davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-24
Standinq of the Seaboard.

The circular statement of the bank ing house of John L. Williams & Sons, of Richmond, Virginia, contains no facts more interesting or more import ant than those showing the absolute and complete freedom and independ- ence of the Seaboard Air Line railroad, which will soon be operated to the very heart of this district. The road extends from New York via the Penn sylyania railroad to Washington, where it's own rails begin, and these rails ex- tend to Tampa on the south and to Montgomery and Birmingham on the west and north. The company con- trols 5000 miles of track, and monop- oly of the stock is owned in Maryland and states still farther south. No com- peting line owns a dollar of it, and all reports to the contrary were and are without foundation
 This great independent company Is earning rich returns; is capitalized and bonded on a low basis, and has been financed up to all needs. The money needed for the extension to Birming- ham has been secured, and not hitch will occur in the completion of the new extension. The company has no 
 floating debt, and time will assuredly put this great southern road, built by southern capital, and conducted by men born in the south, in strong po- sition. It is today in fine physical con dition, and every year will add to it's income The Birmingham extension will alone demonstrate the wisdom and foresight of Chairman Williams, who was president of the company when the extension was planned and begun.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-24
HOW TO HELP BALTIMORE.

From the Manufacturers Record.
 With every power, mental and physi- cal ouickened with grim determination to conouer every obstable, Baltimore does not ask for aims, but 1t does ask that inc sentiment which has such strong mower in ruling business interests shall make itself felt in not permitting her trade to be taken away because of the temporary inability to promptly meet all requirements. The merchants and the manufacturers who, through many years of honorable dealings have built up far reaching trade north and west, as we'll as south. have right, in this time or calamity, to ask their customers to be a little patient, and if the necessities Of their trade require the quick filling or or ders elsewhere, to be ready to come back to their Baltimore friends with enlarged orders just as soon as our people are pre- pared to handle them. With the immense increase in the wealth of the south by reason of high price of cotton and the consequent enormous expansion of trade throughout that section, the merchants of the south could not only arrange to make prompt payment to Baltimore mer- chants of every outstanding bill. even if not technically due. and every dollar sent to Baltimore now in payment of accounts is worth a hundred dollars given in chari- ty; but that section could. by generous realization of the power of sentiment in business. send into this city volume Of business which would go long way to- ward helping our people to recoup their losses.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-24
Bound for St. Louis.

"As the time for the big fair to open draws near the number of adventurers hurying to St. Louis is constantly in creasing," said a travelling man. "A great many wanderers have already gone to St. Louis in hopes of getting employ ment at the exposition grounds. but those who are now making preparations to go thirst more for excitement and sight seeing than work, although, of course they intend to do something in order to keep soul and body together.
 During a big exposition there are always many opportunities to pick up odd jobs that are not to be found under any other conditions and they are usually looked upon as soft snaps. It Is safe to say that these places will be much in de- mand and there will be a sharp rivalry for them among the promiscuous riff raff of humanity assembled at St. Louis.
 ''Then there will also be a number of deserving young fellows who have not the means to visit the exposition in the regu- lar way and wil be compelled to work In order to pay their expenses. These young fellows will be found serving in many ca pacities, as walters, clerks, doorkeepers, and even as transfer men It is astonish- ing how many different classes of people are drawn to a big fair. There will be thousands of fakirs, confidence men, and genuine criminals who will go to St. Louis in hope of reaping at least part of the golden harvest"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-24
comparatlveIv LittIe NoIse.

Considering the fact that Birmingham ranks high as an industrial center, it Is remarkable that residents in town are so seldom disturbed by the noise of whistles bells and other din producers common to nearly all manufacturing towns" said a visitor T suppose this is chiefly because the big furnaces and steel plants are on the outskirts of town, some in the suburbs and still others several miles distant Down in the central part of the city there is conspicuous absence of any other noise than that which characterizes bustling commercial town. Were it not for the glow of the furnaces at night it would be rather hard to convince stranger that he was surrounded on all sides by great throbbing industries, where thousands of smoke begrinned men are toiling night and day and vast machinery Is whrling.
 Perhaps people of Birmingham are for tunate in thus being largely immune from the dlscomforts of having manufacturing plants In close proximity. Although I mo- tice that there is always plenty of smoke, soot and grime, II am never disturbed in the early morning by the blasts of hum dreds of whistles as is the case in other towns I have visited. As you probably know, the whistle and bell nuisances in some cities has become so annoying that it has been found necessary to pass an ordinance against them in order to quiet the irate citizens"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-24
IN HOTEL LOBBIEs
eood eusIness Year Predicted.

T have never observed such substantial and general good feeling among the bus mess men and bankers of New York as at present." said Henry B. Gray. the well known banker. yesterday. MT. Gray had just returned from a business trIa 10 New York
 ''In talking with several of the prom, nent bankers I learned that the specula- tive element had been largely eliminated, and that there was all round general sub stantial and easy feeling, with everyone predicting a good business year. The Bal timore fire has brought a great volume of foreign money from the insurance com panies into this country, and 1t is believed that the Russo-Japan war will have a good effect here. The national political campaign Is not upsetting business condi- tions in the slightest. Indeed have never observed more general feeling of com plete satisfaction among all classes of business men than I did in New York last week."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-24
Republic of Panama.

Dr. Manuel Amador, first president of the republic of Panama was duly installed on February 20 by the raga- mullins and rascals gathered in the city of Panama; the new constitution went into effect; the junta was dis solved, and the wheels-pony pat ern --of government were set in motion. Panama, the republic, is now entitled to place on any enterprising and authentic geography or map. It exists, whe her its source were rightful or wrongful. That is a question which has nothing to do with its existence. It exists because Uncle Sam's guns are there, saying to all corners, includ- : ing helpless Colombia, Hands off"
 We do not exactly own Panama, and yet we must maintain it. The motley crowd gathered at the isthmus can do acts that would throw a king in comic opera in the shade, and yet we must support those acts, for we have set up the republic, and must get behind it. We own it, but still we have no voice in its management.
 The new constitution is liberal in the creation of officers. Three vice presidents have been installed, all drawing salaries It is not too much to expect that every reyolutionist will get an office-all at any rate that can muster a suit of clothes. No one dressed in natures garb would look well as an envoy to foreign govern ment, or even as a cabinet minister at home. The garmented heroes of the revolution can have high office, and the Adamesque heroes can become col lectors of internal revenue, postmas- ters, and the like. Put none but revo- lutionary heroes on guard, will be the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-24
Our Trade in Manchuria.

The Russophiles in this country, few and far between, are given to saying that Russia would open to us Man churia. Let us see how she opens things at Harbin, the geographical cen ter of Manchuria. Henry B. Miller, our consul at New Chwang, officially sums up the story in these words:
 "It is not in the least inspiring for an American to go through as busy and ac- tive a trade city as Harbin and find so few things from his country, and not single American citizen or progressive business house. The vision of 75 per cent of American imports into Manchuria dwindles to a most insignificant amount. When you see the great flour mills con- tinually enlarging and increasing in num- Der, when you see the numerous breweries being constructed, when you see Russian engines, and German, Austrian and Dam. ish machinery and products and hear of the successful development of Russian lumber mills and the introduction of Rus sian cotton goods, and see in the Chinese stores Russian oil and cigarettes where before were American, and where you hunt with straining eyes to find something from the United States, one is not se- riously impressed with the statement that under Russian occupation our imports into Manchuria are sure to increase"
 Before Russian occupation our south ern cotton mills sold 10 Manchuria mill lions of dollars worth of coarse cotton goods, but Russia will extend her Ding ley tariff to Manchuria if she succeeds in holding it. If not, she will adopt the methods she is using in Persia, where she now enjoys a trade monop- oly. On every pound of cotton goods sent to Persia the Moscow exporter ge S an anowance of three cents from the government One cent covers the freight, and he has two cents profit, besides the usual profit on the goods. The bounty system will be extended to Manchuria, and the American manu- facturer will be driven out, as the Eng fish or German manufacturer has been from Persia. This strikes directly at the southern cotton mills, and the Russophiles in this section should keep away from our cotton mill towns. What with preferential railroad rates, boun- ties, and a tariff that out-Dingleyizes Dingleysm itself, no room would be left for American coarse cotton goods, made in southern mills, if Russia sue ceeds in grabbing and holding Man. churia Every fact as to her course is set forth by Consul Miller in his official reports, and all we have stated is fully sustained in those reports.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-24
synodlcaI College.

q am glad to see that the people of Birmingham are taking an interest in the byterian Synodical college at Bessemer," said business man. "The matter of To- cation will be determined next April and 1t seems to be question of Bessemer getting the college or the institution go- ing to some other section of the state. Every citizen of Jefferson county will be glad l am sure, if Bessemer wins the prize. As MT. Taliaferro pointed out a few days ago, such an institution as the Presbyterians have projected would be of incalculable value to any community. A high class college improves the moral atmosphere of a town and helps busi- ness.' besides"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-24
PEONAGE IN ALABAMA AND
 HOW TT WAS DEVELOPED
BY BOHEMIAN c. euLeER.

few cases of cruelty were brought to light and then the investigation began.
 The practice which caused most of the trouble however, came about through the trading of what are called 'peons." When one farmer had worked his crop and had no further use for the negro he would sell him to another farmer so that he would not lose the money he had paid this soon developed into a source of profit and persons would take negroes out of jail and then sell them for profit alone. This wrongful practice really is responsi- ble for the numerous arrests.
 Developing as it did from year to year. the farmers saw no wrong doing in this trading and bartering in human flesh, and until the Federal authorities sent em- missaries to the field their eyes were still unopened
 The stopping of the practice of peonage has caused discontent among the negroes as we'll as the whites, but withal the leading men of the communities in ques- tion feel that 1t is for the best. It will take several years for thorough read justment to come about, but the whites show a willingness to suffer temporary inconvenience that this odium might be lifted from the counties in which they feel a deep pride
 Such articles as that appearing in the New York Herald should be appreciated by the people of the ''peonage section'' of Alabama as 1t puts them in a much fair CT light before the people of the United States than the horrors depicted in some of the more sensational publications. There are no better people on the glob than those living in Tallapoosa and ad- joining counties, and though they may have done wrong, 1t was an error of the head and not of the heart. They are honest, straightforward and without thoughts of cruelty or barbarian, and a return to the practices of slavery is far from their thoughts.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-24
PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT

A bill appropriating $10000 to purchase the old Lincoln homestead has been intro- duced in the Kentucky legislature. It is proposed to convert the place into a pub lie park.
 President Harper of the University of Chicago, declines to make any statements regarding the banished Triggs, who has been dismissed from the faculty as a result of his radical views on religious and literary questions.
 Richard Croker, Jr., son of the former Tammanay leader, is the leader in movement to organize the Bulldog Club of America, the members of which will devote their energies to improving the breed of bulldogs in this country.
 Sir Henry Mortimer Durand, English ambassador to the United States, recently paid visit, to Independence hall in Phil adelpha, and while standing before the Declaration of Independence he removed his hat as tribute to the ancient docu- ment.
 
 to have an exhibit at the St. Louis exposi- ton. Judge E. L. Spence. secretary of the International Anti-ViviSection soci- ety., John D. Long, ex-Senator Boutwell, and several other distinguished persons will give their support.
 Boss" Platt has returned to the "amen corner in the lobby of the Fifth Avenue hotel and there Is much rejoicing among the distinguished frequenters of this re- treat The "amen corner has been made famous by coterie of noted politicians and public men who are accustomed to as- semble there every evening and chat while smoking their cigars. Senator Platt recently moved to the Waldorf-Astoria and 1t was feared that he had given up his membership in the old lobby club.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-24

prominent republican politician, is at the Hillman.
 J. M. Giles of Atlanta. is at the Met ropolitan.
 J. A. Coates of Mobile. Is at the Hill- man
 S. J. Harrell, w R. Avery. and T. Rice of Shelby, are at the Florence. President John W. Abercrombie of the University, is stopping at the Morris.
 
 J. F. Curtis and Frank Curtis of Bloc ton, are at the Metropolitan. Maj ". F. Tebbetts. collector of cus- toms of the Mobile port is at the Hill- man.
 W. J. Adams of Talladega is at the Florence.
 Robert Russell of Hopkinsville, Ky, Is at the St. Nicholas
 J. S. Paden and F. NJ. Mitchell of Gads- den are at the Hillman. T. M. Peters of Fayette is at the Metro politan.
 Ira Champion of the Montgomery Jour nal is at the Morris. w F. Propst, bookkeeper for the Sloss- Sheffield company at Lopez. is at the Metropolitan.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-24
Out of Dancer.

H. J. Porter of Augusta. who is i'll of pneumonia, continues to improve and is now considered out of danger. MT. Por- ter Is soon to open a fashionable men s furnishing store in Birmingham in the handsome building being erected for him on First avenue opposite the Western Union Telegraph office. He is one of the most progressive merchants of Augusta and his establishment in Birmingham will be an important acquisition to the citys mercantile interests
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-24

slogan-the men who talked fight and did not bleed.
 The Panama republic is doing as well as could be expected, and no doubt it will soon begin, after the manner of Cuba, to print and float bonds. The sum to be paid by the United States for canal rights will not last long, and the Panama patriot, like the Cuban patriot, will soon demand pay and pensions, and that means of course a bond issue. The republic is well started, and all it need do now is to start it's bond printing press.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-24
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New York Press.
 Love letter poetry is about as genuine as stomach repentance.
 A woman's idea of being hosptable is to let you hold the baby while she brags 1t up.
 It scares woman half to death 10 think that if she never had been born shc never would have loved her children the way she does.
 When a woman goes to see friend to find out if the rumor that her husband has failed in business Is true, she speaks of 1t afterward as having been out all afternoon at receptions.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-24
COMMENTS ON MEN AND
 MATTERS OF THE WORLD
lalized clergy and rumors of police in
 erference that is slow in undertaking

dalized clergy and rumors of police in- terference that is slow in materiallzing.
 Ella Wheeler Wilcox certainly has just cause to feel proud of the prolixity which characterizes her poetic 1abors. She must be in direct communication with the muses a large part of her waking hours, If one is to judge by the frequency with which her poems are appearing h the daily press. Editor Hearst seems to have a corner on the Wilcox output but other papers are not barred from trans cribing her scorching lines for the edih- cation of their readers. In fact this re- markable poet has made leap Into the calcium rays of fame and has managed to stay there ever since. But such Is fac. She made remark about laughing and the world laughs with you. weep and you weep by yourself, or words to that effect the country was in a mood to be told something like this and the result was that Ella Wheeler Wilcox writes copyrighted verses all the time.
 According to the northern papers great Ice harvest is being garnered this year on the northern rivers. Ice men not the kind who override humble citi- zens in town-but hardy, adventurous fellows, of the field and forest, are busily engaged in cutting the blocks and towing them to ice houses on shore where the blocks will add much to the comforts of life when summer arrives. New England Is distinctly an ice harvesting region. More attention is paid to the industry in the eastern and northeastern parts of the country than anywhere else In the United States and employment is furnished to large body of men who might otherwise have trouble in finding something to do In winter.
 Since the death of Senator Hanna the press of the United States has devoted much space to the anecdotes and stories of the dead statesman. MT Hanna led a remarkable life, it is true, but no more remarkable than that of any other men who have risen to fame after surmount- ing even greater difficulties. It is notice- able that nearly all the stories about Hanna deal with his actions in private life, his attitude on certain questions his diplomacy in political crises, and his displays of humane principles when least expected It is generally recognized that MT. Hanna was not an idealist He be- lieved more in action than in theories and it is perhaps due to this fact that he was successful. not only as polfti- clan but as a business man. His son, Dan" Hanna, will succeed to the control of his vast business interests but 1t Is predicted by admirers of Senator Hapna that no man now in the republican party gives promise of filling his place Tn pok- tics. e
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-24
,TWoULD SEEM SO.

From Puck
 You can't make bricks without straw observed the man who Is fond of moral reflections.
 No" responded McRobinson. ''and some people seem to think the same proposition applies to cigars"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-24

Since it has been found possible to pay debts by wireless telegraphy it may also be possible to send duns in the same way, and stretch of water will be no protection to harassed debt. DTS
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-24

A New Jersey preacher has barred chatting among his parishioners after church, thus taking steps to prevent any regulations from being damaged be ore the sermon has had time to work,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-24
JUST A HINT.

From the Philadelphia Press.
 Perhaps said the critic, If you were to call your farce comedy The 6 O'clock Trolley Car it might make a hit"
 T don't see the point" replied the playwright.
 Well, that's suggestive of standing room only. you know.t'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-24

metropolitan musical critic who was run over by trolley car probably realized how some of the musicians felt after he got through criticising their performances.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-24

Young Rockefeller told the Sunday school class last Sunday that man is taken for what he Is, when he should have told them out of his own expert ence that a man is generally taken for what he has.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-24

This will soon be a town of club houses and society headquarters. The Masons. Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias each expect to build homes this year.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-24
BALTIMORE.

By Minna Irving in Leslie's Weekly She sat beside her turquo1se pay, A city proud and fair, With stately towers and palace homes, And treasures rich and rare. No brighter blossom on her breast The southland ever bore; Of all the jewels in her crown
 The pearl was Baltimore But sweepink through her spacious
 streets
 A fiery demon came; He shrouded her in rolling smoke And folded her in flame. Her mansions crumbled at his touch, And high above the roar Of falling walls arose the wall
 Of burning Baltimore. Her sister cities in the north,
 They heard her cry of woe, And fast they hurried to her aid
 Ger miles of frozen snow; And veterans who camped with Lee On Rappahannocks shore Stood side by side with northern men To fight for Baltimore. The tattered capes of Union blue
 The coats of Dixie's gray, Are woven in a mighty cloak
 That wraps, the states today; And northern hands are first of all In eager haste to pour Their golden bounty in the lap
 Of stricken Baltimore.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-02-24

The war views of General Wheeler and Captain Hobson are not command. ing universal assent. There is feel. ing that neither is infallible.