davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-10
Waces of Farm Labor.

The department of agriculture pub fishes the results of twelve statistical investigations relative to the wages maid In the various states and terri tories to farm labor. Georgia had in the census year more farm laborers than Texas or even Illinois. She out ranked all the other states. In Ala hama there were in the census year 98.094 male, and 64,011 female, farm laborers.
 In 1902 the farm laborers of this state were paid $139S month without board. The states that paid less were Georgia, $13.36, and North Carolina, s13.79. All the rest paid higher wages, ranging from SHAT in Mississippi to s46. .25 in Nevada. The farm laborer in New England and the middle states now receives about $30 month with out board. In the middle west such laborers receive about $25 a month without board. In the Rocky Mountain and Pacific coast states $40 is nearer the average price paid to farm laborers without board.
 In this state in 1902 white farm labor was paid $14.15 month without hoard. while negro farm labor was paid but $12.70. Similar differences were reported from the other cotton states. 5The average term of employment in all the states is six and half months. T,ay farm labor ranges from s1.32 in New Jersey to b3 cents in South Car
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-10
TINED BRACE TALKS ABOUT THE RUSSIAN ] JAPANESE SITUATION IN THE FAR EAST

port and base of supplies-vladivostok- December to April; and in consequence Russia can. at the present time, only op- crate from Port Arthur. the Chinese port which 1t acquired several years ago by treaty with China
 The Japs believe that they are stronger Japs have never been tested in modern naval warfare except in their combat with the Chinese navy in the fall of 1894 AL though China had some modern vessels and some Americans among their officers, the Chinese admiral was totally incompe- tent, and the Japs succeeded in destroying the entire Chinese fleet, including two modern battleships, without the loss of a single ship.
 Of course in fighting the modern ships of Russia, under command of thoroughly trained naval officers, the Japs will find it very different from fighting the Chinese navy. But the Japs have been trained in the best naval schools of the world. Their officers are intelligent and brave. Indeed, there are no braver people on the face of the earth than the Japs Each one of them believes that the highest achieve ment to be reached is to meet death in battle. They do not know the meaning of the word surrender. Thus if war is 6e- clared. the world will have ample op portunity to judge of the effectiveness and worth of the modern type of naval ves- sells.
 It is my opinion that, in the event of war the Japanese will be successful on sea, and successful likewise on land in holding back Russia's aggressions.
 JudgingAf the reports, Russia does not desire war with Japan. Yet Russia does desire to continue pressing further south with her possessions and occupying additional ports and territory to that which she now dominates. Japan is not only determined to stop her aggressions, but to insist upon equal rights with Rus sia in Chinese and Korean territory which Russia now controls. Japan Is prepared to fight and fight at once for these privileges.
 The higher type of the Russian, such as the army and naval officers, and the dip lomats, are among the very best educated and most intelligent people in the world. The Russian diplomat is said to have no superior. But the masses of the people are, as a rule, ignorant. Russia has no general public system of education. The Russian soldier however, under trained officers, has the reputation of being splendid fighter.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-10
An Early Convention.

The democratic. national executive committee is to meet on Tuesday next to name the day and place for the meeting of the democratic national convention, and sentiment in the party seems to be favorable to an early day for its assembling, and for an out spoken platform, and long and az gressive campaign. An early conven- ton to be held in Chicago seems prob able.
 But too early an convention is un- necessary. The republicans are to hold a convention on June 21, and if the democrats meet in the first week of June all demands for an early conven- tion will be reasonably met and sat isfied. A campaign extending from the first week of June to the first week in
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-10

NN AR between Russia and Japan
 NHV is imminent. For ten or fifteen
 w years past Russia has been making inroads Into the territory of the far east. The Russians have practically overrun Manchuria and extending their holdings. acquired by force, down into Chinese territory, until they are now in practical possession of Port Arthur and the entire peninsula extending down from Manchuria to the Yellow sea.
 Russia has also made deep inroads into Korea, and has attempted to deprive Japan of all the territory and trade de- rived from her victory over China in the war of 1894-95.
 It will be remembered that one of the concessions China agreed to make Japan when sueing for peace in the spring of 1895, was the cession of the southern DOT tion of the Liaotung Peninsula, including Port Arthur. At this point in the peace negotiations conducted at Shimonesaki, Russia interfered and declined to allow China to cede either this territory, or allow Japanese occupation of Port Ar thur. Russia went so far as to threaten a declaration of war against Japan in event the latter insisted upon the acquire ment of Port Arthur. Japan at that time weakened by the expenditures in- cured in the war with China, was conn pelled to abandon this demand. In- deed Russia at that time prevented Japan from acquiring any territory or of a.d would only permit her to take the island of Formosa, east of Hong Kong and just north of the Philippine Islands. Japan, of course, protested vigorously against Russian interference, and much hostile feeling. at that time, was engen- dered in Japan against Russia. Japan was, however, not in position to back up her demands and fight Russia. Real izing that Russia was determined upon acquiring all of Manchuria, part of Korea, and that portion of China proper northeast of Pekin, Japan began making preparations for the war which its people felt must come in time. In consequence, the Japanese government has been econ omically administered at home, and all of It's spare funds in the past eight years has been spent in the acquiremen. of a strong navy and the building up and training of great army In this. the little country has been successful It has a navy at the present time superior in equipment to that which Russia has or can amass in the eastern seas. It likewise has an army equal to that of Russia in the far east.
 
 Japan is anxious to begin war at once because of the fact that Russias main
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-10
Boys' choirs.

"I read in a magazine recently an arti- cle on boys choirs." said a music lover, and choirs of several of the famous churches of New York were pointed out as examples of fine training. The finest boys choir in this country, taken all in all, seems to be that heard at the Paul. ist church in New York. There is proba- bly nothing of the kind in Europe that surpasses 1t.
 "The trouble with boys choirs Is, as a rule. they do not practice every day. One or two rehearsals 0 week will not bring good results. The celebrated boys choir of St. Paurs cathedral. London rehearses daily, but in the Episcopal churches of the United States where boys are used the choristers do not sing together oftener than twice a week.
 "One of the finest altar choirs outside of New York that l have heard is right here in Birmingham at St. Paurs church. This choir numbers about thirty-four boys. In attack. intonation and rhythm they reveal uncommon aptitude for music and many of them will doubtless turn out to be excellent musicians. With a strong mixed choir in the organ gallery and this boys choir at the altar. the music at St. Paurs is wonderfully at- tractive"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-10

cated and more cultured people than the Russians. For many years a system of public education has prevailed in Japan. It Is compulsory. Every Japanese one meets under the age of 90 is able to read and write. Even the jinricksha man who pulls you about in his little two-wheeled carriage, carries his newspaper with him, and when waiting, sits on the shafts of his vehicle and reads. The Japanese sol- dier is thoroughly trained and is taught to believe that the greatest glory extant is to be killed in battle. Therefore. he invariably fights to the bitter end.
 The Japanese army is said to be one of the best trained and equipped in the world. Colonel De Wogack of the Rus sian army, who was afterwards promot- ed to general, and was in command of the allied forces opposing the recent up- rising of the boxers in Pekin. was in Japan and accompanied the Japanese army as an observer during the war with China in 1Se+95. Upon his return to To- kohoma in the spring of 1895 he told me that he had never seen better trained army. better fighters or soldiers who could stand more hardships than the Japanese. The same opinions were ex- pressed to me by Lieutenant OBrien of the United States army, and Colonel Tay- Tor of the British army, both of whom accompanied the Japanese forces in the several battles with the Chinese. They were present at the Port Arthur fight; at Tienchwangtai and all the other contests of thatswar.
 Of course victories over the Chinese forces amount to but little, but the Japa- nese forces were in the field six or seven months and thoroughly demonstrated their training and ability.
 Nearly all the foreign nations side with Japan in the prospective war. because of the fact that Russia is attempting to ac- quire territory and shut out the trade of other nations In that territory Japan, on the other hand in the territory she has acquired has thrown it open to the trade of all other nations, as Japan itself In a large measure, has been thrown open to other countries. Again, the Jap anese are an attractive people, who at least. on the surface, are generous in their views and progressive in their acts.
 I cannot but believe that Russia will prevent a declaration of war If she can do so with grace, so to speak: because it is almost certain that Russia is not in position at the present time to make war on Japan and cannot hope for success in fighting at point nearly five thousarI miles from her central government and base of supplies.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-10

If will be seen that no banks of the s5. 900 900 class are found in the south except at New Orleans and Birmins- ham. It may be heartless in The Age Herald to spread this piece of intelli- gence in a bald, bold manner pefore Atlanta, Nashville and Memphis. but those three cities of small banks must call Bradstreets to account, Tor the Age-Herald does but reproduce the figures of that excellent business paper
 New York, Chicago, St. Louis, Kan sas City, Boston. Philadelphia, Pitts burg. Albany, Milwaukee and Buffalo, each have banks that have gross de- posits exceeding $1O,OOo,OoO, but no such bank exists in the south Perhaps the banks of Atlanta, Nashville and Memphis are preparing to leap into the $lO 100000 class, thus vaulting over the puny institutions of New Orleans and Birmingham
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-10
School of Mines.

"It seems to me that 1t would be a good move on the part of the Commercial club to take up the matter of establish ing in Birmingham a school of mines and mineralogy," said a practical miner alogist. "An institution of this kind is soon to be opened under the auspices of the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce. and over twenty-five pupils have already been enrolled. Two classes are to be held each week for fifteen weeks. the course of study including a short lec- ture with experiments, practical tests by the class. and general discussion. Lee lures have been arranged on Limestone, Hydraulic Lime and Cement. Lead an6 Its Ores. Zinc Ores, Manganese Ores, Clays, Fire Bricks and Pottery, iron Ores, Hydrated or Brown Ores, Coal, Gold and Geology of the Coal of the District.
 'I think if such a school were estab- lished in Birmingham. many students would be enrolled and it would prove a success from the start
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-10
November will afford ali the politics the people will banker for,

November will afford ali the politics the people will banker for,
 Committeeman Clayton will doubt. less see that the convention Is not held before the Alabama delegates can reach the convention hall. The Ala bama state convention is to be held May 25, and by June 1, which is a Wednesday, our delegates could be on the spot. For that matter they could attend a convention called to order on the last day of May
 It seems plain that Alabama will send an nninstructed delegation. A man who can defeat Theodore Roose- welt Is the man all Alabama democrats are looking for, and 1t begins to look as if the democrats from other states will go to the convention in a like frame of mind Never was a judicial and judicious frame of mind more needed in a national convention, and unless the signs in the party are mis- leading the next democlftic national convention will be filled with men who will think first of their country an1 therefore of the success of their party disregarding individual preferences and personal bias.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-10
Fire Precautions in Theatres.

The Chicago Tribune thus sums up what is wanted in modern theatres:
 Behind the proscenium arch.
 Fire pparatus-standppes, hose, buck cts, water.
 Men competent to use them
 Uncomfortable scenery
 No loose or flying flaps
 A steel fireproof curtain in working or der--to be lowered once during each per. formance- A A sprinkler system above the stage
 An automatic ventilator at least six feet square
 Protected lights
 Frequent inspections.
 In the auditorium: $ Straight aisles leading to exits
 Plenty of them-free from Instructions of any kind
 Broad and straight stairways-
 Sufficient space between seats
 Wide fire escapes, convenient of access Independent exits from every gallery Heading to streets or alleys on two or more sides
 Opening of these exits after every per s1ormance-- # All exits to be controlled and opened by f1evers operating from a central source, but also to be opened separately by hand when desired
 Independent lights. to be turned on au- tomatically when exits are opened
 No admttance after all seats have been sold.
 Freouent fire drills by employees in front of and behind curtain
 A trained. city fireman on the stage at every performance.
 These wants are the outcome of widespread and unsparring discussion of the subject in the light of dis aster that Chicago will never forget a disaster even greater than the Great Fire itself. a 56.s gs5s
 After all, Andrew Carnegie Is right when he says the true way to prevent panics in theatres Is to prevent fires lon the stage. There have been panics bred in the auditorium and even from an adjoining building, but nine out of every ten panics spring from fires on the stage.
 Steel drop curtains would help in case of fire on the stage, but it is not well to depend on such curtains alone. lit is best to render scenery incombus- ltihIa This can he readily done in various ways, none of which are ex- pensive. Scenery can be chemically treated so that 1t will not present blaze, although 1t may shoulder when exposed to intense heat, and this is {. what should be done, beause nothing 5 should be left undone that will pre- vent panics in theatre, which are, as MT. Carnegie says, the cause of great disasters.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-10
About Eeksone.


 George T. Stevenson of Rochester Is at the Hillman.
 c. N Avery. popular travelling man of Albany, Ga. is at the Florence James B. Jones and Cecil A. Beasley of Fayette, are at the Metropolitan. M M. odess of Blocton is registered at the Morris
 l.. s. Taylor and s. A. Travers of New York, are at the St. Nicholas. l.. A. Hobart, the well known manager of Pauls cafe. left last night for two weeks visit to Hot Springs, Ark. J. S. Shannon of Carbon Hill, Is stopping at the Metropolitan.
 J. W. Reckard of Johns is at the St. Nicholas.
 George W. Feagn. chief engineer of the Louisville and Nashville railroad at Brookside. is at the Morris.
 H. o. Johnson of Anniston is spending Sunday at the Hilman.
 R. F. Morgan of St. Louis is at the Hillman.
 J. E. Oliver of St. Louis is stopping at the Metropolitan.
 w. E. Howard of Memphis was a late arrival of the Morris last night. Charles R. Cox of Atlanta is at the Hillman.
 The Rev. Dr. B. D. Gray of Atlanta. sec retary of the home mission board of the Southern Baptist convention, arrived in the city last night. and is the guest Of P. C. Ratlff. Dr. Gray will preach to the congregation of the First Baptist church this morning at the Il o'clock service in the Sunday school room of the new church.
 J. B. Binion, a prominent citizen of Mississippi, is in the city.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-10
ollna. In Alabama ss cents day with

olina. In Alabama 6s cents day with out board was paid In 1902.
 Domestic labor on farms ranged from s5.71 with board, In Alabama, to s24.23 in CaIifornla-all for negro labor, In Virginia but s4.ee month was paid in 1902 to negro domestic labor on farms, the lowest price paid in the country In that year, The av- craze price paid in the country to negro domestic labor on the farms was 36.17. as against s932 a month paid to white domestics. Domestic labor on farms in the east and middle west is paid about s10 month, while such labor In the far west Is worth from s15 to s20 month.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-10
SPENCER AS A MAN OF BUSINESS.

London letter In Washington Post.
 So little has been written about the late Herbert Spencer as a man of busi- ness that 1t is not generally known how he called in his philosophy to aid him in making money out of books. All his works were published on the commits sion system MT. Spencer's publisher talk ing 10 per cent only of the proceeds, the balance going to the author. Furthermore, the writer stereotyped his books at the outset. 30 as time passed he had to print new editions only as they were needed, and so profited to an unsual extent on his comparatively small sales.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-10
LATEST PERIODICALS
lnconstancy.

From Town Topics Last year I basked in Jennie's smiles.
 And Jennie-saints defend her.- Renouncing arts and wilful wiles,
 Was eyer kind and tender; She spared no fond caress, no kiss,
 Yet. devil take my follyi-- I turned from her and proffered bliss,
 To sigh for dainty Molly. This year I live in Molly's eyes.
 And Molly, sweet and twenty, With mirth for mirth and sigh for sighs
 Has brought me joys a-plenty: So true. so fond. I scarcely can
 Expound her virtues many. Inconstancy, thy name is man!
 Tonight I sigh for Jennie.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-10
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New York Press.
 Optimism is a way to have fun In your imagination.
 Where woman weighs is in the fun niest kind of places.
 A man has his sons to be proud of; his daughters to love.
 There are no entirely good men; no entirely bad women.
 Girls don't suffer with cold feet like men because there isn't so much of them to freeze
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-10
Mr. Jemlson Talks of Business.

"I find that the danger of war between Russia and Japan has not disturbed busi- ness in financial circles" said President Robert Jemison of the Birmingham Rail- way, Light and Power company, who re- turned from New York yesterday. "Of course everything is quiet just now" he continued, but business men do not att tribute this to any particular cause. Everything of a disturbing nature has it's effect, but the lull in trade is not traced to any of the things which are now inter- esting the public. Following precedent business men all over the country are proceeding cautiously in this presidential campaign year. After the election is over I look for great prosperity"
 When asked what effect the sensational fluctuations in the cotton market had had in Wall street affairs generally. MT. Jemi- son said that he had noticed no change Everybody seems to think the violent changes in the prices of cotton are the result of speculation and gambling" said MT, Jemison, and nobody is particularly hurt except the cotton manufacturers. The manufacturers are very much per turbed over the situation and are anxious to put stop in some way, to so much gambling in cotton. Yet much of the trouble is due to a short crop. I am told that some of the cotton spinners will have to suspend business under the present prices as the mills would be run at dead loss
 MT. Jemison left Birmingham with the intention of going to Boston, but founc It is said Mir Jemson is contemplating some big improvements in the street car system here, but as yet he declines to discuss the subject as it might interfere with the plans.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-10

coffee and a roll. The waiter gave him a check for $4600. Good Lordi spluttered the naval officer, in the best Spanish he knew, what do you mean by this? More than four thousand dollars for cup of coffee It's an outrage. l can't pay 1t and I wont,'
 ''The proprietor came around and suave- ly explained that that price was in Colom- bian paper currency for which the ratio that morning was s23,000 to s1 in gold.
 "The bill was 20 cents in American money
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-10

was threatened at a Confederate reunion at Columbia, Mo, the other day, over resolution offered by some rash and finicky person that Dixie" be rewritten and worded in more dignifed language. We are told that the motion was greet ed with "a yell of disapproval," and that when it was put only one man of the 2000 present voted aye" We do not wonder at 1t. If we had been there the yell would have had something added to It. 'Yan- kee Deodle'' is not particularly dignified, but let any one spring a resolution on almost any American audience to have that famous ditty recast in any other form and he will be likely to hear some thing worse than yell One of the vet erans at Columbia put 1t none too strong when he said: You might as well talk about altering the Lords Prayer"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-10

The vindication of Gen. James Long streets name and military career comes too late to be personal com fort to himself, but not too late to be a personal comfort to his friends.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-10

Let the mining lands of this state be voted to the public schools. MT. Burnett has advanced the bill by fav- orable report from the public lands committee.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-10
e)1,uea>

ther brought out on the same occasion that very large sections of the Pan American railroad were already in exis- tence, needing only series of missing links of relatively short extent, to com plete the chain. H
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-10

MT. Nelsons plan of getting twenty five members of the Commercial club who will in turn get twenty-five new manufacturing plants is concentration and conservation of energy in right spots. Let it be done.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-10

Theatre audiences In panic have been compared to flock of sheep, but such comparison is unjust to the sheep, for the latter will follow a bell Wether.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-10

Anyone who will put up sufficient margin can guess in the market which way cotton will jump next. It's jumps this season constitute new record.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-10

The citizens of Panama are Pana- mans, not Panamaniacs This is the official pronunciation, and it Is not safe to cross a strenuous administration.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-01-10
Rise of the $5,Ooo'O0O Bank.

Bradstreet's calls attention to the rapid increase in the number of banks holding $5,0OO,00O or over of gross de- posits. In 1897 there were but 79 such bnks, now there are 142. The follow ing tables discloses the number and locations of such banks in the two