davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-12-19
THE vlvIsEcTloNIsTs.
From American Medicine.

From Amer1Cdn hltdiSiilc'
 Whenever the scientist" cannot ex- plain or cure diseased person, especi- ally if the scientist is neurologist or psychiatrist, he has recourse to "degen- eracy." This explains anything which the dogmatism and ignorance or the would be explainer cannot understand, as Tor instance, when Professor Mobius, Of Ger many, says that "the tendency to head ache is a part of the degeneration which Is inseparable from civilization But it fig not only the Mobiuses and Nordaus who fly to this new deity for relief in intel lectual and scientific troubles. The anti vivisectionists also worship him. An am tivivisection story called Trixy has just appeared written by Eizaoetn Stuart Phelps Ward. This lady and her publisher should have stuck to their last, or. to vary the metaphor, at least should have had a better science with which to sugar coat their pill. It is dangerous the story with a purpose-and neither art nor science will justify the clandestine marriage of the parents. Mrs Ward con- tends that "the book is a story" This is the portrait of the assistant chief of a large surgical institute. where investiga- tions in physiology were conducted;
 His face was brutal. He had the eyes of an inquisitor, lowering and shifty. To an ordinary citizen his was a face to be dreaded. It was the type that was common in the sixteenth century. It was broad. flat, and surmounted by rebel inspire dread, his hands gave the lay man nameless apprehension.
 Do modern investigators recognize this portrait as of themselves?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-12-19
Found Out Why stolid One Did Not
 nlirt.

Washington Special to the New York World.
 Happening to have a few moments to himself, Col John Billups. of Arizona, decided to take q street car ride and see the beauties of the capital He entered car, took seat and devoted himself to looking at the places of historical in- terest he passed Coming to an uninter- esting stretch, he looked around the car and discovered very beautiful woman sitting with an ill-favored man. Directly behind the woman sat another man, look Ing intently out of the window. Col Billups was attarcted by the beau tiful woman, just as any southern gen tleman is attracted by great picture or a fine horse. He looked at her in open mouthed admiration, paying the tribute the real southern gentleman pays to beautiful woman, wherever found.
 Suddenly, to the great amaIement of Col. Billups the lady turned and winked roguishiy at the man behind her. It was a full-sized. enticing wink The man looked out of the window without noticing Col Billups watched. Three times the lady turned and winked at the stolid citizen behind her, and three times the man refused to notice the advance
 This was too much for Col. Billups. He moved across to the seat wheee the ciod was sitting. They rode for square and the lady turned again and winked.
 sir" said Col Billups. to the oaf. 1t Is a beautiful winters day"
 Tt is' he replied, still gazing out of the window.
 Sir" said Col. Billups, have you remarked that extremely beautiful lady who sits in the seat directly in front Of us?''
 She's good looking enough" replied the stolld one, still looking out of the window
 Sir" said Col. John Billups q am a southern man and an admirer of all that is beautiful in nature. say to you that that lady Is fair game That man with her is not her husband"
 "I know It." replied the person who was gazing out of the window, q ann"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-12-19
Rural Mail Delivery.

At the end of the fiscal year there were 2S,073 rural routes in operation, and the postoffice department expect ed then to establish 2000 more routes before New Years day, and no doubt the task will be accomplished. Nearly six thousand postoffices have in that way been abolished, and the more the popular rural service is extended the more postoffices will be discontinued. The new service absorbs about twenty five millions a year of the public money, but it is money well expended in the opinion alike of the farmers and of the merchants who supply their wants. The rural service is winning friends in every part of the country. It is less appreciated in the south than elsewhere, but even in this sec. tion it is gaining ground.
 There should be fully a thousand routes in Alabama, instead of one. tlird that number. The trouble does not lie at the door of the Alabama delegation, for every one of them is ready to push to acceptance any reas-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-12-19
Appreciates Sunny South.

This Is one time I appreciate the Sunny South" said George r. Warren, a south erner who now travels out of New York 'Freuuently New Workers laugh at me when they come south in the winter and find snow and ice. When I left New York the streets were covered with ice and the country was under four inches of snow. It was showing hard when I left and the rivers were full of ice. The snow ex- tended all the way from New York to the northern edge of Georgia. When we reached the central portion of the state the bright sunshine came out and in a few miles the snow had disappeared. We saw no more snow after passing Toccoa, Ga, and in Alabama we really struck the Sunny South Among the passengers on the train there was great rejoicing. Not withstandins my living In New York I still love the Sunny South and am al- ways ready to iaud its greatness.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-12-19
Court ar Commission.

Senator Ellxins of West Virginia is a railroad investor, and he considers public sentiment so formidable that he has resurrected the Olney bill of 1891, providing for circuit courts of inter. state commerce-courts that will do no business outside of railroad rate cases. The judges are to hold their places for life, and the hope is they will take the vexed railroad-rate pro- blem out of politics.
 The President hesitates between the proposed courts and the proposition to give the interstate commission power to fix rates. He does not know which plan to favor. If the court plan be adopted there will be new court in each of the nine federal districts-a new circuit court to hear and decide appeals from the district courts, the object being to facilitate and hasten appeals in rate cases.
 It is a race between the Cooper Quarles bill to enlarge the powers of the interstate commerce commission, and the Elkins-Onley bill to set up nine courts to hear and try all railroad rate questions. At present the pre- ponderance of sentiment in congress is in favor of the Cooper-Quarles bill All feel, as does Senator Elkins, that some relief Is demanded by the coun- try, and the present congress is ex- pected to supply 1t. It is by far the warmest subject before congress. The Presidents present position is un. known. When he sent in his message two weeks ago he was in favor of giv- ing the interstate commission more power, but he is open to conviction evidently when such magnates as MT. Cassatt drop in to see him.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-12-19
Turbines Not a Failure.

The agents of the Allan line and the officials of the Cunard line both deny the current reports as to the failure of turbines in large ships. Cablegrams had stated that the trial trips of the Allan line steamer "Victorian" had been disappointing-tha all efforts to get from her contract speed had been futile. The agents of the Allan line deny these statements. They say that nothing has occurred in the trial trips of the Victorian to discredit turbines
 Nor has the construction of the tur. bine engines for the new Cunard line steamers been countermanded or sus pended. Nothing in short has occur. red anywhere that lowers the value of turbines for ocean liners.
 A suspension of public opinion seems to be desired. As things stand nothing has been determined, but a conclusion will soon be reached be- cause the Victorian is nearly ready to go into service as a liner. Practical tests of turbines in the Atlantic ferry will put at rest all the conflicting stories. Speed and endurance are re- quired in liner and the Victorian alone will soon demonstrate the pres ence CT absence of both, or either.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-12-19
CHEAPER FuRS.

From the New York World.
 One of the results of the Russian-Jap- anese war is that raw furs are cheaper this season. It will take some time for the drop in the price of raw furs to affect the retail sale of the manufactured product. but the public are already be- ginning to get the benefit in reductions mace in anticipation.
 Russia is one of the largest fur-buying countries. Canada and British North America send abroad their surplus of raw furs beyond what the American market will take. The United States ex- cept for some production in Alaska, im- ports almost all of the expensive furs which are used here. Smaller furs like muskrats, raccoons. skunks and o'pos- sums, are produced in large number r. the United States. and great part o1 them Is exported.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-12-19
Give Us Good Roads.

The corporations offer good prices fer the county convicts, but the board of revenue should at any rote reserve one hundred convicts for use on the county roads. As the county has nearly four hundred convicts on hand at all times the proposed reservation would still leave a goodly number to be turned over to the coal mining companies.
 To turn all over to the coal com panies will prove a generous disap- pointment to those who suffer serious ly from the countys poor roads. All residents of the county are damaged by them. Some do not know it, but all the intelligent men in the county feel the handicap, and deeply regret it. The board can, however, secure hand some earnings from the corporations and yet reserve convicts enough to improve the county roads materially. One hundred convicts sl1ilfully handled would in the course of year do work enough to create demand for more hereafter.
 Let us begin the era of good roads with one hundred convicts, and from their use the board can speedily see what future reservations should be.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-12-19
No Rivers and Harbors Bill.

"The south will receive no river and harbors Improvements during this ses- sion of congress" said Congressman Hen ry D. Clayton, of the Third district yes terday. Tn fact there will be no rivers and harbors bill"
 'eThe programme for the house." contin- ued Mr. Clayton, will be about as fol- lows.
 Southern representation will not be cut down and the bill introduced by Sen ator Platt I believe, will never get out of the senate committee There is no disposition among the real republican leaders to agitate the question.
 There will be no rivers and harbors bill. the republicans feeling that the treasury cannot afford the necessary ap- propriation. There is now a monthly de- felt of about $5, 100000 and with this staring congress in the face I see no chance for rivers and hartors bill The republican policy will now be one of re- trenchment.
 There will be no extra SC sion of con gress soon. The President has practically decided on this course. Congress will be called together next November for the purpose of passilts a revenue bill. This will be purely a revenue raising bill and no other appropriations, such as for rivers and harbors Improvements will be allowed
 Tn discussing the agitation of the negro question and the cutting down of south ern representation MT. Clayton said if our speakers would just stop talking about this matter it would die of It's own accord.
 There is really no negro question:" said Mir. Clayton and if our southern people would let it alone, I believe the northerners would necessarily have to follow suit"
 For some time it was rumored that Mir. Clayton might some day be- come a candidate for the United States senate from Alabama. When asked about this he merely laughed good na- turedly and would neither confirm nor deny 1t. He admitted that it wuold be a great ronor to any Alabaman but thought it little too early to discuss candidates.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-12-19
IN HOTEL L0B3IES
RIrmInaham ,nd New orIeans.

tHftafl dUh t#NF+
 What a booming town Birmingham IS, said Mir. Peter Kearnan' the eoitor of the New Orleans News, In chatting With friends at the Hillman yesteruay.
 come here frequently sala MT kearnan, "and I never go away without feeling that this great industrial city or the lower south is leapiEs forward with wonderful strides It won't do to at- tempt to make comparisons between the Birmingham of today and the city or ten years ago. To do so would be to court the xisk of writing ones self down an Ananias. The development or tnls city Is almost incredible. Wherever one goes one hears of the progress and pros perity of the Birmingham district
 The Birmingham man Is for Birming- ham first, last and all the time. The more l travel the more Tn inclined to think that you people here make it sort of religioes duty to talk up the town The Birmingham man believes in printers ink. and he believes also in the Pullman smoker and the notel lobby as first-class advertising medium.
 Down in New Orleans we entertain the kindliest regard for Birmingham. Many of our best citizens there have large interests here. Among them might mention the great and good man one of the foremost philanthropists of the south-Mr. Isidore Newmrn, wso has, l believe. done a great deal to develop your street railway system here. We feel that all the cities of the south are knit together by close social and indus trial bonds. and that we should see to 1t that a spirit of generous rivalry be en- couraged between them.
 New Orleans like the proyerbial young mother. Is well and doing nicely, thank you Our new mayor, MT. Martin Behr- man. is making an excellent official The unpleasant friction incident to the muni- cipa1 election held last November is pass ing away and everyone is doing all he can to build up the city and strengthen it's social, political and industrial life. The winter season is on now in full blast, and, as usual, thousands of visitors are flocking to the Crescent City
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-12-19
About Persons.

MT. and Mrs. Walter G. Cleveland of New Orleans will spend the holidays with Mrs R. H. sterrett, No. 1124 South Twentieth street.
 J. R. Kennedy of Washington, D. C., is at the Morris.
 w. E. Moore and Ben Humphries oi Wetumpka are at the Morris.
 J. T. Henry of Sheffield is at the Morris. aEEi 4 P. B. Smith of Memphis is registered at the Colonial.
 A. D. Head of Louisville is at the Colonial.
 Robert Whitfield of Nashville is at the Colonial. s.siaA J. A. colyer of Butler, Missouri. is at the Colonial. i xIlaAS A. w Jenkins of Montgomery is at the Metropolitan.
 J. C. Arnold of starksville. Miss, is at the Metropolitan.
 George J. Maloney of Greenville, S. C., Is at the St. Nicholas.
 F. ". Mitchell of Gadsden is at the St. Nicholas.
 w. M. Fleetmore of Greenville, s. C., is registered at the St. Nicholas.
 J. J. Montague of Richmond, Va, is at the Hillman.
 J. G. Howard of Lafayette, Ind, is at the Hillman.
 Guy Smith of Richmond, Va, is at the Hillman.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-12-19
From the Manufacturers Record.

From the Manufacturers Record.
 THE completion Of the Seaboard Air NQ Line extension from Atlanta to
 Birmingham is the most impor- tant accomplishment of railroad con- struction in the south for a long time. Moreover, this latest piece of work is fn- ished at a time which will make it's exis- tence felt as of the greatest influence, in- as much as the greater development of the vast natural riches in the Alabama mineral region Is now under way, and the manufacturing industries of the Blr- mingham district and adjacent centers are entering upon a period that will be marked by enlarging outputs and by ex- banding markets for their products.
 About two years ago the Seaboard Air Line acquired the East and West rail- road of Alabama. with terminal at Car tersville, Ga. and Peu City, Ala. and announced it's determination to build the anticipated extension from Atlanta to Birmingham. The construction of this valuable piece Of railroad was quickly begun, the plans demanding very expen- sive reconstruction and revision of the East and West railroads line and also the building of addition to reach At lanta and Birmingham, respectively. The first of these links to be completed was that from Rockmart, Ga to Atlanta, 1T miles. The other, from Coal City, Ala, to Birmingham, 39 miles, has just been finished, permitting the establishment of freight-train service on Monday of this week. According to reports, passenger trains will not yet be run over the en- tire line, the newly-completed portion being now too rough for comfortable rid ing and high speed, but it is said that in about a month 1t is expected the track will be sufficiently settled and surfaced to permit the establishment of passenger service.
 With the completion of the Atlanta and Birmingham Air Line, that being the name of this extension, the Sea board system becomes possessed of modern railway leading to the great industrial center of Alabama, a line l66 miles long. with low grades and easy curves, char acteristics which will insure heavy train loads and consequent economy in oper- atng, as well as speed and comfort for passengers. Tn addition to reaching Bir- mingham, it has a branch to Carters- vile, Ga 2s miles long, and in Alabama
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-12-19
NEW LINE OF SEABOARD
 IS AN IMPORTANT ROAD

a branch of four miles to Jacksonville, and another of eight miles to Pen City. Probably other branches to more impor- tant points will be constructed to meet demands.
 This new route to Birmingham, while enabling the Seaboard to get a share of the traffic going out of that city, also assures the system of valuable and far reaching western connections via the St. Louis and San Francisco railroad. which for several years has had a line into the great industrial center of Ala bama. But however extensive may be the possibilities of this western outlet. the part to be taken by the Seaboard extension in the immediate future will be in the mineral and timber develop ment of a country which it's trains will now enter for the first time Among the products of the mines and forests which will be handled in large quantity over this road from points along its line are iron ore, coal. slate, lime, redwood. pine. etc. The road penetrates tho coosa coal fields and the Cahaba iron ore territory. Several mines at Coal City will 1t is said, be immediately en- larged as a result of the completion of the line. There will also, according to other reports, be enlargements of iron furnaces now that additional transpor- tation facilities are provided for han ding their output The line touches more than thirty towns and villages, and has stations at other points which promise to develope into settlements in consequence of the industrial activity inspired by the opening of railroad com- munication.
 It has cost the Seaboard system, ac- eording to report, from s9.0Oo,0OO to $10.- 00o,000 to provide this extension, the ex- penditures at Birmingham amounting to about s1OO0O0O for terminals. The line Is marked by frequent passing tracks, there being one every five miles. Each of these sidings is half mile long, and the provision of such a number of them will make the operating capacity of the line very large, as numerous heavy trains can be moved over 1t with such facilities Tn the way of frequent passing points. The forethought thus displayed makes apparent the expectations of vast tonnage to be carried over the Seaboard Lines from Birmingham to tidewater on the Atlantic coast. as we'll as to eastern and northern points
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-12-19

tive stocks there is naturally more or less hesitation, but securities have been going back into stronger hands again, and confidence in nigh quarters has not been disturbed in any degree by market gyrstions or the tactics of sensational spectators.
 The strongest ia -.ors in the situation are the abundance D; money. an excellent investment demand for securities and the promising business outlook. Funds are in ample supply. and there is no fear of monetary disturbance. such as frequent ly occurs at the close of the year. Both call and time rates are so law that secur- ities bring much more satisfactory re- turns than money at in.a:est. this being powerful factor in the investment market.
 General business is in very promising condition, chiefly as a result of a profita- ble harvest. Railroad managers see a big traffic in sight for probably the next six months and they are chiefly anxious about their ability to handle the freight which is in prospect For the next six months at least we may expect to see good railroad earnings. Our export trade is also good, for while we will have lit tie of wheat or flour to spare, we will have plenty of cotton, corn, oats and oth- CT agricultural products. This means bet ter times for transportation interests on l both land and sea. At home trade is also expanding and there is a good de- Mand for nearly all manufactured pro- ducts. The iron and steel trades are again on one of their spasmodie upward movements; and as the railroads are coming in as heavy buyers Of materi- als, this activity promises to last for a considerable period. All things consid- cred we seem destined to enter the new year under very hopeful conditions and to enjoy a further period Of prosperity.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-12-19
From the New York Herald.


 ~I ANoPHELEs sKEET and others (O1I were indicted yesterday at the O instance of Frank Moss, coun- sel for the Society for the Prevention of crime. The grand jury which professed to act for Terra Orbls consisted of the members of the National Mosquito Ex- termination society, which met in an up per room of the old Castle garden. now given to the fishes. It was in this build ing that Jenny Lind once sang, and at times when the wind blows strong and free from the New Jersey marshes the high note of song can still be heard through the bastions
 Sxty-five members of the society and 5S.OOOOO0 mosquitoes attended. The insects were in glass vessels where they had been matched for scientific observation, and their escape wa5 carefully cut off by cheese cloth. Charles Townsend, su- perintendent of the aquarium, presided and Frank Moss presented his indictment to the court of justice without mercy.
 "Further," read MT. Moss, that the grand jury accuses all the defendants of being enemies of the state; its people and it's interests; existing continually in a state of wilful lawlessness; doing no single good thing. but ever conspiring for evil and provoking crime. disease. pes tilence, profanity, disorder and riot seiE- ing and holding vast sections of the coun- try and depopulating them of human be- ings; committing great crueltles on man and beast; bringing to naught the enter prise and labor of humanity in many rich and delightful communities and bur glariously breaking through all devices excluding others and wantonly defying ali