davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-27
Iron and Steele.

The iron and steel industry Is very
prosperous. There are today seven
teen blast furnaces in course of cree
ton, two of which are in this district
More will be built here and elsewhere,
for the consumption of this country is
nearly twenty million tons year.
This district will also share in the
prosperity that attends the manufac-
ture of steel rails. The rail pool has
made $28 per ton the price throughout
the coming year, and orders are freely.
coming in based on that price. The
output of this district is said to be
fully sold. The entire output of the
country in 1905 is estimated at three
million tons, and the share of this dis.
trict should be 100000 tons, for we
make about ten per cent of the pig
iron produced in this country. We
will soon make ten per cent of its
rails.
The Age-Herald has no desire or
intention to defend Dingleyism, but
while the duty Of eight dollars ton
on rails is maintained it is the right of
this district to get its share of the
loot, and this is what our producers
will proceed to do.
The entire iron and steel industry
goes into the new year in sound con-
dition. It's outlook is bright and
promising. 1t is fully sharing the gen.
eral prosperity of the country based
on successive great crops. More rails
will be laid this year, more cars built
and more locomotives called for. What
is seen in the railway world can be
seen in other departments of indus
try and the country will consume next
year all the iron and steel it can make.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-27
Vulcan In the Sky.

In all that has been said of Vulcan,
there has been no allusion TO the not in
conspicuous part he has played In the
speculation aud researches of astronom-
ers.
Vulcans connection with the plane
tary system is yet probematical but
nevertheless interesting. In 1873 Professors
Swift and Watson announced that they
had discovered a planet between Ner-
curry and the sun. This planet they called
Vulcan Since that time, the body II 1t
really exists, has eluded detection AS
tronomers, who are from Missouri as all
true scientists are, have refused to accept
the claims of vulcan's discoveries, al
though admitting the possibility that such
D planet may exist. Vulcan of course, in
the rature of things must keep very near
the sun, thus making observation very
difficult. Whether he exists or not will
lie determined in the year 1906 when the
solar eclipse takes place.
Photography viii be called into play
during the suns observation and Vulcan s
image if there be any Vulcan will be
transferred to the plate. Advances In as
Economical photography have been so
great in recent years that it is predicted
with certainty that the existence or nom
existence OF Vulcan will be determined
next summs;. AS Vulcan seems to be very
much in thc public eye, the doctrine of
probabilities would incline one to the be-
lief that Vultan will be discovered. Since
birmingham took up Vulcan. things seem
to be coming the old mans way.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-27

to be as cheap to take freight BY rail
from California to ..4e Atlantic as to
convey farm produce over dirt roads to
Ralsish, n. G., from farms but Is miles
away. Mafyianu farmer reports that
Ia the seaseA from February to April
he eannet market hts wheat, even If Ro-
tive demand should suddenly carry It up
to 81 q bushel, Another lost his whole
aorn crop because bad roads prevented
his hauling 1t to a proper place Of sto-
rHge.
Naturally, farms made inaccessible by
bad roads are worth less than those
which enjoy good transportation facili-
ties. Or, to put It differently, 5000 roads
enhance tho value Of farms, adding me-
terially to the price for which they will
sell. Good roads, In effect, put money
Into the farmers pocket, whether he RS
tains his farm or sells It. What he pays in
road taa--if the road Is improved by q
trained angineer--ls returned to him a
dozen times over In the increased selling
value of his property, to say nothing of
the decreased cost of getting his hauling
donep
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-27
RepubIicanism in Colorado.

The party that counted out Samuel
]. T1lden and installed R. B. Hayes,
can be trusted at the dictation of the
trusts to attempt to count out Cover
nor-elect Alvah Adams in Colorado.
What they did in the country they can
and will attempt in single state.
On the face of the returns Governor
Adams has plurality of about 1000,
and his plurality is fully 10000 even
after the courts have thrown out five
Denver precincts. There are no more
precincts that the courts, no matter
how willing or subservient, can be in
duced to throw out. The republicans,
therefore, propose to go before the
legislature, which meets on Wednes
day of next week, when they will ask
that 120 democratic precincts be
thrown out.
1t is work of such high-handed ma
ture that is undermining popular gov
eminent, and so long as the people
tamely submit to usurpation of that
scrt it will go on. 1t will go on until
elections are farce, and the liberties
of the people are lost.
Governor Peabodys attempt to hold
hold office despite the fact that Alvah
Adams polled ten thousand more votes
is the most audacious attempt to null
lily the public will in a state that has
ever been attempted. 1t is outranked
only by the crime of 1876.
The conspiracy is said to be deep
rooted, and the fight that is coming on
in Colorado is one between the big
mine owners on the one side and the
mass of the people on the other. The
republican party naturally drifts to
and becomes an instrument in the
hands of the former.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-27

The question cannot be taken up until
the hftysninth congress meets, and n
full year will elapse before serious
thought upon the Garfield proposition
will be heard In congress. In the
meanwhile the academic side Of It Is
open to all.
One thing Is eertain-ne eenstitu-
tienai amendment Is needed Congress
can regulate" Interstate commerce.
No enc disputes that proposition. and
hll there is to consider relates to the
wisdom of the proposition. The size
Of the proposition may stagger US, but
not its constitutionallty.
Thus far Mr.. Garfield and the Gar
feldians have not presented any details.
Details are all essential, and they are
not forthcoming. What, In other words,
Is to be regulatedr The output of
water Is suggested, and so has the lack
Of publicity, and the relation between
raw material and finished products,
and a hundred other things, but thus
far we are offered but the most general
plan. 1t is plain at least that we are
far from working plan.
A measure that Is neither too dras-
ito nor too full of loopholes would no
doubt be acceptable, but all will have
to see such a bill before they will be-
lieve it can be drawn. The corpora
lions may prefer federal control to the
present anarchistic state system,
which is one thing In one state and
another In the next state, but until a
practicable working plan of federal
supervision has been devised most
men will be apt to hold themselves in
an attitude Of indecision and perhaps
disbelief.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-27
Conservation in Russia.

A telegram of yesterday announces
the arrival In New York of ship well
loaded with Russian immigrants who
had fled from CONSUMPTION at home.
These men went through the line of
guards on the German frontier as best
tLey could. and they were aided by q
relief committee in securing passage
across the sea.
The mobilization of a vast Russian
army is proceeding slowly, all reports
agree to that fact. In some districts,
notably in Poland and in the districts
inhabited in good part by Jews, tho
number that do not report for duty
goes as high as ninety per cent. In
all districts there is a lack of enthusi-
asm. The war meets with no response
In the breasts of the Russian peasants,
and it is the peasant who becomes &
target of the Japanese in the Russian
armies of the Far East.
When men have to be driven into
the army they will not be apt to fight
very we'll The opposite is seen in
Japan, where all are eager to go to
the front, and once at the front they
are ready to die for their country. The
differing nature of the notifications in
the two countries goes far perhaps to-
ward accounting for the unbroken
tide of Japanese victories.
The recent declaration of the car
against the programme for representa-
tive government will not make the
Russians reader to fight for the grand
dukes and the rest of the bureaucracy.
The spirit of discomfort is rising in
that country, and another year of de-
feats on land and sea would almost
surely bring affairs in Russia to cri-
sis. Autocracy and bureaucracy are
fighting against a national parliament
and general programme of reform.
Many believe there will yet be in Rus
STA life-and-death struggle between
the people and their oppressors.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-27
A CONVICT CAVALIER.
BY PAUL COOK.

smile seemed indeed like a ray of sum
shine upon that company. and as her
notes, clear and sweet, filled the hall
every man hung upon the words of the
song with tense face, while here and
there a tear coursed down a hardened
cheek. She finished and they applauded
loudly. The demonstration seemed strange
in chapel, but the convicts were not re-
proved.
The service was now ended. The con-
Wet guards began to assemble the men
in line for the march back to their bar
racks and Christmas day for them was
already a thing of the past
Meanwhile a young woman, who had
taken a seat close to the first row of
white convicts, rose to go. Near her sat
young man with a keen, intelligent face,
black flashing eyes, black hair that in
tensified the prison pallor of his face, and
determined mouth. In a moment the
convict was at her side. One could sec
after a glance at his face that he was no
ordinary person. and the guards would
tell you that he is the most dangerous
man in prison, absolutely without fear
anu lSauor VI u desperate attempt TO eS-
cape that sent his name ringing over the
country. =
With the grace and ease of cavilier
the convict bent over the girl in earn
est conversation. Their heads were close
together so that the guards and his fell
low convicts would not overhear the prec-
ious words. AS they talked tears gath
cred in his eyes. but he brushed them
away instantly, although the girl was not
so successful in concealing her emo
ton.
1t was but moment they could thus
snatch from time, but a moment that
meant years and glided past with the
rapidity Of thought. When the strident
voice of guard called to them both
started, as if reused from a world far
different from the prison in which they
stood together. The girl turned to go. As
she did so the convict took her cloak
from her hands and tenderly placed it
about her shoulders with the uncon-
scious grace of a fine gentleman at the
opera and the chivalry Of the ole south.
1t was like a scene in a play but it
was not acting. There was nothing af-
fected in the bearing Of the convict cav
alier
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-27
High Glass of Music.

THE organ grinders union of Philadel-
phia has decided to get in line and adj
vance the cause OF good music so far
as the scope of their business will admit
remarked a musician.
1.-THE street music unionists will ell
inmate rag-time. They have blacklisted
Annie Rooney Don't Send My Boy TO
Prison. After the Ball Maggie Murphy s
Home The Bowery, Sidewalks of New
York, The Old Oaken Bucket, The Band
Played On, ON the Banks OF the Wa
BASH The Blue and the Gray and other
frivolous and sentimental ditties which
have afflicted the ears of the public for
many years.
In the place of midiocre tunes will
come forth from the barrel organs, fug-
ues, symphonies, tone poems and suites"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-27
THE BUGLE SONG.

From Tennysons 1.-The Princess"
The splendor falls on castle walls
And snowy submits old in story;
The long light breaks across the lakes
And the wild cataract leaps in glory,
Blow, bugle. blow, set the wild echoes
flying,
Blow. bugle; answer, echoes. dying dy-
ing, dying.
o bark, o hearl how thin and clear,
And thinner, clearer, farther going'
o sweet and far from cliff and scar
The horns of elfland family blowing.
Blow, let us hear the purple glens reply
ing:
Blow, bugle; answer, echoes, dying dy-
ing, dying.
o love, they die in yon rich sky,
They faint on hill or fiead or river;
Our echoes roll from soul t. soul,
And grow forever and forever.
Blow, bugle, blow. set and wild echoea
flying,
And answer, echoes, answer, dying az
ing, dying.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-27
Good and Bad Koada.

A. P. Brighams article on Good Roads
in the United States" in which the handi-
cap of the farmers, due to bad roads
is discussed, has given a fresh impetus
to the matter of highways Mr.. Brigham
in considering road conditions In Mary
land, estimates that poor roads in that
state causes a loss of 100000 a year
Going into details Mr.. Brigham says.
ION dirt roads the cost OF transporting
a ton a mile is 20 cents, while on rail-
ways it is three-fourths OF a cent or
less. By water the rate varies from
one-fourth to one-twelfth of a cent The
ocean rate is one-fiI,a the canal rate,
one-ffteenth of the railway rate and one
five-hundredth of the country road rate.
Railway rates improve but dirt road rates
never do. In 1860, for example, the cost
per ton-Inile on the New York Central
railway was "a cents, while in 1898 the
cost was but one-seventh of a cent show
ing a large reduction, but the preliminary
haul to the railway station over a dirt
road costs as much as ever. By making
may reduce the cost per ton-mile of haul
ing freight from % cents to cents. thus
saving the farmer II cents per mile.
In New Jersey it is found that on
improved roads team hauls four or five
tens, against one ton on an unimproved
read. At 50 a day for man and team
this means saving of from 50 to s12
for 10-mile haul. Good roads justify
long distance hauling by teams. which is
worth while in the case of perishable
produce and furniture likely TO be in
jured by the delays and rough handling
of the railways. In Belgium wagons carry
freight 60 and 20 miles. In this country
the roads are generally such as to restrict
the market for many articles. 1t IL said
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-27
ALA. CONSOLIDATED COAL & IRON
New York Interests Believed to Con
troll 1t.

From the Wall Street Journal.
Baltimore-New York capitalists whose
identity is not yet disclosed are believed
to have secured control of the Alabama
Consolidated Coal and Iron company A
deal has Just been concluded by these in
terests for the purchase Of 5000 shares of
the common stock of the Alabama COM
pany, owned by the International Trust
company of Baltimore. The trust COM
pany had previously sold $500 shares in
the Baltimore market. its original hold
ing having been $500 shares out of total
of 10000 shares. II Is thought that the
New York interests had been buying the
stocks In the open market before making
the purchase Of the block of stock from
the International Trust company. In this
latter transaction special efforts were
made to conceal the identity of the
principals The common stock of the
Alabama company has advanced from
sic to 500 a share in four months.
The company owns $1,000 acres of ore.
coal and limestone lands in the Rirming
ham district and thus controls all sup
plies entering into It's product. 1t has
three furnaces with total capacity of
10000 tons of iron a year. Its coal
mines have an annual capcity of 600. 900
tons and the company 765 coke ovens.
One of the company's furnaces is new
one built out of its earnings. 1t has an
authorized bond issue of $2,25O,O00. OF
this $1,250,000 was used to retire a lfNJ
amount of per Gent preferred stock;
$25J.0OO sold for cash; 100000 set aside to
take care of a previous bond issue and
$4,000 retained in the treasury. The pre-
ferred stock Outstanding is sl,25oo00 and
the common stock is 50, 800, 900. The COM
pany is a combination of furnace proper
ties in the Birmingham district that were
promoted by John L. Williams & Sons of
Richmond, and ]. William Middendorf
& Co. of Baltimore. 1t was famed by the
International Trust company, which has
made handsome profit out of the trans
action. The preferred stock Of the COM
pany was sold for cash at par when orig
inally brought out ana the common stock
given as a bonus.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-27
IN HOTEL LoBBIEs


- - 81
In a general way It Is known that
Alabama has Unparalleled resources, but
1t is doubtful ii the full import OF her
advantages Ii thoroughly understood
even at hothe1' remarke4 a travelling man
at the Hillman this morning,
II saw In the Scientific American Of
this week short article that was ele-
quent with its prophecy Of AlRbama's
industrial supremacy, IN Huhstahes 1t
said that Pennsylvania. which ranks
FIRST hs an Iron manufacturing state
only mined two per cent Of the
ore used and Ohio which is the second
Iron producer mines less than one per
cent The ore says the Scientific Ameri-
can, Is universally brought to the fuel
With the exception Of Alabama, Alabama
In the only state where the ore and fuel
are found together.
This statement Is SO impressive that
It should be repeated again and again
by the people of your state an especial
" by the people of Birmingham, the
heart Of the mineral region. In this oon-
neotlon, It is not undressing to call
attention to the influence of iron upon the
prosperity Of the country. I have noticed
that hard times have never come when
the iron market was In healthy condl-
tion. Given a good demand for iron and
the country Is inevitably prosperous. The
conclusion is Irresistible, therefore, that
this section, which possesses unparalleled
ADVANTAGES for "a Irtr Of "a farndfI1t
that has so much to do with the pros
perity of the country, is destined to be
the richest In the land"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-27
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR,

From the New York Press.
Some men like made-over dishes and
widows.
It's awful nice the way a girl wears
a veil that makes her lips look so moist
and kissable.
Nowadays people are so afraid Of being
hard on children that they give them not
only caster oil, but Sunday school lessons
In capsules.
When a woman can't find anything else
to worry about she can do 1t about
whether the baby is going to wear side
burn whiskers when he grows up.
1t makes a man a good deal of a cynic
tc dream he is a bachelor at a poker
party in the club and then wake UP and
find 1t is the day he has to go ana buy
his Christmas presents for the family.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-27
Control of Interstate Corporations.

The power to regulate" interstate
and foreign commerce seems to rest
in congress, but when Commissioner
Garfield proposed that no corporation
should be permitted to engage in inter-
state commerce until it had procured
= federal license, there was dismay and
consternation among the faithful, but
It is already plain that Mr.. Roosevelt's
endorsement of the Garfield plan will
soon bring all republican, into line.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-27

AID indeed Is the fate of vulcan
m1 Birminghams iron man, whose
- fame was heraldad abroad over
the world as one Of the most unique ex-
hibits at the st. Louis fair and a worthy
representative Of the great Birmingham
district. Many did homage 70 his colossal
figure at the fair and marveled at his
huge proportions, while he, IN the pride
e his heart, little dreamed OF the un-
5appy times that were In store. Vulcan Is
Rtiii ct ths fair. Rather he Is still where
the fair was, for the big show is a thing
of the past and the iron inan, alone in
his rage and modification. stands like a
sentinel keeping watch over the ruins. He
Is no longer the observed OF all observers,
the monarch of a great exposition and
the pride of Alabamas heart He has be-
come a mockery, a target for the pert
rara graphers and an elephant on the
hands of the Birmingham Commercial
club. Unlucky day, when moulders cast
his legs of iron and his huge form took
shape and substancel Humiliating is the
fate Of the great blacksmith who is forced
to tarry whence all but him have fed,
because. forsooth, he is In debt and a
mortgage hangs over his head And with
no car fare he has little hope of ever see
ing home again. No one could well blame
him for succumbing TO en- attack of
nostalgia.
A New York man claims that he does
rot know his wife by sight. He has been
staying away from home too much and
should renew his acquaintance with his
spouse so that she won't be able to slip
up on him IN a place where he is not ex-
recting a member of the family.
Chicago has a Beau Brummel who holds
Up women in an admirable fashion. OF
course, 1t is more pleasant to be robbed in
than by a low bred thug but the results
are the game in the end. You are sep
arated from your money
The scheme of a Frenchman to start
a school of Sang froid" Is a move in
the right direction. While a great many
people have more than their share of
sang froij, there are also many others
who do not have enough of that admir-
able self-repression which never permits
a flicker of the eye-lash to reveal one
emotions. If persons who are now blessed
with the Fairbanks temperament could
be forced to divide with those other per-
sons who are upset by untoward cir
cumstances there would be a vast i'm
provement In the way the world wags.
But this is obviously impossible. The only
solution of the problem Is the sang froid
school, 1t will be a difficult task to teach
a timorous person to look down the bar
rel of a pistol held by a person of ques-
tionable character. but 1t can be done.
and there should be no trouble to OBJ
tain competent instructors for a con,
sheraton.
The gentleman who was recently kid
mapped by detectives In California, after
being chased for twenty years, no
doubt feels greatly relieved, inasmuch as
he will no longer be forced to sing the
refrain, They Are After Me-"
No wonder that Carmen Sylvia is re-
ported to be overworked. Uneasy lies the
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-27
THE "PLAIN TRUTH

From the Vicksburg Herald.
The plain truth is, each farmer will go
right along fitting his years work to his
own circumstances, wholly disregarding
advice in print He will plant all he has
mules and means to cultivate. and he
will take the chances on the outcome.
The weather and the bulls and bears will
do the rest.-Age Herald.
This is the plain TRUTH" and the whole
truth minus one more word in the last
line that begins with a 3D." too-the
'bulletin' to-wit. That advice of pater-
nalism into which the cotton growers
representatives were trapped, will do it's
full share OF the rest"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-12-27
About Persons.

Paul L. Morrow of Longview is at the
Morris.
W. L. Henderson Of Mobile is at the
Morris.
NJ. Andrews of Galloway is at the Nor
ris.
N. NJ. Davidson of Horse Creek is at the
Morris.
P. e. Richards Of Atlanta is register
ed at the Morris.
Louis Reese chief clerk Of the Alabama
hotel at Admission is at the Hillman.
]. w. Johnston of Selma is at the
Hillman.
A. G. HoIley of Chicago is at the Co
lonial.
C. H. Mathis of Blackwell S. c.. is at
the Colonial.
Eugene Samuel of Eartselle is at the
Metropolitan.
c. Il. IaWhorn or West Blocton is at the
Metropolitan.
G. B. Jones of West Point, Miss, is at
the st. Nicholas.
Nat H. johnson Of Savannah is at the
st. Nicholas.
z. R. Gray Of West Point Miss, is at
the st. Nicholas
Wilferd T. Neill, student of the North
Georgia Agriculture college at Dahlonega,
Is spending the holidays with his father,
Col William Neill, proprietor of the St.
Nicholas.
Jason M. Mclaughlin, VINO is travelling
salesman for a well-known shoe firm at
Knoxville, is spending the holidays with
his father. Tax Assessor ]. F, Nc
Laughin.