The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-03-22

a ton more than the year before for
handling the traffic. The anthracite
roads have already fairly we'll recovered
the losses incident to the great strike
last year, and IL their expectations in
regard to this years business are full
filled the earnings for 1908 should be phe-
nomenal. There has been good buying
of the anthracite stocks in anticipation
of the results. The soft coal business,
too, is expected to be greater than that
of any previous year. The production is
figured at five times that of anthracite.
The people of New York are in a funny
predcament in the matter of illumina-
ton. They are raising great hullaba-
loo over the extortions of the gas mo-
nopoly and a crusade was organized to
substitute other lights for gas. 1t has
been discovered, however, that there was
no chance for them. Standard Oil capt.
tai controls not only the gas, but the
electric light plant as well, consequently
consumers Of gas who seek electricity as
a substitute are still paying their money
into the pockets of the Rockefeller COM
bination. If they try oil their money goes
the same way. They are now clamoring
for municipal ownership, but that is
long way off and the project is already
showing symptoms of having been NOR
pinned.
SchWab'S Return.
The return of Charles NJ Schwab is
looked on as quite an event. Mr.. Schwab
is a picturesque figure in the financial
as well as the industrial world and is a
popular subject for gossip, not all of 1t
friendly. Under the supposition that his
illness was permanent and that he would
retire from the presidency of the steel
trust rivals sprang up among those who
felt they would like to have his job.
These rivalries led to the creation Of
factions In the steel trust directorate and
to ill-feeling, which looks as though it
might be enduring. Mr. Schwabs APP
pearance and manner denote his entire
recovery, and it is now given out that
he will remain at the head Of the corpo-
ration. 1t Is quite certain that If he
should retire Ii will be of his own Volt
tion. He seems to be in the very best
of spirits and looks like an athlete.
In Chicago there was once a one
armed confidence man who did thriv-
ing business selling green goods. He
confined his operations to Smart peo-
pie" by which term he meant those
who made their living by their wits He
held that these people were as credulous
as farmers and he felt safe because when
they lost their money they would not
kick. Morse, once known as the ice
King" seems to have operated on the
same principle.
Morse organized the American Ice
company and made New York the scene
of his operations In the stocks and Sc
curities Of that company. He cleaned up
many millions of dollars, and now an
investigation Is under way with the view
of ascertaining the real value of the
assets of the concern. Everybody who
touched American Ice was scalded ex-
cept Mr.. Morse and a very few of his
associates. II transpires that Tile burden
of the loss fell on the very smart peo-
pie" who constitute the inside member
ship of Tammany. Nine-tenths of the
political grafters In the city of New
York went into American Ice ad they
all lost. 1t Is iocuarly remarked by the
victims themselves that the steaings of
three years went into the pockets of the
insiders who put up the American Ice
game on them. Mr.. Morse. organizer of
the ice trust, is supposed to be entirely