davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-15
In West Virginia.

West Virginia never gave her cleo toral vote to a republican candidate for president until 1896. She voted twice for Mckinley, but all the votes she cast for president before 1896 was given to democrats. Sfre casts seven electoral votes, and it is pretty safe to assume that these votes will not be cast against Henry Gassaway Davis. Mir. Davis can be trusted to see that they are not.
 The republican piuralities in the last ten years have ranged from II ,503 in 1896 to 21 ,022 in 1900. In the twenty years between 1876 and 1896 she never cast an electoral vote for a republican presidential nominee. The demo- cratic pluralities rose at one time to 14,564. Mir. Cleveland in 1888 had, it is true, a plurality of but 506, but as a rule the democratic pluralities in the twenty years were comfortably large.
 Henry c. Davis knows every section and adustry in his state. He lives in it. He knows the people, and the peo l. ple- of West Virginia know him, and he will assuredly put the name of his state back in the democratic column The republicans say he is too old tc become vice-president, but he is not too old to capture West Virginia $ electoral votes. He attended the St. Louis convention, and any man who did that and survived is strong enough to meet almost any other task MT. Davis will demonstrate anew his vigor and strength by bringing back his state to her normal choice. Her vote will be cast for Parker and Davis and Henry c. Davis will be on the spot to see that the goods are deliv pred
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-15
The MontevaIIo School,

The eight annual catalogue of the Ala bama girls industrial school at Monte vallow has been received This is one of the strongest educational institutions in the state, and is already accomplishing great work in lifting up the young women of Alabama. Although but eight years old, the Monteyallo scho ranks as one of the leading colleges for girls in the state. About 225 boarders can be ae- commodated in the dormltory. The Rev Francis M. Peterson, A. M, D. D., is president. His faculty numbers thirty four capable instructors, and the cur riculum embraces all branches usually taught in first class colleges in addition to telesraphy, bookkeeping, stenography and typewriting, dressmaltng, cooking and millinery.
 The Rev. A. J. Dickinson, D. D., and Col. Samuel Will John of Birmingham are trustees.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-15

From the New York Tribune
 A Kansas editor who stopped at the Inside Inn at St. Louis. writes: There are more bellboys than guests in the inn, They use 'em for change. When you give the clerk 8 he hands you back g and a bellboy. My room is little far back for meals, but I make 1t nicely. I start for supper at a. m. and stay for luncheon on the way with friend I know in Room 2507. But friend of mine who lives in Room No 76.Gis is up against 1t. He got two days behind in his meals, living out in the country at the rear end of the ho- tel Finally he found that he was nearer Moberly, Mo-, than he was to the dining room. so now he walks over to Moberly every morning."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-15
De Pachmann,s Tour

Vladimir De Pachmann, the great piano yirtuoso, is announced for a transconti- mental tour of from 80 to 100 concerts in America this coming season, under the direction of Loudon G. Charlton" said his press agent. De Pachmanns pre- eminence as an artist is too well known from his former tours in this country to need even passing mention. He is already engaged by the Boston Symphony orches- tra for one of their tours in Boston, New York, Brooklyn and Philadelphia, and dates are arranged for him as well with the Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Cincinnati and Chicago orchestras. He will give three recitals each, in New York and Boston before he starts west. After play ing all the principal cities of the mid dle west he will proceed about January 1. 1905, to the Pacific coast where fifteen dates are already booked by way of the southern and Texas cities, and he will return through the northwest and Cam ada
 De Pachmann will probably include Birmingham in his tour of southern cities.''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-15
Use of the Trunk Sewers.

Every community along the trunk sewers should begin at once to emu late Ensley's example. Ensley will be ready to use the trunk sewer as soon as it is completed to that city. So will Bessemer. So will Birmingham. But there are a dozen communities that have taken no steps in that direction. Lack of enterprise in that respect will prove hurtful locally as we'll as to the valley in general. People in Jones valley will soon shun an undrained To- cality.
 But there will be no such locality in Jones valley. The sanitary commis- sion is empowered to act if the local authorities will not, and to levy the cost upon the community benefited. The sewer act is comprehensive, and it will be carried out. No community will be permitted to endanger the health of the rich and populous valley by carelessness in drainage. There will, however, be no such case, for each community will prefer to do the needful work in its own way.
 sD Expedition is, however, needed. From Bessemer to East Lake and Gate City work should be begun, just as it has been at Ensley. Ensley is an example to the entire valley, fine ex- ample, too. Ensley stands ready to get on drained and wholesome footing just as soon as the trunk sewer is built from the filter beds
 If, in addition to local connections, the sewer commission will let con tracts for the construction of the two filter plants that belong to the system, we will begin at last to see the end of the work of house drainage in Jones valley. It is not necessary to wait upon sewer construction. Let the construction cf the pipes and of the filters proceed concurrently to the end that another Lot season shall not come to us living in an undrained val 1av
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-15
PARkER's GOLD TELEGRAM.

Esopus correspondent New York Sun.
 Judge Parker's message to William F.. Sheehan making his stand for gold had some advantages. It was written at II 80 o'clock on Saturday morning by Sec retary McCausland at the judges dicta- tion and was signed by Judge Parker.
 Jake" Robinson. the judges coach man. drove with it to the Esopus tele- graph office-
 "Sahl' he said to the clerk. in warm ing whisper. This is on the dead quiet" The clerk read the dispatch.
 "Oh! we'll" he yawned, T guess he won't resign" The office was full of loungers, and Jake almost had fit in his eagerness to impress upon the clerk the need of keeping the message a secret
 The dispatch was sent to New York to be relayed to St Louis. The operator who sent it got nervous and sent for the superintendent of the office. The superintendent got nervous, too. He wasn't going to send to St. Louis a tel egram that might disrupt the democratic party and might prove to be hoax. So he took the key and called Esopus and said that he would have to be shown.
 The Esopus operator said he was quite sure that the signature really was that of Judge Parker. but that did not sat- isfy the superintendent. Go to the house., he ordered, "and make sure.'
 The Escpus man pleaded that Rose mont was more than half a mile away. Wouldn't the telephone do? It would,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-15
Words Fitly Spoken.

From the Macon News.
 When MT. Parker did finally speak. his words were truly as apples of gold In pictures of silver" That they were fitly spoken, even those of his friends who were aghast at his daring bravery of spir- it, now concede. By his fearless declara- tion of principles at the risk of losing his nomination, Judge Parker has changed opposition of some to his hearty support, the indifference of others to admiration and the admiration of his all-the-time friends to a overwhelming enthusiasm.
 Bourke Cochran is not alone in his de- claration and belief that Judge Parker hitherto an unknown quantity-has re- vealed by his very first word to the pub
 lie spirit of man who can lead democ- racy to victory. A fearless spirit, staunch supporter of his principles and a sound selector of those principles is what Judge Parker has proven himself to be. He has gloriousy vindicated his silence by his first public utterance
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-15

The average condition of the crop is about normal, and tho possibilities of a crop exceeding that of 1902 WAS the record crop. amounting as it did to over two and half billion bushels.
 Mr. Brown, the statistician of the New York produce exchange. looks for corn crop aggregating 2.5s7,26s,-
 GOO bushels. If such a production should be reached a new record would be established. and before such a crop depression in railroad transpor- tation at least would disappear, and so would many other forms of de- pression.
 MT. Browns estimate is based on a yield of 27.6 bushels per acre. The acreage is about three millions less than that of 1902, when the average yield was -6.S bushels. If the aver age yield should be carried by the rains to 276 bushels MT. Browns total would be reached, and a record breaking crop would be made.
 The truth is, the three great crops of the country-corn, cotton and wheat-are very promising at present While this is tLo situation here crops in other countries are not progress ing well. Other countries are not our competitors except in the production of wheat and other bread crops, for we grow the corn and cotton of com merce. Corn is exported in many forms. As provisions and meats it becomes a great export crop, rivalling wheat, while cotton, of course, re- mains the king of export crops. The minor crops, such as oats. barley and rye, are all full of promise in this country, and if trade depression lasts beyond the present year it will do it in spite of me crops, unless indeed all present signs fail.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-15
Tribute for Parker.
om the New York Post.

From the New York Post
 Internationally the highest tribue to Judge Parker is that paid him by our old stalwart republican neighbo, the New York Tribune. We do not refer to it's spontaneous admiration of Sunday. when 1t declared that his stand did sig nal credit to the firmness anu courage of his public character" and stated that Judge Parker lis widely respected in this state for the cospicuous ability he has shown in politics and on the bench. and for the purity and integrity of his private life." These phrases, like it's opinion that the St. Louis message could surprise no one familiar with the judges honorable achievements and honorable record" were doubtless merely the un- premeditated compliments of the frank mind ever to be expected of the early morning leader writer. But after sleep ing on the matter the Tribule's sages have now arrived at a sober second thought It declares today tl.at the judge played shrewd game of politics" to win an Improbable if not impossible nom nation" and cannot concede that the final dramatic act in a skilful perIorm- arce entities him to be acclaimed as man of heroic mould" If this Is an excellent rebuke of it's own pre- vious enthusiasm. 1t Is also the plainest possible proof of the stunning effects of the Parker bombshell upon the republi- can camp. It will undoubtedly take some days for the party to realize that the foremost figure in American politics is today residing not at Oyster Bay, but at Esopus.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-15
MT. Bryan Sticks.

From the New York World.
 William J. Bryan announces that he will vote for Parker and Davis. The four req sons which he gives for this decision are all included in two-he is opposed to Roosevelt and does not want to wreck his Commoner.
 When MT Bryan says of Judge Parker that nothing good can be expected of him on the money question: he means that nothing bad or crazy can be expected of him. This certificate will be of great help to Judge Parker in the election.
 The general tone of MT. Bryans state ment will lead democrats who hope for the success of the ticket to pray that he will confine his stumping to Nebraska and the far west-the farther the better.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-15
TROLLEY RIDES THROUGH
 BLACK DIAMOND' CAVES

the dump, each mine has a passenger car in which the men are taken to and from their work and in which excursionists arc taken through the drifts
 Formerly one current of air was thought sufficient to maintain life and health. A means was discovered by which the currents could be split and one cad ried over the other. Now every large mine has from twelve to fifteen currents constantly circulating through 1t and the air is nearly as pure as on top.
 Missourfs coal fields embrace an area of about 10000 square miles. The prin- about fifteen counties running diagonally from the center of the state southwest into the Indian territory. In some coun- ties the vein is but foot and a half thick. but it seems to be everywhere. One cannot put a spade down into the ground in this territory without finding traces of it. These mines are all easily worked and as a rule require little ex- pensive machinery and no deep shafts. About two-thirds of the mines are com mercial ones, that is, shippers of coal. The others simply supply the local de- mand.
 Above these coal deposits lie thousands of acres of as fine agricultural land as there is anywhere and the farmer who can't get enough in coal royalties to suit himself can garner big crops and dispose of them at top prices. When his friends come to visit him he can take them on the trolley through the coal mines, even if he has no summer resort handy to interest them
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-15
Seven in the Field.


 There are seven presidential tickets in the field, as follows:
 1. Parker and Davis, democrats.
 2. Roosevelt and Fairbanks, repub- licans.
 3. Swallow and Carroll, prohibition ists.
 A. Watson Tibbles, populists.
 5. Corrigan and Cox, social labor.
 G. Debs and Handford, social demo- crats.
 T. Scott and Payne, national lib- erals.
 This is probably the field, although the women have not yet acted, and General Miles has not yet been nom mated. As no party shows any signs of running General Miles, and as the women are not organizing, it is safe to conclude that the list of entries stands complete.
 No. 2 was added last week. It is the ticket of the national liberal party, a party that is made up of progressive negroes only. The national liberals demand the suppression of lynch law, and the addition of two negro regi- ments to the regular army. They also ask for pensions.
 Nos. and 6 represent the two wings of the socialists, MT. Debs being the candidate of the social democrats, and MT Corrigan, a printer, of the so- cial labor people. Where the line is drawn between them it is difficult to say. Both demand the government ownership of public utilities, and va rious other advanced" notions. No. 4 represents the once numer- ous populist army, and No. 3 stands for the uncompromising prohibition ists. It is a close race between these two for third place. | Out of sixteen million votes, more or less, in November possibly mil lion of them will be cast for the five odd and eccentric tickets. It is pret- ty good year for such tickets, and the populists and prohibitionists will cer- tainly poll between them over half million of votes. The socialists will probably poll an increased vote, and altogether it will not be strange if a million men throw away their votes. It is a case of 16 to lone million out of sixteen millions.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-15
A War Time Story.

A party of old veterans were speaking yesterday of their experiences, when one of them said: The incident in connection with the war most vividly impressed on mynmemory, occurred during a foragng expedition. about July. 1863, in Virginia
 Our rations were rather scant and consisted only of corn meal and bacon Now I have always been something of an epicure. and this simple menu cid not appeal to my appetite. one night, in company with two fellow soldiers who were also apprecative or gastronomic pleasures. we planned little private for aging excursion on the :, surrounding country
 ''The opposing forces had troops scat tered through the territory, and 1t was quite difficult at that time to secure permit to leave camp, so we determined to leave our tent without permission. It was necessary to be very cautious to avoid discovery by the picket How ever, we succeeded in passing the line, and began our efforts to repenish our depleted larders.
 ..The country certainly must have been reduced to starvation, or the people had thoroughly learned the insecurity of a chicken or young porker. if allowed the liberties they usually enjoyed. It ap- peared as if we would be obliged to re- turn to camp empty handed. But in crossing a little field about two miles from the picket line, we came across a patch of the finest melons 1 had ever seen. They looked quite tempting in the dim moonlight and we were very well pleased with our luck. Each of us se lected two or three of the choicest melons and placing them in a sack. started for camp. Long before the two intervening miles were traversed, those melons seem ed to increase in weight. and by the time camp was reached, thought mine weighed at least seventy-five pounds apiece. But anticipations of the coming feast kept our spirits up, and we sue ceeded in again euding the sentinel on duty, and getting to our tent undiscov- cred. Ne
 We were weary, and visions of iusci- ous, red-hearted water melons were be- fore our vision. An old sabre was brought forth and one of the largest mel ons cut. It was a citron melon One by one the others were cut, and they were citron melons, too.
 s"rhe next morning comrades in the ad- joining tent complained of being un- able to sleep, because of certain sul- phurous fumes which pervaded the at nosphere.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-15
Davis a Builder.

From the Macon Telegraph
 Ex-Senator Henry G. Davis of West Virginia, who has been nominated for Vice President by the national democratic convention, is one of the great builders and developers of his generation. He has been West Virginia's most important citizen. for he has opened mines of coal and iron. constructed railroads, and made his state one of the greatest of the coun- trys industrial area. He was the chief figure at the Pan-American conference in Mexico last year. and to him is to be ac- credited the honor of furthering the pro- ject of building the transcontinental line which is to connect North. Central and South America
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-15
From the New York Commercial.

IAA COOllDiN0 tO perSous ldtety ic- W1H turned from the mining districts
 of Missouri one of the new amusements out in that region is to ride through the coal mines, or black dia- cent lights are strung along the entire dis tance; the roofs are high and well-sup- ported; the air is clean anu dry; and there is no more cause for apprehension than in taking an ordinary trolley ride about large city.
 Missourians insist that so far as mining matters are concerned they are in advance of most of the eastern states. Five or six years ago most of the mines were nothing but holes in the ground, timbered and shored, with two streaks of rust leading into them. and now and then gaunt mule leading a car out of them. Now there are dozens of mines in the state, and a woman in a white Swiss gown could jour ney for miles without getting so much as a soot mark on the hem of her garment
 Two reasons exist for the change: One is that the state legislature adopted care full laws governing the operation of mines and the other Is that the mine operators have found it cheap to use electricity. Some of the mines employ electricity for power in hauling everything. few use 1t on the main entries and still use the mules on the cross and side entries. These lines are built on the same principle as the ordinary trolley with the rod running upon a wire strung along the roof Be- sides the cars used for carrying coal to
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-15
south's Responsibility.
the Richmond News-Leader.

From the Richmond News Leader.
 One most noteworthy and significant feature of the St. Louis convention was the prominence with which the south showed up in the matter of being accorded honors influencing the deliberations of the body and restraining the eastern and western wings of the party from going to further lengths in radicalism and for the sake of expediency. This section reaped all the principal honors. save that of the presidential nomination. The vice presi- dential nominee is citizen of West Vir- einia, born in Maryland. The chairman of the committee on resolutions was a virginian. Mssissippian was temporary chairman, Missourian was permanent chairman, and Texan could have held the latter position had he not preferred to take leading part in debate in defense of the majority report on platform.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-15
NATIONAL POLITICS.
POpuIist Purpose.

From the Nashville Banner.
 The populists are pouting because a great number of democrats whom they were expecting to take into their ranks for the coming campaign are falling into line to support Parker and Davis Never theless. the populist leaders say they are to have conference with disaffected democrats who will act with the peoples party These leaders are cautious, how ever, to give no names, and it is not un- likely that they have no democratic names of importance with which to con jure up any considerable nominal demo- cratic following. It remains to be seen to what extent there will be any defec- tion from the democratic line. It is prob able that those democrats who are not entirely pleased with the course of the St. Louis convention will for the most part fall into the party line to help de- feat Roosevelt.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-07-15
An Heroic Candidate.

From the Philadelphia Public Ledger.
 If the dramatic incident Of Judge Par ker's telegram to the St. Louis conven- ton had been prearranged it could not have been made more effective. It has brought the candidate distinctly before the country as a man of clear convic- ton. prompt action and heroci courage. and it has enabled the convention to re- deem it's failure to declare itself upon the monetary standard by practically ac- cepting his declaration as its own. His candidacy, weakened by the omission of acceptance of the gold standard in the platform, Is thus made actually stronger than though the rejected plank had been adopted at the first.