davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-03-19
A Dust ExnIosion.

A dust explosion started by windy
shot, say the mine inspectors, led to
the death of every person in the Vlr-
ginia mine One hundred and eleven
men went to their graves despite many
warnings and predictions of disaster
by the mine inspectors.
There seems to have been no lack
of warnings on the part of the mine
inspectors. On March of last year
Chief Mine Inspector Gray wrote TO
Superintendent Gafford, as follows:
ut is needless for me to explain to you
the dangerous condition of your mine
You have all the characteristics there
that go to make up the disastrous dust
explosion. You have gas In your mine,
your mine is very dusty and you shoot
the coal on the solid and use inexperi-
enced labor to a certain extent and 1t has
been our observation with the experience
of windy shots we have had in this state
that they have been principally caused
from misplacing and charging OF shots"
There were warnings enough, but
no steps were taken by the mine in
spectors or by other state authorities
to see that those warnings were prop
erly needed and utilized. The mine
remained dusty, and shots were fired
on the solid, that is to say. the holes
containing explosive materials were
not closed with clay, but were left
open, thus permitting the charge in
the hole to scatter fire over the floor
of the chamber. That fire ignited the
fire damp concealed in the dust of
the dry mine.
In other words, the neglect in the
sprinkling of the dusty floors and In
the firing of charges without closing
the hole securely with clay, and the
blowing down of coal without under
cutting it, led directly to the disaster.
But the negligene in the mine was
well known and discussed. The ques-
tion arises at once, why did not the
state authorities take steps to enforce
their entertainments in the Virginia
mine? The board of mine inspectors
is not an academic body. 1t Is a
body appointed to find defects in the
mines, and to see that they are rem
edies Beyond the use of mere words
no steps seem to have been taken by
the state authorities to render human
life secure in the Virginia mines.
Either the state authorities lack requi-
site authority in cases of that sort,
or else there is lack on their part
of vigilance and efficiency
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-03-19
Cotton Mills North and South.

The Providence Journal and the
American Wool and Cotton Reporter
both agree that : crisis has been
reached in the New England textile
Industry. Says the Reporter: Mental
capacity in management must be taxed
as 1t never has been taxed before if
the north is to continue to hold her
own in spinning and weaving"
The Journal is. however, whistling
as it marches through a new grave
yard. 1t sees a vast difference be-
tween New England's surrendered
iron industry and its textile industry.
Hear it whistle to keep its courage up:
Low wages the south has, and child
labor is hers In abundance; she Is well
come TO IT, Moreover the cotton is at
her mill doors. But in climate and cx-
pericnce she is laclking-the climate that
mutiplies producing capacity In toilers
and the experiences which has taught
valuable lessons drawn from emergen-
ces with which she is thus far unfa-
miliar. 1t also should be borne in mind
that much of what the southern manu-
lfacturer gains by reason of his proxim-
lily to the staple he loses on his way to
ithe distributing centres in which the
finished material must be unloaded,
That he Is resigned to situation in the
north which encourages him In the ex-
pectation of an eventual monopoly Of
the entire cotton industry of the coun-
try Is but natural. Nevertheless, If the
signs and omens are not deceptive, he
is reckoning without his host. New Eng
land will find some way to continue to
compete successfully with the southern
mills Notwithstanding her higher scale
of wages
The Journal is mistaken when 1t
says that Massachusetts, mill capital
is not moving southwark. Millions of
It are already invested In the cotton
states, and millions more will be. A
steady flow of northern capital Is
going into southern mills. and the
Journal is much mistaken when 1t
says no movement of that sort is con-
templated. Southwark" it says,
'these millions are not taking their
way" when the very reverse is the
exact aud solid truth, and the Journal
and the Reporter cannot change the
trend of New England capital.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-03-19
GEOLOGY in the Public Schools.

A text book embracing the element
airy principles of geology. togther with
an account of the mineral resources
of Alabama, could be prepared by Dr..
Eugene A. Smith, than whom no one
is more competent, il short order. The
volume need not consist of more than
$50 pages, and it could be taught In
the public schools IN a months time
If need be.
Such a volume would be speedily
prepared and published If the public
schools in this state would adopt 1t in
their curriculum. The entire ques-
ton turns on that. Given sixty-seven
competent and magnetic county super
intendents, the task would be easy.
an 1t may be possible to compass it
as things stand. Ali intelligent teach
ers must see that much good must
flow from even short course in geol-
ogy and Alabama mineralogy. All must
see that. VIII not the teachers of
Alabama take hold of this subject,
even if the county superintendent
will not
Just as soon as the public schools
accept the proposed book it will be
written and published. There will be
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-03-19
NED BRACE TALKS ABOUT THE WATER
SUPPLY OF BIRMINGHAM AND OTHER THINGS

big manufacturing concerns should not
get water as cheap as in any other place.
There is abundance of water to be OBJ
tanned from the present supply. Impound-
ing dams will cost but little and another
series of supply pipes from the reser-
vors on Shades mountain to furnish I'M
filtered water for manufacturing pur-
poses would cost but little. Therefore.
why not go about this matter in bus
mess like way?
I don't take any stock In this talk and
agitation of bringing water to Birming-
ham in an open canal at public expense.
OF course it would boom property along
the banks of the canal but 1t would be
of no benefit to manufactures located
In other sections of the Birmingham dis
trlct. What Birmingham needs Is an
abundance of water which will flow into
the city through iron pipes. supplying
industries with cheap water at any point
within a radius of from five TO ten miles
from the court house.
Of course everybody wants something
at public expense, but the business of
the public should be transacted on as
strictly business principles as is the bus
mess of any individual or any corpora
ton.
Speaking about public matters, observe
that an Improvement has been made in
the matter of street sweeping. Sprinl1ling
carts are now really preceding the
sweepers. But what is the use of sweep
ing the city streets between and O'Clock
in the evenings when this work could be
done in the early morning hours between
and O'clock, for instance. In no other
well regulated city are the sweepers all
lowed out until after 1890 a. m. The
work in Birmingham could as well be
done at that hour as in the evening.
In this connection Mayor Drennen has
an opportunity to add another laurel 10
his brow before he goes out of office
by providing for sprinlSling the streets Of
Birmingham during the coming summer
months l am sure that property holders
in every direction would be willing to
stand a small monthly assessment for
this purpose and 1t would be we'll IL the
Mayor would at once take up the mat
ter of keeping Blrmingham's streets
srrinkled during the coming summer.
= =
And in this connection also, I would
suggest that the very progressive Bir-
mlngham Street Railway company should
do its part, like the street railways of
other cities are doing, and provide sew
eral sprinHling cars which would run
daily over their tracks and sprinkle the
streets between the tracks and for eight
or ten feet on each side. Such work is
done by the street railway companies Of
nearly every progressive city in this coun-
try. And l feel sure that the water works
company would do its part in providing
the water If the street railway people
will furnish the sprinkling cars. Such
progressive men as Mr.. Jenison and Mr.
Emery of the Street Railway company.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-03-19
To the Sea at Brunswick.

The completion o. the Atlantic and
Birmingham railroad, with branch
to Atlanta, is regarded as something
vital and important in Atlanta. The
Constitution In its discussion of the
project says:
''The completion of the new railroad
will, therefore, within a comparatively
short period, afford Atlanta a third line
into the Alabama metropolis, all three
OF the lines mentioned being of approx
imately similar length. /. would be diff
fcult to overestimate the Importance OF
this augmentation of transportation ia
cilities between the two cities. Blrming-
ham, In her dominating position as reg
ulator of the national iron and basic
steel market and as an important center
of the coal industries of the south, and
Atlanta as the rapidly growing CONNER
cial and manufacturing focus of this
section and the gateway to an enormous
tributary territory, have destinies along
the same Homeric lines, and the closer
they are united ,he better it will be for
both. No man may prophesy what an
intimate and vital role this close COM
nlunion will play in the wel-being of the
sections and the cities in the speedily
looming era of the full development of
both and the intense stimulus of the
Panama canal"
This is kind and neighborly and to
some extent pardonable comment
upon the incoming of a new railroad
that will no doubt serve both cities
admirably. But if the Constitution
means to say Atlanta is, or ever will
be, the manufacturing focus" of the
southeast, it is simply mistaken.
Manufacturing focuses are located
close to fuel supplies, and the fuel
supply is located in remote corner
of the state, and is not abundant at
that. This limits manufacturing in
Atlanta to plants that do not consume
much fuel, and that city cannot there
fore become the manufacturing focus
Of the southeast. Ii may become the
commercial focus of the southeast,
but it can never become its manufac-
turing focus.
But this need not lessen the friendly
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-03-19
Jefferson Hotels.

ut is quite coincidence that just as
the Jefferson Hotel company of Blrming-
ham is to build a magnificent hosiery.
the Jefferson Hotel company of Rich
mond. Va. Is about to restore the splen-
did Hotel Jefferson in that CITY," re-
marked a Virginan.
"Richmond's Jefferson was the most
beautiful and costly hotel in the south,
but few years ago it was partially de-
stroyed by fire. The Richmond Times
Dispatch says: Now that the Jefferson
Hotel is to be restored-how delightful
that sounds!-the whole community
should be inspired, and we believe will be
inspired. to make the city of Richmond
more beautiful and more attractive than
ever. The Jefferson will be an ornament
to Richmond, and Richmond must keep
pace. The Jefferson will be a model of
beauty and cleanliness. and as a city
Richmond should live up to the standard.
The jefferson will attract thousands of
visitors persons coming from all sections
of the country to see Richmond. and 1t
should be our pride. as 1t will be our
profit, to show them a city beautiful
a city with clean streets and parks adorn-
ed and beauty spots and fine scaool build
ings well kept, and especially city of
ornate and comfortable homes. When the
Jefferson is restored there will always be
a large number of critical sightseers. and
Richmond Will be on exhibition Let us
begin right now to prepare our city for
dress parade
''These remarks of the Richmond
paper will fit Birmingham quite WELL
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-03-19
steel PIart Project.

'If the Birmingham iron companies are
merged the steel plant at Ensley will be
enlarged but if the merger fails then the
Sloss-Sheffield company will build a large
steel mill at North Birmingham" said a
prominent citizen. North Birmingham Is
wonderfully prosperous town now and
If the Sloss remains independent the town
will go ahead more rapidly than ever.
"A sl.20o.0cp tse3 plant at North Br-
mingham would give marvellous impetus
net only to that town but to the Greater
birmingham as well.
1.-THE Sheffield company has the
money with which to build a steel plant
and 1t had practically rnatured It's plans
for going ahead with this enterprise when
IL e merger scheme came to the front
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-03-19
WINTER, WILD WINTER, NOW
BIT YOU GO!

BY Mrs. Wary Ware.
O winter! wild winter. bid you depart!
hear the sweet throbbings OF nature
warm heart;
So long you have reigned with tyranicai
sway,
And we are just hungry for spring time
and Mayl
So. winter, chill winter, l be5 you to go,
And revel for while in your clusters
of snow;
Sweet nature Is longing her garlands 10
bring
And deck all the forests in vestments of
spring. :.
The shy little crocus is opening its eyes,
To catch the first glimpse of the soft.
sunny skies
And the violets are laughing beneath their
blue hoods.
Wondering IL spring Is abroad In the
woods.
So, winter grim winter, why don't you
depart
You freeze all the warmth In natures
great heart;
you've wandered quite out of your way
l am sure,
And fingered too long, your reign now
is Ger!
And winter, gray winter. I bid you adieu,
To welcome sweet spring in her bonnet
of blue;
For nature is painting in radient dyes
Our dear sunny south with its laughing
blue skies.
When summer has flown. and winter
appears.
And nature is pensively smiling through
tears,
Wen welcome you back, with your TRAP
pings Of woe;
Birmingham, Ala.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-03-19

and Mr. O'Connell Of the Water Works
company will only need a suggestion from
the residents of Birmingham to take up
the matter at once and put it in force.
So If the people will take The matter
up with these progressive powers of Biz
mingham, ! am sure that we shall have
a well sprinkied city during the coming
summer months.
It seems that Birmingham is really to
be a big cotton center as well as an iron
market. 1t Is the first city in the south
to take up the matter of the construe-
ton of a great cotton warehouse in
which farmers and merchants may place
their product and borrow money on the
same, carrying 1t over as long as they
care to. Some of the progressive men of
Birmingham are at the head of this enter
prise and the great banks of Birmingham
are behind it. One of the largest cotton
warehouses in the country is to be erected
here and the farmers and merchants will
be enabled to hold their cotton just as
long as they want to-
The apparent temporary collapse of the
iron merger deal has had no effect what
ever upon Birmingham great many
people here think it best for the district
that the proposed merger has not been a
go. On the other hand there are many who
believe that there must be a consolida-
ton of several of the large iron companies
and that the same will come ABOUT within
the year. AS a matter of fact there is
not a single iron Manufacturing concern
in the Birmingham district which is not
prospecting at the present time. OF course
there is a shortage of labor In some of the
mines consequent upon the strike and be-
cause of the recent unfortunate accident
in one of the mines. But most of the
companies are producing almost their nor
NAL capacity and some of them are more
prosperous than at any time within ten
years. AS a matter of fact, conditions In
the Birmingham district are in better
shape than for many years past and they
are improving every day.
Merger or no merger, Birmingham is GO
ing ahead rapidly. Every railroad enter
ing the district is adding to it's rolling
stock and is providing for additional ter
minal facilities. A new passenger depot
is In sight and much property has recent
ly been purchased for great wholesale
and manufacturing establishments. One
concern has contracted for more than
100000 of property within the last week,
and I am told llat several million dol
lars is to be invested within the city limits
of Birmingham within the next few
months
If actual investments, Improvement and
work avail anything, Birmingham prom
ses to have the greatest year of pros
perity of any city in the south.
40
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-03-19
About Persons.

w f. Mel, we'll known business man
of Montgomery, is at the Norris
C. Underwood of Altoona is at the Nor
rig.
t. C. Robertson of Cincinnati is stop
ping at the Morris.
ris.
]. L. Wyatt Of Ham on, o. is at the
Morris.
r. j. Ferguson and j. L. Ferguson OF
Atlanta are stopping at the Morris.
C. II. Hause OF Memphis is at the Nor
ris.
Max Hagedorn OF the Atlanta Paper
company is at the Hillman.
Frank l.. Rhoe of Mobile is at the Hill
man.
H. G. Sweet of Chicago is at the Co.
lonial.
ID. A. Cambell of cianton is at the
Metropolitan.
q. f. sedberry of Wetumpl-a. assistant
examiner OF public accounts and member
OF the state democratic committee. is at
the Metropolitan.
J. E. Smith. who has been day clerk
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-03-19
Vanderbilt Alumni.

The local alumni association of Van
derbilt university held an enthusiastic
meeting Friday afternoon in the offices OF
Eaugh & Williams. The object of the
meeting was to arrange some entertain
ment for the Vanderbilt Glee club, which
Is scheduled here for the evening of March
so. The Glee club IS said to be in better
form this season than ever before and
have had rous.ng receptions wherever
they have played.
Mr.. Washburn, Birmingham man, has
the management and training of the club
and If the plans of the local alumni are
carried out, Birmingham will receive this
talented musician in good style. Among
other things a dance has been arranged
at the Country club after the Gee club
concert.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-03-19
REFLEcTloNs OF \ BACHELOR

From the New York Press.
A girl gets over blushing about the
time she ought to begin.
It's very careless to kiss your wife as If
you thought she wasn't.
A woman can't help thinking the state
has poor business sense not to have bar
gain days in taxes
No matter how late in the morning
man comes home his wife thinks he ought
to look in the closet to see II burglar
Is there.
The interest on the money a man
spends for flowers and candy when he is
engaged 10 girl would keep her sup
piled all the years of her married life
when he doesn't do It any more.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-03-19

feeling between the two cities, soon
to be linked together by three railroad
lines. The more lines the better, for
soon Birmingham may be shipping
goods brought up on its Warrior river
barges to the commercial focus of
the southeast.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-03-19
HE WAS CHARGED.

From the Baltimore Sun.
polite, mlddle-aged negro was locked
nm at the Eastern station charged with
being drunk on the street
An officer passing the cell asked: SAM
what are you charged within
BOSS. Ise charged with alcohol" was
the reDV.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-03-19
IN COLORADO.


(Sung by the author to the tune Of Mr..
Dooley.,)
There is a state in this fair land
OF course you know Its name
They call it Colorado and
1t has achieved great fame.
There they stun the ballot box
And sell out for the stuff
While running for an office is
Nothing but blum.
Chorus.
In Colorado, in Colorado,
That's where money buys the votes.
In Colorado. in Colorado.
In Colorado, RADIO, radoree.
HYMN OF THE NIGHT.
A Young man in his evening toys
Went out to see the town
And when he saw it double, why
He then began to frown.
Said he. There's something out OF gear.
I've known 1t all along,
For while my head is very right
l fear my feet are wrong.
IN THE GRANDSTAND.
Two strikes. three ballsi'
You really sit on tacks.
But you quickly grow ecstatic when
He taps 1t for three sacks.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-03-19
HAT is all this talk about any
way? The Wall Street papers
are full of talk about watered

VA HAT is all this talk about any
WV way? The Wall Street papers
w are full of talk about watered
stocks and there has been much talk of
water in the proposed merger deal affect
ing the iron and coal properties of the
Birmingham district.
And now some of the people. supposedly
interested In Birmingham. are inclined
not only to want more water IN stocks
hereabouts, but to agltate more water for
Pill ningham.
A. a matter of fact, have never known
anybody, anything or any corporation ex-
listing or doing business in the Blrmlng-
ham district to suffer for water II they
were willing to pay for it. Some people
have kicked because they couldn't get a
surplus of water for nothing. Others kick
because the price of water might be a
trifle higher than they think 1t worth
But all have had all they want when they
were willing to pay a reasonable price
fo- 1t.
OF course we all know that Birmingham
Is not ON the Tennessee river. 1t is not
even directly on the Warrior river. And
THE v al IlOOSt Is SUN pIaS Eh-lOl
industry
1t is all well enough to talk about bring
ing water here from North Alabama in
an open canal which will flow through
certain sections of territory surrounding
Birmingham, and to bring II here at pub
lie expense. But it strikes me that the
feasible thing to do is for the city and
county to buy the present water works
system, or else for til leading people
here to negotiate with these people to sup
ply Birmingham with unflltered water for
manufacturing purposes at a reasonable
price.
It was only few years ago when we
were all making a demand for purer and
better water. We were getting mud and
sand through our water pipes. We were
bathing in a saturated solution of mud
As It Is now. Birmingham Is getting the
plrest and best water of any city in all
tn, south. The home filter is no longer a
necessity and Il no longer used. The wa
ter works peopl needed the protest ard
solved the problem.
Row that we want more water for man.
ufacturing purposes let US zeal with the
water works company and get it, or else
let us take over the water supply of Biz
mingham by either a direct trade or con-
domination proceedings If necessary. But
l don't see the virtue in a whole lot Of
tt.lk for nothing.
& =
As a matter of fact, I am told that Biz
mingham is getting water as cheap as
any other city In the south. don't know
this to be true, but l am told that in
Chattanooga, on the banks of the Ten
nessee river. only one or two of the big
manufacturing enterprises are pumping
their water from the river. All the
others are taking their supply from the
company which furnishes the city.
In Birmingham l see no reason why
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-03-19

Rockefeller can dictate the price of
oil, but he could not prevent a strike
among the men at work on his sky
scraper at Cleveland Great is organ
lied labori
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-03-19

1t appears that Kuropatkin got the
hot end all around. Kuropatkin is a
good sort, but his job was too large
for him, and besides his soldiers were
Russians.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-03-19

no trouble in either respect provided
the public schools will use it. The
boys and girls should be taught what
lies under their feet, its possibilities
and values. II this can be brought
about, the problem Is solved, and Ala
bama will take long step forward.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-03-19

Grand Duke Nicholas concluded that
he did not want the job of escorting
q broken army back to Hardin. He
put 1t on Lineoyitch.