davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-11
Smoky Birmingham.

Pittsburg and Chicago are over coming the superabundance of smoke issuing from inflamed soft coal by placing smoke consumers on all chim' neys, big and little alike. City ordi- nances compel this, and the air in both cities is clearing up beautifully. Even Pittsburg will soon enjoy clear smokeless air The task is well nigh complete, and it's completeness sur prises and delights every one.
 No air is purer naturally than that of Jones Valley, but smoke consumers will not restore clearness to our air. They could be placed on the chimneys of the power house which floods the town with soot and smoke, but they would not fit bee hive coke ovens, of which we have supply on either hand. When the Sloss ovens do not fill the air with smoke the Alice ovens do and vice versa. Whether the wind blow north or south we get an abund- ance of coke oven smoke. If the coke ovens were at the mines, where they should for ecs-omy's sake be, the other chimneys would not taint our pure air, but, alas, they are fireproof, and the corporations that own them cannot well afford to move them. So we must i've on in smoke, although all other towns are freed from the hui sance. We must be smoke-cursed while Pittsburg is not. This is due to want of forethought at the begin ming, for it is more economical in transportation to have coke ovens at the mines.
 The subject is not, however, beyond discussion, and perhaps in the long run a smoke consumer will be de- vised that will cure even bee hive of the smoke habit. We need at least five hundred of them, and as things stand there is no help for us unless invention comes to our rescue by overcoming and consuming our bee hive smoke-a giants task.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-11
 Wall Street.

The Financial Age of yesterdays date says;
 If precedent is to be relied on the rest of the country may be expected to feel sooner or later the influences that wall street now feels and there are many who claim that evidences of a reaction are here even now. Those who hold to this view point to the fact that large por- tion of the liquidation that has been go- ing on for months has come from the in- terior, which seems to show that Wall street, after all, is not the "only blue spot" The curtailment in the production and consumption of iron and steel and the decreasing balance of trade are not with out their significance. and cannot be an swered by merely pointing to continued or increasing activity in this or that trade. The question then arises, do the devel- opments of the past year point to gen eral business reaction or are they merely the result of surface conditions?
 The word reaction has sound which racks the ears and suggests host of financial ills, but reaction from period of imitation such as we have witnessed during recent years might, after all, place the country on more substantial basis and in a more impregnable position, tinan- cially and commercially, than ever be- fore
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-11
Poll Taxes and Voters.

Poll taxes as a prerequisite of voting are cumulative in this state. One can not as in Louisiana pay the last poll tax assessed against him, thereby be- coming qualified to vote, but in order to vote next year for city, county, dis trict, state or federal candidates, he must have paid by or before February 1 all poll taxes that have been as- sessed against him.
 This provision is operating in this state, as similar provisions have in other states, to reduce the number of votes, and the process of reduction will doubtless go on until the mini mum is reached. The minimum would be surprisingly small if all were sub ject to the payment of poll taxes. Out of 190,000 persons who are duly reg istered it is estimated that 76,000 are over 45 years of age. Such persons do not have to pay poll taxes. Deduct ing the number of such persons from the number registered, 114000 are left who should each year pay poll taxes. AS a matter of fact, only 67,- 900 persons paid poll taxes in the last fiscal year, leaving 47,000 registered persons who cannot vote because they
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-11
New Railroad Station.

Two facts stand out in connection with the railroad station problem, namely, the present station is sadly outgrown, and, secondly, it belongs to the Louisville and Nashville. Perhaps if third fact be added the case is well nigh complete-the Louisville and Nashville needs and deserves to re- gain it's own. It stands ready to can eel present leases because it needs every foot of it's station.
 It is, not too much to say that when present leases expire four years hence the crowding and jostling in the pres ent station will have become so intol- erable that the Louisville and Nash vile will be compelled in self-defence to tell it's tenants to get out, thus leav- ing the Southern, the Alabama Great Southern, the Frisco, the Central of Georgia, the Illinois Central, and the Seaboard without passenger accom- modations in this town.
 Railroad managers are not as rule caught mapping, and they know what they need as a rule in the future. They all know that the Louisville and Nash vile will need four years hence all the space that the present station offers, But no removal to distant point will
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-11
Openinu the Warrior.

Pittsburg Is shipping on seventy barges 6OOO0 tons of steel rails to the gulf, and at the same time it is send ing on barges 175,O00 tons of cotton ties to New Orleans for use in baling the crop to be grown next summer.
 Here is a theme or text for this district to ponder over. Here is some thing mat refutes all that has been said or can be said against Wan Hoose's canal" Here is the way in which Pittsburg, although 2000 miles away. steals and almost monopolizes, southern markets
 This district has in fact no consider able future except in the opening of slackwater navigation the year round to the gull, and to New Orleans. Once at the gulf themarkets of the world are our own, and we can fight for them against Pittsburg or any other producing center without being handl- capped by high transportation rates. We are within 400 miles of the gulf, and our waterway would know neither ice in the cold nor low water in the hot season of the year. The keynote of Birminghams future is in short an
  Open Warrior, and Messrs. Underwood and Bankhead will work untiringly to secure 1t. The government is in fact. committed to it, but it is still inn portant to remind the government of it's duty as each congress meets.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-11
THE ONLY DAILY NEWSPAPER IN ALABAMA
o villains, vlpers, damn'd without re-
Street Names in Sidewalks.

The cement sidewalk is appearing in every part of the city, and if lot own- CTS would bargain for the letting in of street names at corners, they would not only help themselves, but they would aid tradesmen, messenger boys and the people generally. Colored let ters could be formed Tn new sidewalks at small expense, and the cost of put ting such letters in an old sidewalk would be inconsiderable
 Per5 laps the city government should lend ] hand in this desirable and inex- pensf fe reform. Such letters would last as long as the sidewalk remained sound, and the life of a cement side walk is supposed to be almost unlim- tied. It is known that it will outwear stone. Street names could not be bet ter placed A match at night would disclose more than the customary sign on buildings would tell, and they would save the buildings from dis figurement. Such signs would be where even those who run could read It is not a great reform, but it Is neat tasty and desirable. and free from all objections, and the people who are laying sidewalks should adopt i even if the board of aldermen will not stoop to notice 1t.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-11
Our Vacations.

"Has our appreciation of rural delights waned?" asked a hotel man. Did you notice during the past season how many people went to crowded resorts for a whirl in gay society and how few turned to that real vacation to be had only in the soltudes of mountains or great for ests? Nowadays it is very extraordin- ary woman who prefers natures charms to the pleasure of a fashionable summer resort. Even men have yielded to the temptation so that comparatively few now spend their vacations in hunting, fishing or other sports of the wild It is also noticeable that our modern vacation is not proving very beneficial
 When a season at fashionable sum- mer resort is ended. recuperation if often- times necessary before starting in on winter gaieties. Business men return to town thoroughly tired out with the end less succession of dances, lunches and swell affairs, and sadly in need of sleep. Such vacation is certainly not rest, but it is change and that is about all the strenuous people of today require.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-11
Printlnu Paper.

"I notice an agitation has been started for more durable paper for printing pur- poses' said a publisher. 'It is objected that paper now used in our books and newspapers Is so cheaply made it will not last long. Especially IS this true of newspapers. Some of them have become so fiimsy that there is little hope of pre- serving a file longer than fifteen or twenty years. The great volume of im- portant news that Is scattered broadcast over this country every day is destined to sink rapidly into oblivion. Perhaps there is little In most of our newspapers worth preserving through centuries but every leading daily should keep file printed on durable paper that will last certainly as long as publication is continued. It is a great pity that sheepskin is not more widely used now, but there are methods of manufacturing paper perhaps just as durable, and in addition it is much easier to handle.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-11
POOR SOUTHERN WHITE
 MAN NOW HANDICAPPED
Prof. D. D. Wallace in the Columbia
State.

Prof. D. D. Wallace in the Columbia
 State.
 H HE emancipation of the poor south- \SH ern white man is one of the great
 facts of southern history. The story Is not long to tell. For four years he fought 'the campaign" as he some times calls it, with a valor never excelled in the annals of war, and led by the noblest body of gentlemen soldiers that ever offieered an army, fought himself to frazzle for the maintenance of his own degradation and against his own best in- terests. Such is the power of intellect and education; it's thoughts become the thought of all.
 Ruin compelled the wealthy planter to throw thousands of acres upon the market at almost nominal prices. Henry W. Grady stated in 1887 that between 1868 and 1873 there were S2S24 small farms sliced from the great plantations in Georgia, and that in the three years previous to 1870 there were 400OO farms of less than 100 acres created in Mississippi
 Reasoning from these figures, we may estimate that the same tendencies must have created between 1865 and 1875 throughout the entire south at least half million small farms much the greater portion of which went into the hands of white men of small means. In 1850, when manufacturers were insignificant, there were 100 farms to every 1000 white ihhab- itants of South Carolina; whereas in 1900. when upward of 100000 of her population were dependent on manufacturers, there were 125 farms to every 1000 white inhabi- tants
 The average size of the farms of white farmers throughout the south has fallen from over $50 acres in 1860 to 1721a acres in 1900. Thus the poor white man of the south is being restored to his original heritage of small, independent farmer-the source which has supplied so largely to the United States it's reserve force of civic virtue ana rejuvenating vigor of intel lect.
 The other opportunity for the common man of the south has come in the indus trial development of his sectionA- building the factory, opening the mine, operating the railway. The ground for congratula- tion usually taken is that the manufac- turing south is more of a money making south but I congratulate upon higher ground. Only highly diversified civiliza- ton can escape the fate of having some favored pursuit arrogate to itself social distinction only such a civilization can afford opportunity for the employment of tha thousand anfitudes of the h,1u,au mind.
 The southern factory system is young and cannot yet institute all the plans for
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-11
Effect of Wall Paper.

"The subject of wall paper at first glance does not seem to be of much weight in the worlds affairs but Is one that should nevertheless receive careful consider ation,e said a physician. Although rather out of date in extremely fashion able homes wall paper continues to be largely used. It has been noticed that certain patterns have a remarkable effect on persons of sensitive temperaments and wall papering for sick rooms should be chosen with much care. Invalids suffer- ing from delusions are frequently render ed worse by having constantly before their eyes grotesque figures and flowers. These patterns are not only very trying on the mind but sometimes seriously in- jure weak eyes. The shade is also i'm portant Cases have been known where people have actually fallen i'll as a re- suit of living in a room papered a sckly green. After all I think subdued paper is best. Good taste demands this as well as it's ultimate effect on certain temper ament. Dark shades with very simple designs are far preferable, no matter how pretty something else may be-"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-11

He had a pleasant trip and looked well and happy yesterday, as he receYeo the cordial greetings of his friends.
 " Dn,,es one of Montgomery's lead ing citizens, Is at the Metropolitan
 W. R. Freeman of Atlanta, is spending Sunday at the Morris.
 Judge S. T. Tate, a prominent law yer of Anniston, is stopping at the Flor- ence.
 George E. Pratt of Philadelphia, was one of the Hillman's late arrivals last night.
 Henry Fftts, one of the prominent attor- neys of Tuscaloosa, is registered at the Metropolitan.
 I. W. Pickard of Johns, is spending Sunday in the city.
 IT W. Laird of Brookwood is stopping at the Florence Mr. Laird is connected with the engineering department Of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad com
 
 pany.
 L. D. Campbell of Memphis is registered at the Hillman.
 E. W. Lem of New York is at the St. Nicholas.
 F. P. Smith of St. Paul is in the city. E. L. Jones of Demopolis and John T. Tally of Sheffield are spending Sunday in the city. :
 J. c. Street, a prominent business man of Annlston stopping at the Florence. E. W. Newcomb of Chicago is at the l Hillman.
 c. s. Neely of Memphis and J. D. Pat terson of Atlanta are in the city.
 H. Pennypacker, the advance agent for the Human Hearts company, is stopping at the Metropolitan.
 s. J. Garret and W. R. Davis of Mont gomery are in the city.
 0. A. Lee, a prominent citizen of Tal- ledega. is stopping at the Hillman.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-11
Glass That Will Not Crack.

heat as well as sudden changes of tenn perature is made from Brazilian quartz pebbles. The pebbles are heated red hot and then thrown into distilled water. The purest pieces are next selected and welded with the oxyhydrogen blowpipe into long stems like knitting needles. from which glass vessels of any shape can be made. At present the quartz glass is chiefly employed for making labora- tory apparatus. Into a test tube made in this way white hot coal can be dropped without breaking it. Vessels of other forms can be heated white hot and then plunged into cold water without cracking.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-11

had not paid poll taxes assessed against them.
 The electorate of the state is now reduced from 10000 to 143.000, and this number will be reduced still fur ther, and in the long run the voting will largely be done by the 76,0O0 old men in this state. As things stand at present the old men outrank the young and middle aged men at the polls by about 5000 votes, and it is safe to say that in two years time their numer- ical majority will be increased to at least 10000, when they will easily be in the saddle, and the younger men of the state, taken as whole, will be to a considerable extent rendered pow erless by the poll tax provision.
 Tn the end no doubt the cumulative feature of the poll tax condition of voting will be taken away. Several amendments will doubtless be pro- posed in 1907, and as amendments are rendered easy of adoption by the new constitution some at least of them stand a good chance to be adopted, The new constitution was compro- mise all along the line, and some of it will not stand the test of time. It is not by any means a sacred instrument. It was built by human beings, after numerous dickers with politicians par ticularly from the Black Belt, and it will need revision in spots in 1907.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-11
HOW OLD IS ANN2
From the New York World. This is the problem:

From the New York World.
 This is the problem:
 Mary is 24 years old. Mary Is twice as old as Ann was when Mary was as old as Ann is now. How old is Ann?
 The puzzle has come. been seen and has conquered at Harvard university. It Is mightier at tackle than football. It has caught New England in it's compell- ing grasp. Out of the figuring that it has evoked in the east the slate and pencil in- dustries are expecting a boom to banish all thoughts of winter of discontent
 In it's simplicity Is the alluring strength of this problem. The statement of terms involves perfect frankness and no useless multiplication of words. Mary is "A years old" and so forth Adorable Mary! But behold at the finish the leading question: How old is Anng'
 Can you tell?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-11
POOL EXPERT
Makes Seemingly Impossible Shots
 With Ease While Blndfolded.

From the Yonkers N. Y. Statesman.
 Joe Hood of Boston, the fancy pool ex- pert. who has throughout the summer been entertaining swelldom at Narragan- sett Pier, Newport, with his novelties of twisting the worries and controlling them in whichever way he pleased, came to Hollywood Inn last evening and gave an exhibition of fancy novelty, Chinese, blind and finger pool.
 The Chinese pool was laughable, and his finger pool seemed as if he were q magician Some of the seemingly impos- sble shots which he made without any difficulty are explained below to give an idea of the cleverness of this master of the cue. Straight four ball combination for side pocket: Last ball to be pocketed and the first three disperse. Object ball placed on upper end spot and ball at far right hand corner. One ball set on rail at near end of table near first diamond, pocket spot ball and ball in front of pocket with one shot.
 A shot which seemed utterly impossible to be made, and which caused vociferous laughing and applauding was when a ball was imprisoned in the triangle and when shot at by cue ball would hop out of frame and be pocketed in far corner.
 Mr. Hood walked backward to the table and made two balls with one shot and ar so played pool blndfolded in which he made six balls in one shot. He explained that touch and sense of feeling were the most important things in playing this t-f. T novelty was the placing of the 16 balls in a semi-circle the full length of the table, each ball three inches apart. Shoot at nearest ball and pocket end ball. This shot was so eleverly accomplished that it sounded like the exploding of a bunch of firecrackers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-11
About Persons.

President J. c. NIaben, of the Sloss- Sheffield Steel and Iron company, leaves this morning for New York.
 President John w. Abercrombie of the University. stopped at the Morris few hours yesterday enroute from Anniston to Tuscaloosa.
 E. O. Green, a prominent citizen of Fayetteville, is at the Morris.
 Milton Stewart of New York, is spend inging Sunday at the Hillman.
 Charles McCrery, vice president and general manager of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company, has returned from short vacation spent in Europe.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-11
eILTMoRE's OWNER AND OTHERS.

From the Baltimore Sun.
 If it were the fashion for everybody to go to Europe because he had been the victim of a dishonest man. MT. Van derbilt would be accompanied to the old world by very large section of the American people, Uncle Sam has had occasion recently to mourn over the sharp practices of certain of his employees. Shall he solace himself with a European trip? IT some of our economists are not in er- TOT, the whole American people have at one time or another in the last decade been robbed by the railroad kings and monopolies. Shall the nation pack it's trunks and take the next steamer for the old world?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-11
Attend the State Fair.

On Thursday next, October 15, the gates of the State far will be opened, and during a period of ten days this great annual festival will be thronged with people from every part of the state. Low rates of fare combined with the attractions of the fair will at tract to this town thousands, even tens of thousands, of people.
 The managers of the fair have ex- erted themselves this year to bring together attractions that will appeal to old and young, to men and women in all walks of life. The women's de- partment will be unusually interesting, and the agricultural and mechanical displays will be unusually comprehen- siye. Outside of such exhibits there will be many special features that will appeal to all amusement loving peo- pie.
 These annual harvest festivals will grow in importance if they are well re- ceived by the people. Popular approv- al and gate receipts are always the measure of public entertainments, and the more the people go to the fair the better will next years fair be. The people set the pace, and if Birming- ham desires to secure each year fine harvest festival, they should attend the fair, taking all their friends along.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-11
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New York Press.
 A woman would wear even common sense clothes If they were the fashion.
 woman Is so queer that she can get lonesome In house because there are no mice in it.
 A woman's logic is so cut on the bias that when she Is all tired out from shop ping she goes to dance to rest herself.
 If woman was informed that the world was coming to an end tomorrow she would prepare for it by making cake today.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-11

the betterment of employees which may be practiced in the maturity of an in- dustry. The assertion may safely be made that most often the type of industrial leader that has done most for the thou sands of dependents whose destinies- are so largely in his hands comes from fam lilies of substance and prominence in the old south, not of the irreconeilaIble kind, whose general humane character and habit of leadership throw them properly to the front.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-11

What with wars of words over the tariff in England, over Corea in the Orient, and over .he Shipbuilding trust in the effete east, the world Is not so dull after all.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-11

How can there be slumps and fall ing prices, when Dingleyism is ramp ant and the republicans are in power? Answers to this puzzle should be for warded to the puzzle editor.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-11

Railroad building and mine opening go on apace in this district in order to get things done before John Temple Graves deports s.l the laborers.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-11

Between indictments and resigna- tions the postoffice department con- ducted by the esteemed Mir Payne, professional politician, will soon be depopulated.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-11

Good stocks are sold of late to pro- tect bad stocks which arc not salable at all. Merely indigestible.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-11

The brass bands of Chicago have struck, and the people of that city are no longer distressed to the point of desperation by "Hiawatha."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-10-11

The southern commissioners of agri- 10,271 900 bales. Add 10 per cent for natural trash at this season of the year, and you will come close to the OutDut.