The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-07-09

N THE matter of establishing libraries
 America has made a phenominal rec | ord in the year from May, 1902. to May, 1908. which the old world may we'll wonder over In this period s1o sOe 6i was dis tributed among the cities of this country for the establishing of libraries. This may not be as much as is spent every year for tobacco and drinks but 1t Is doing very well for a new country and speaks highly for its future development.
 Of course MT. Carnegie contributed largely to this amount as he is the H. brary maker, pre-eminent, of the United States His gifts for the twelve months amount to se,e79oOe. This is widely scat tered through the land but his desire to help the boys of the industrial classes has led him to give large amounts to the manufacturing cities of the east. Other wealthy donators to the cause of the free library have a tendency to bestow their gifts on those communities and states where there are already well supplied. For instance MRssaehusetts the great educational state gets in the year eighty five library gifts which aggregate sSO5 S15. the largest amount received by any state or territory. Mir. Carnegie, on the other hand is more equable in his generosity and less advanced sections of the country have a chance to benefit by the public library.
 Among the other states receiving gifts in the year Ohio gets thirty-five. New York sixty-five, while Arkansas, Arizona. Utah. Idaho, Nevada. North and South Dakota. New Mexico, and Florida are left out in the cold
 The announcement that the yacht America would be broken up and her fragments sold for souvenirs has been proved erroneous and this VIII no doubt be pleasant news for all lovers of the sea who would consider such step al- most a dissertation. The America is the boat that brought to this country the cup which Sir Thomas Lipton is now trying so valiantly to recover The yacht is fifty-two years old and has a most interesting history She was launched in 1851 and the trophy she won has not yet been recovered by the En- glsh sportsmen.
 The contract price of the America was S3o000 but she was sold for $20,OOO, owing to some delay in building This Is a mere bagatelle compared to the costly toys now used in yacht racing. Both the new Shamrock and the Reliance are worth fortune, and are so frail that an unexpected puff of wind will create havoc with their rigging. When the Sham rock came over for the approaching race she had to be strengthened for the voy- age and fitted out with a jury rig to stand the buffetings of the ocean, while the racing spars and supplies were ship ped by steamer. When the America sail ed for England she used the heavier canvas of pilot boat, but she carried her racing spars and had no steam tend CT to carry her crew and supplies. The former numbered only thirteen men and all slept on board the vessel
 The America is now owned by the But Ter family. Gen. B. F. Butler having purchased her in 1870 for s500O She was twice overhauled in England and was once captured by the Yankees in the civil war. The staunch old boat is good for a number of years yet and is an in- tereEting relic to all racing men.
 The Pomeranian bank scandal in Ger many has disclosed a startling condition of affairs in the Journalistic circles of that country. It is reported that large sums of hush money were advanced to the Society of the Berlin Press on rather Indefinite terms. and individual neWsna-