocean.
 The senate has finally ratified the Cuban reciprocity treaty, but with amendments. The string by which the senate has most notably held back the nation from plain duty is the amend ment which suspends the treaty until it is approved by the house. Since the President and the senate are the treaty making power, this can have but one object. That object is delay. The excuse is offered. of course, that be- cause the treaty changes a revenue law the house has the right to be con suited If the senate were in the habit of carefully respecting every constitu- tional right of the house that excuse might be accepted. But in the light of the senate's record it is evidently false pretense. Unless the President calls congress in extra session the treaty cannot go into effect until De- cember or later-too late to do Cuba any good with respect to this years sugar crop. In fact, the juggling with the treaty has been such that Cuba might well be excused for dropping it altogether, on the ground that good faith has not been shown. And while the present injury of such policy would be to Cuba, the ultimate injury would be to the United States.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-27
Easter Music.

Nearly all the large churches of Rir- mingham will have brilliant music on Easter. The Catholic and Episcopal churches will have especially fine num- bers.
 St. Paufs choir has rehearsal every Friday night and every Sunday after high mass. On Wednesday next there will be a special rehearsal for Rossini,s "Inf1amatus," which Mrs. Putnam vii, sing, accompanied by double quartette and an orchestra.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-27
TAYLOR WILL GO TO PRISON.
Prominent Physician of Lexington Is Given Three Years Imprisonment.

Lexington. Ky, March 96.--A sensation was caused here late today when the jury returned a verdict of three years in the penitentiary for Dr. A. P. Taylor prominent physician and the president of the Industrial Mutual Deposit com pany, one of the companies that went to pieces here year ago. The charge was embezzlement by appropriating the sur plus fund to dividends when no dividend had been earned.
 There are three more indictments against Taylor Fifty other similar in- dictments are to be tried against prom inent citizens.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-27
IN HOTEL LOBBIES.
semI.AnnuaI Password.

Said a Mason last night;
 "The Masons of New York are stirred up over an alleged objectionable man who had been elected and initiated into one of the lodges of the metropolis, and now there is talk of a general wedding out of bad material. No large organization thas I know of is entirely free from black sheep, and objectionable candidates now and then find their way into Masonic bodies, be the members never so careful In protecting the fraternity. Boston man, presumably a Mason. writes this letter to the New York Sun:
 There Is just one way for Masons to keep out and weed out bad members. Do as other orders do-have a semi-annuai password, and then you can regulate mat ters. Then every application for mem bership blank should be fuller and more complete. man should state in detail much information that is not given now. Then, also. every list of members pub lished should give a mans business and residence address. Get check on every one-publicity Is needed. Above all, the semi-annual password would be clineh- CT. Cant you stir things up?'
 Now, I am opposed to having a ehangeable or limited password In Ma sorry. I belong to several orders that change the password, one of them quar- terly the others semi-annually. The changeable system works well In the modern secret societies referred to, but Masonry is conservative in every respect and the thing that hath been, it is that, which shall be- and that which is done, Is that which shall be doner I regard our immutable passwords as sacred and our entire password system as one of the landmarks.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-27
STATE NEWS ITEMS.

It is stated that the insurance rates at Attalla have been reduced almost half.
 sss
 The city registration in Montgomery amounted to 129s up to Saturday night. Guntersville Democrat: Fishing time Is here and the lazy fisherman will now have his inning
 Huntsville Tribune: The location of a large training school in our city is among the possibilities of the near future.
 
 The postoffice at Blaine will be discon- tinued March 31 and the people are to be supplied by the Centre rural delivery Mobile Register: Bishop Beckwith, of the Episcopal diocese of Alabama, will preach in Trinity church next Sunday night.
 The postoffice at Franconia in Pickens county has been moved to Alieevill. J. A. sommeryill received the appointment of postmaster.
 Anniston Hot Blast: Anniston sand for glass making is over 90 per cent, pure silica. And her clays for pottery and fire brick are proportionately fine.
 La Fayette Sun: Last Monday was the only day in the history of the county to come before the probate judge. Surely this Is a favorable omen.
 Anniston Star; II. N. Randall of Bir- mingham. southern organized for the American Federation of Labor addressed the Moulders' and the Car Workers unions at their hall last night.
 
 Huntsville Mercury: The agricultural editor of the Birmingham Age-Heraid as- sures an anxious public that ten-cent cot ton is here to stay He bases that predic- ton upon a healthy demand for cotton at the present prices.
 The Merrimack Manufacturing company has awarded a contract to A. M. Booth of Huntsville for construction of sixty new cottages for the operatives at the mill Each of the cottages is to be occupied by two families.
 
 Jasper Mountain Eagle: Joe Staggs, a prominent citizen of Cordova, happened to have the misfortune of losing his right eye Monday. He was shooting some hogs for the butcher at that place when the tube of the gun blew out and entered his right eye, bursting the ball and destroy ing the sight
 Ozark Southern Star: B. R. Hood, who lives about fifteen miles west of Ozark, brought to town last Monday morning 1000 pounds of side meat, which he sold to our merchants. MT. Hood Is one of the county's most independent farmers. and always makes plenty of meat to furnish his own plantation and sells several hun dred dollars worth each year.
 Greensboro Beacon: Rev R. H. Cobbs announced Sunday that Bishop Beckwith would reach Greensboro Saturday after noon before Easter day and that he wished to meet all the people who cared to meet him at the church that afternoon. as he would not have public reception elsewhere owing to the season. He will preach and administer confirmation on Easter Sunday. This Is Bishop Beck withs first visit to this parish and he will be cordially welcomed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-27
Coal Prices Advanced.

Philadelphia, March 2s.-The Press to- morrow will say:
 'Bituminous coal prices will be ad- vanced 10 cents a ton for the new coal year, which begins April l. The price at the mines in central and Western Penn sylvania during last year was fixed to be not less than .25 a ton. The new price at the mines will be g. Slightly higher or lower prices may be made in special cases but the ruling price will be $2"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-27
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New York Press.
 Too many keys fit the closets where the family skeletons are kept
 Any woman can learn to smoke but mighty few of them can learn to like it.
 When woman isn't jealous of her hus- band it is a sign that he needs to be jealous of her.
 A man will keep on chasing after a woman just as long as she keeps on run ming away from him.
 It is special mark of friendship when one woman tells another the terrible things she has heard about her, but, of course. didn't believe.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-27
Races In Atlanta.

der of Chicago tonight won the five-mile sprint race in Il fl. His competitors were Krebs, Newkirk. Caldwell, Fenn, Root. Moran. Butler and John and Amos Pedell.
 Bobby Walthour won the heat race, talk ing two heats, while Butler and Moran took one each. No record time was made.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-27
Special to the New orleans Times-Dem

Special to the New Orleans Times-Dem-
 oerat.
 AM AsnNsroS sln, as.. n11sn soa.. a'1FFfs tsat s.
 " extensive western tour will put the capstone upon his campaign for the 1904 nomination. The original plans of the President did not contemplate such thor ough travel of the northwestern states, but recently there has been more or less information coming to the White House which indicated that the political sit- nation in some of the states to be vis- tied was not as satisfactory as desired
 In the northwest the situation, so far as 1t concerns the Presidents nomina- ton, is serious. James J. Hill, the great railway magnate, is at the head of the opposition, and he has a tremendous in- f1uenee, not only in Minnesota, but in all of the states traversed by his im- mense railroad system. The Presidents s managers declare that Hill is now bend ing every effort to make MT. Roosevelts nomination as costly as possible.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-27
THoUsAND.DoLLAR BILLS.
Boston Herald.

\ rom the BOSlOn Herald.
 The recent finding of a thousand dollar bill has brought out the inquiry, How many such bills are there in ex- istence? As a number of correspond ents have asked Us this question, the answer may be of general interest to our readers. According to the tables prepared by the United States treas ury, there were outstanding on Janu- ary 31, 1903, United States notes of the value of 5000 each to the amount of $26,035, 5000. Of the treasury notes of 1890, $564 ,000 was outstanding in 5000 bills S25,000 was outstanding in na- tional bank notes in such bills; $46,- 735,500 in gold certificates, and $156,- 900 in silver certificates, making the grand total $73,515, 800, which would seem to prove that there were out standing, according to the treasury estimates on January 31 last, 73,515h 5000 bills. The greatest amount of our paper money is in $10 bills, which foot up to $40, 0,556,992 Then come $5 bills, amounting to $349 ,994, 2O4, with $20 bills third, footing up $336, ,531 ,560. These three classes make up practl- cally two-thirds of the paper money now outstanding. The fourth class is $10,000 bills, the fifth $100, the sixth s1, the seventh 5000, the eighth $50, the ninth $2 and the tenth s5OO0. The great bulk of the ones and twos, and even the lives, are silver certificates. More than half of the tens are United States notes, while national bank notes and silver certificates make up the bulk of the twenties. Beyond the 5000 limit there is practically nothing but gold certificates, the only other paper money. according to the treasury table, being three United States notes, two for S5000 each and one for 10000.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-27
o. L. Mitchell Promoted.

Chattanooga Tenn. March 26.-Oscar l.. Mitchell, who has been passenger rep resentative of the Lake Shore and Michi- gan railway, with headquarters In Chat tanooga, has been promoted to the po- sition of general southern agent of the same line with headquarters at Cincin- nati
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-27
Men to Get an Increase.

Palestine, Tex. March 26.-The Interna. tional and Great Northern railroad today agreed to an increase of 12 per cent for passenger trainmen and 15 per cent for freight trainmen and conductors.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-03-27
WHAT MINERS WILL GET.
New York World.

From the New York World.
 About two and a half million dollars will be divided among the miners by the 10 per cent increase, taking effect from last November. The different classes of workers will get about the following