The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-13
BY JOHN MARTHoL.

lars have thus far been paid by the New York Central railroad to those who were injured in the terrible tunnel accident some years ago and to the families of those who lost their lives in that horrible disaster The road has indeed been gen. erous in ith compensation. If some of the suits have been contested, it was because the amount claimed was manifestly exor- bitant. When the comprehensive system of Improvements now in progress is fin- ished an accident at this end of the line will be next to impossible. The undertak- ing is an extremely costly one. Some of the most valuable property in the city had to be purchased to secure additional room for the handling of the enormous passen- ger traffic, while the engineering difficult ties to be surmounted were of the most complicated character The total cost of these improvements. now being pushed to rapid completion will be over five million dollars. When finished the New York Central will have the best and finest term inal facilities of any road eentering the metropolis.
 Why don't New Workers go to church on Sunday or rather why do two-thirds of them absent themselves from religious de- votions on that day, is still one of the burning questions of current discussion. I am inclined to agree in opinion with those who attribute the deviation from the pathway of righteousness to the preach CTS, that is to their sermons. To preach the gospel is the divine command, but the gospel is out of date in this latitude. It Is about the last thing on which three- fourth of the preachers preach.
 During the eastern racing season, which has just come to an end, the big prize xUip tva wit a record of twenty-eight winners, netting him nearly s100,000. E. R. Thomas came next with $900O0 to his credit. J. B. Hagin followed with $Ss0OO; then the Hampton stable won SS5 000 Sydney Paget following a close fifth with s75,O00 The Belmont colors were first under the line in eighteen great contests, and second in twenty-two close finishes, winning s70,000 In and around New York there are six great tracks, the Aqueduct, Morris Park Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, Brighton and Jamaica, tn largest number of like places in the same space in the world.
 
 To walk the streets of Manhattan is far more dangerous than to go into an engagement with the Moros in the Philip pine islands. Scarcely a day passes that some one is not killed or maimed by an automobile, run down by a trolley car, crushed to death at the Bridge entrance, burned on the third rail of the elevated lines or sent suddenly into the unknown in some one of a score of other so-called accidents" Most of this enormous loss of life or limb In the course of a month is the result of the none-enforcement of the laws. The rich owners of the "autos" are the worst offenders of all. Heavy fines in police courts are trifles when com pared with the excitement and the fun they get out of the sport" for that is what the regard their reckless speeding on crowded thoroughfares.
 The plague of cranks with which the President is afflicted down in Washington is a small matter in comparison with that which makes life miserable for District Attorney Jerome and his assistants. A dozen day is about the regulation num- Der who find their way to the citys crim- inal harmless, although of infinite variety brace of them turned up the other morning with an application to ostain permission from the grand jury to enable them ito swamp wives"
 The militia regiments of this city are in future to wear a service uhiform almost