The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-07-04
More Attention Than Usual VIII ba Given to the
 Festivities
BANKS WILL BE CLOSED
 BUT STORES KEEP OPEN
On Account of It's Relns Saturday and Payday, the Merchants Find 1t Impossible to Enjoy
 the Holiday.

More attention will probably be given to the celebration of the Fourth of July in Birmingham today than ever before. Many amusement features have been planned at the park and other sections of the city. and the sale of fireworks. wn.ch means fire crackers rockets and the other things. promises to be very large.
 The banks will be closed all day, as will the various offices in the city hall The postoffice will be closed up tight after 10 o'clock this morning. There will be one delivery of mail in the residence districts and two in the business section of the city thls morning. No courts will be held. but some of the county offices will be open until noon. After dinner they say they are all going to the ball game. Saloons Will Remain Open. Saloons and barber shops will be wide open all day. The barber shops will close at D. m. Mercantile establishments, in- cluding clothlers, dry goods stores and BTOCeTleSY VIII dlSO 1tlndlu OptH the day, but the grocers will give their men a holiday on Monday. Merchants give as a reason for keeping thair places of business open today that it IS Satlr- day and is also pay day at EnsIey
 well-known dealer in n,Gwnrks said yesterday that three years ago there were no fireworks at all sold in Birmingham on the Fourth of July, but that the trade has been increasing for the past two years, and that there was every promise of an immense sale today. A travelling man said yesterday that Birmingham was the only southern city he visited where there was any sale of fireworks at all
 Two Games of Baseball.
 There will be two games of baseball today between Birmingham and Nash ville at West End park. The first will be called at 10 o'clock this morning and the second at o'clock this afternoon. A special excursion train will arrive from Nashville early this morning which will bring about 400 rooters for their team. large delegation will also come from Decatur, Athens and Cullman to root for Birmingham.
 At the Theatres.
 There will be a special matinee this af- ternoon at East Lake, ana the regular performance tonight The Weston-Car- rington company is producing Con fusion,' clever comedy.
 At the Bjou there will be a matinee this afternoon, and the regular night per formance of Lost Twenty-four Hours" by the Joseph Kilgour company. Tonight is the last performance of the company.
 At the Fair Grounds.
 One of the most attractive features of the day will be the sports at the fair grounds, which will he conducted for the benefit of the Orphans home at East Lake There will be large number of races, which will include both trotting and pacing events. The horses entered include Towards Will Bramlett John ston's Jenks, Smiley's Bay, Jones' Annie D., Corter's J. c. L., Bowman's Jeff, Jones' bay colt, Morson's bay Ally Al Thompkins. Bowman's brown Ally, Bow mans sorrel Ally, Carter's bay colt Bar bours bay colt Lord Bacon, McCarteys Blue Jacket. Foxs Sarah Jane, Mosley's Bill Bailey, Sharp's Buckshot and Gib- sons Schley
 The races will be conducted by J. B. Smiley.
 1o0-Yard Foot Race.
 Under the direction of P. H. Linnehan there will be foot race for 100 yards. which will be participated in by Joseph Taylor of St. Bernard college. George Synagh, Robert McAdams and Robert Mcleod.
 A hammer-throwing contest and sack races will also be features.
 The big barbecue will probably be the most important thing of the day It will begin at Il clock this morning and con- tinue until late this afternoon. Memolis band will furnish music during the day The attractions will be under the super vision of Louis J. Boyer A. J. Riley and A. J. Kre Ds.