davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-27
ELABORATE REPORT
 ON SOIL SURVEYS
DEPARTMENT DURING PAST YEAe HAS SURVEYED 16,752, 1920 ACRES. ALkALi IS PROBLEM IN THE WESTERN STATES.

Washington, December 26-The soils survey of the department of agriculture had surveyed 16, 752, ,S20 acres of land dur ing the past fiscal year, according to the annual report of the soils bureau Sur veys were made in twenty-eight states Rhode Island is the first state in the union of which a complete survey has been made.
 The maps show that different kinds of soil which occur in each area.
 The report says that the work during the past eight years shows the three great agricultural problems now are
 First-The western farmer is chiefly con- cerned with the presence of alkali, and It's removal or control
 second-The eastern farmer Is chiefly concerned with the study of the adapta- tion of the proper crop to the proper soil; and,
 Third-Wfth the maintenance or restora- ton of soil fertility.
 The tobacco investigations of the pu- reau have been extended.
 .Co-operative experiments have been carried on with the farmers" the report adds, with the result that new varieties of filler tobacco are being grown that sell from 2S to 40 cents per pound, with an average price of % cents. In this man Ter new industry is being developed in region where the staple crop--cotton-is being seriously threatened by the ravages of the boil weeyil. In the Connecticut valley work on the production of high grade of wrapper tobacco grown under tents has been continued. Ohio Is using the new method of bulk Fermentation, and has been thoroughly introduced, re- sulting in the saving of thousands of dol- lars to the tobacco producers of the state. In Virginia the improvement of the plug wrapper tobaccos has been undertaken through better methods of production and handling. Under the methods Introduced uy the bureau of soils, profits have been increased from 5 per acre under the oid system to nearly 80 per acre under the new system.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-27
RESURRECTION IS
 FEARED IN WARSAW
Street Railroad Employees Strike and Railway Men Are Expected to
 Follow Suit.

Warsaw December 26.-The street rail road employees struck tonight and the em- ployes of the steam railroads are expected to follow suit.
 An armed insurrection similar to that at Moscow is feared by majority
 The military authorities are making every preparation and have ordered the entire garrison to be ready for an emer- gency.
 Detachments of infantry occupy the railroad stations.
 Many members of trades unions and a number of revolutionaries have been ar rested.
 The workmen here threaten to begin a strike tomorrow. and an armed rising in the coal mining district is also threat ened. It is declared that 12,0oO men are ready to fight the troops.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-27
PROPOSES NAVEL CONGRESS.
Sir Edwin Cornell Would Assemble
 Representatives From Cities of 500

London. December 28-sir Edwin Cor nell, chairman of the county council, to- day issued the press proposal for an international congress of representatives of capitals of municipal methods.
 Sir Edwin says he is encouraged 10 make this suggestion by the good results following the recent exchange of amenities between the London county council and the Paris municipal council. In conjunc- ton with the council he also proposes a congress between the pupils of the schools controlled by the municipalities that are members 0. the congress
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-27
Wants Southern Immigration Port.
Hamper With BIackburn's Mail.

postoffce inspector has been sent to Frankfort. Ky. to Investigate charges that the mall of Senator Blackburn of Kentucky has been tampered with Black burn is making fight for reelection, his opponent being Judge T. c. Paynter, who has the support of Governor Beck ham, It is alleged that the mail opened contained information relative to the sen- atortaI race
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-27
THROUGH WITH UNIONS. American Bridge Co. Will Finish all Contracts With Non-Union Men.

Cleveland, O., December 26.-Referring to the long-continued strlKe of structural iron workers against the American Bridge company. manager E. M. Sprague of the latter company, said today:
 We are through with union labor for all time. All our contracts covering struc- tural work will be completed by non-union labor.
 We are paying even more than the union scale to our present force Of work men throughout the United States, and besides we are getting better results at less cost than obtained under union labor bosses before the strike began"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-27
COUNTRY BETTER TODAY
 THAN EVER IN HISTORY
SPEAKER CANNON SAYS PEOPLE ARE MORE HONEST, MORE MORAL -.- .-ee nisPOSED TO YIELD I'd ION.
26.-Speaker

Washing rama 26.-Speaker , Cannon callers at the White F. -lz desired simply to pay his Christmas greetings to the President, but was obliged to defer them, as the President had gone to the coun- | try for a long horseback ride. The Speaker was in excellent spirits and talked with his newspaper friends in a characteristic way.
 They say things are not like they were | in the old days; that we are becoming aristocratic; that there is no longer hon esty in legislative bodies; that there is nc
 ability at the bar; that we are liable to
 become a monarchy: that some strong | man is liable to rise up and dominate everybody.
 1 But I say there Is no fair-minded man who studies the history of this country | from the days of its foundation down to the present time, and who deduces the difference between eight millions of the | people and eighty millions who considers the telegraph, telephone and the railroads, i who will not say that we are markedly
 better physically, mentally and morally than our granfathers or even our 1 fathers"
 "Then. you believe the House of Repre-
 sentatves today just as representative as 1t was in years gone by?'
 "Yes; yes, indeed the Speaker replied 1 "The House is just as representative a
 body now as 1t was when this country
 had only ten millions of people. If you 1 listen to all that Is said, you might be- l lieye the country is fast going to the ] devil; is fast becoming monarchy, an0 1 will cease soon to be d republic l do ] not hesitate to say that this country IS
 better today than it ever was in it's his i tory. that the people are more honest,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-27
Report Favorable to Mccall.

New York. December 26.-The inyesti- eating committee of the New York Lire trustees held meeting today, at which
 were present Thomas Fl. Fowler, Clarence Fl. Mackay, August D. Payne, Norman b. Ream and Hiram R. Steele members or the committee, their counsel, and John "A. Mccall, president of the New York life. The report sent from Paris by An drew s. Hamilton was considered and re- ferred to the counsel. Al the close of the meeting MT. Fowler said nothing could be given out. MT. Mccall stated that the report was favorable to himself.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-27
HERolsM Is RECOGNIZED.
Captain Gibb of Lighthouse Service IS
 Given Substantial Increase.

washington, December 26.-As reward for bis nrompt action in going to the relief of lightship No. 5S' OH 4>aiituches recently, as the result or whlch ,hir'eeh men constituting the crew or the hsh'- ship were rescued from almost certain death, Captain Gibb of the lighthouse tender Azalia, has received substantial increase in salary.
 The suggestion that Captain Gibb should thus be officially recognized came hrst from Admiral Dewey in conversation with Captain Sebree, naval secretary of tho Iipbthouse board The suggestion met with instant favor and the boards s recom- mendation was approved by Secretary Metcalf. The notification to Captain Gibo was so timed that it would reach him the day before Christmas.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-27
Will Respond to All Calls.

In other words, Cosonei Stevens pro poses to hold himself In readiness to re- spond to any call of this kind which may be made and to go on short notice to any part of the state for the purpose of look ing into matters which may be brought to the attention of the commission for US consideration and adjudication.
 The railroad commission Is exceedingly fortunate in having a member like Colonel Stevens to attend to this feature of the work Not only is he well equipped for 1t naturally, but he has a wide acqualnt- ance over the state, gained through travel which will be of great advantage to him in this connection, and he will, no doubt, be able to gather valuable information along the lines indicated where others could not.
 Colonel Stevens proposes to take up this work at once and to prosecute 1t, as he hopes. to the advantage of the people of the state wherever they need the ser vices of the railroad commission in mat ters of the nature indicated and which come within the proper Jurisdiction of that body.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-27
Regiments Return to Duty.
Fighting Not Vet Ended.

All over the city there are marks of the battle which has ragged in the streets for three days, and the distant booming of cannon shows that the fighting is not yet at an end
 Houses have been completely demolish- ed by the artillery, and everywhere win dows have been smashed by bullets.
 Governor General Doubassoff has pro- hibited t1le opening of windows. he better class are afraid to venture on the streets owing to the fact that numerous bombs and other deadly missiles are being thrown from the windows or roofs of houses. Near the triumphal arch could be seen today the red flags of the in- surgents flying above their barrcades. Soldiers surrounded the continental hotel and artillery was brought up as it was claimed that shot had been fired from one of the windows
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-27
STRIKERS CRUSHED
 RUSSIA IS VICTOR
Military Has Moscow Situation Hand and Reds" Will Soon Recover St, Petersburg Prefec is Informed That
 10000 Have Fallen During the Strife Lead zs.
 CTS of the Fighting Legions Captured s
All Windows and Doors in Moscow Are Stuffed WtF esses and the PopuIace is Terror Stricken Twe.a Ines of Snow Falls in Capital in Forty-Eight $.
 American Property is Guarded

of the executive committee, which num- bered forty-seven members.
 The government is confident that these captures practically put an end, for the present at least, to any attempt to repeat in St. Petersburg the uprising at Mos COW.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-27
Makes Personal Investigations.

Colonel Stevens, however, has rendered his services, and they have been accepted by the commission. for the purpose or making investigation personally of all complaints of this nature, no matter now great or small their consequences may be.
 If any town in Georgia asks the com mission to require one or more railroads to establish a depot and put up depot building, Colonel Stevens will go there to inquire into the necessities of the case, Thus when the matter comes up for a hearing before the commission, he Will De able to present to that body the exact circumstances of the situation. If any town in Georgia makes complaint as to freight rates, Colonel Stevens VIII go there and confer with It's citizens and find out just what effect is produced by the discriminations which they may com plain of If any Georgia town or any Georgia shipper complains of a lack or equipment to handle the business offered, or of equipment which is unfit for ser vice, Colonel Stevens will confer with those interested and endeavor to discover the best way in which to remedy the trouble
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-27
OUTLOOK IMPROVES
 IN RUSSIA'S CAPT AL
Red Cross Wagons in Moscow Are as Busy as On a Battlefield in
 the Orient.

St. Petersburg, December 26-6 D. m.)- From the standpoint of the government there was slight improvement in the outlook this afternoon.
 From the standpoint of the revolution ary leaders, all now depends upon the situation at Moscow. A telephone mes sage just received from the Associated Press from Moscow says the fighting in the streets continued throughout the day but the populace is not participating and the troops are gradually getting the up- per hand The soldiers are hemming in the main body of the insurgents in the quadrilateral near the Brest railroad sta tion bounded by Tversakaia street and Tverskoi. Sadovia and Bronnia boule- yards In this quadriateral the insur- gents have fortified every inch of their lines with felled trees and telegraph poles and street cars in front of which they have constructed a net work of entangle- ments. Artillery is being used mercilessly.
 Regiments Return to Duty.
 Two of the grenadier regiments have returned to duty and are fighting on the side of the government Troops also have arrived from St. Petersburg
 The first which destroyed the Brest station and other places last night have been practically extinguished and the danger of the destruction of the city by fire seems to be over for the present.
 As the correspondent of the Associated Press drove through the accessible streets of the city, he saw the patrols firing every time the people gathered in groups In the Streitonoi boulevard he saw three volleys fired, and a dozen persons fall. while the remainder fed. He met a dozen impro- vised Red Cross wagons bringing in dead or wounded for whom there was no longer place in the morgues or hospitals, ne- cessitating the temporary use of resi- dences.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-27
Georgia Railroad Commission
 Adopts New Plan
STEVENS ID TRAVEL ABOUT
He Will Investigate Local Complaints Personally and Report to the Commission on His
 Findings.

Atlanta, December 26.-(Special)-The railroad commission has decided to pur- sue a more active course in the future in the matter of investigating all manner of complaints which are brought to It's attention. and to that end one or the members of that body, o. B. Stevens, mas been designated committee of one to look into and repon upon such com plaints of local nature as are brought to the commissions attention.
 This work will be actively inaugurated with the beginning of the new year. Heretofore the commission has had some difficulty in making personal investiga- ton of various complaints brought to It's attention, on account of the engagements of it's members and for other reasons, though the board has in every possible instance where anything of importance was at stake personally visited various sections of the state to see for itself what was needed.
 But there are many complaints whlch come to the commission which it's mem- hers never have the time nor the oppor- tunity to look into in advance or hear ings, and frequently they have to act solely on the testimony presented to them by the parties at interest.
The San Francisco call., 1905-08-12
Special Dispatch to The Call

RENO. Aug. 1.-THE Southern Pacific
Company to-day brought suit in the Dis
trict Court Of Washoe County to oust
prospectors now working on what they
claim as Government land in the famous
Olinshouse district. In addition the rail-
road also asks for $500 damages. The suit
practically ties up the richest mines in
Nevada, properties from which almost
virgin gold is now being extracted
Buck Ingalls, famous claim. the prop
erty Of Colonel Bovee and that of many
others are affected. and the result 1t is
thought will tie up portion Of the great
district for years to come. The railroad
claims ownership by reason of Govern
ment grants of every edd section of land
through the State. The miners, on the
other hand. claim that they are entitled
to all mineral on the land.
Several months ago the railroad an
nOunced it would cede back certain min
eraI lands in the OnnghOuse district. This
resulted in a rush to the district and
much money was invested on what is
known as section 90 the land now in DIS
pute. The news Of the big finds made
there. announced during the past few
weeks. it is thought. has caused the
Southern Pacific to take action. a bitter
suit is looked for.
The San Francisco call., 1905-08-12
Special Dispatch to tn. Can.

PORTSMOUTH, N. H, Aug. u-De-
spite the optimistio views taken in many
centers that are in close communication
with the scene of the peace conference
that the negotiations will terminate sue
cessfully there are weighty reasons for
believing that the outlook is gloomy. This
will probably be made clear tomorrow
when the Russian reply is laid before the
conference. The Russian ENJOYS take the
position:
That Russia is not defeated; that she
does not expect to be defeated in case
the war is prolonged, and that she can
not be expected to pay an indemnity and
to cede territory for these reasons:
First-Because an indemnity is not ex-
tracted from a foe that is not conquered
and is still able to fight.
Second-Because eession of territory Is
only demanded Of a foe whose country
is PROSTATE in the enemy's hands.
1t is, of course, possible the reply of
Russia will be couched in such general
terms as to permit OF a continuance of
negotiations, but Russia will make it
known that she cannot part with terri
tory and money in the present state of
the war. She is willing to get out of
Manchuria; she Is willing that Japan
should have Port Arthur, the Lao Tung
peninsula, the Eastern Chinese railroad
a protectorate over Korea and CONNER
call advantages which she is understood
to have included In her terms. She might
also be willing to debate the question Of
the size of naval force to be main
tained In the Pacific and the question of
fisheries along the Russian coast, but in
demnity and cession are so Objectionable
to her that unless these demands should
be classified by Japan as susceptible of
modification, then there is likely to be a
serious deadlock in the conference.
RUssIA'S REPLY READY.
1t will be recalled that NJ Witte, in his
statement issued on his arrival In AM
erica, pointed out that the japanese de-
mands were likely to be based on their
success in war and indicated the dis
The San Francisco call., 1905-08-12
Russia Is Not Ready to Part With Territory
and Money in Present State of War
Neiter Side Is Willing to Engage in Dlbloanc Sbavlug

parity of preparation, distance from
home and other points to show that the
result might be different should the Japa-
nese be fighting in the interior of Rus
sia. He intimated that the Japanese were
taking advantage of the internal situa-
ton in Russia and was inclined to re-
sent 1t.
This view, 1t is believed, NJ. witte has
written into his reply, and it is also
said that he will treat of the events
preceding the war to show that Japan
was the aggressor and that the war
was forced upon his country.
Dispatches from ST. Petersburg to-
night strongly uphold the position
against cession of territory and money
indemnity.
Russias reply to the Japanese
terms of peace will be delivered by M.
Witte to Baron Komura at $50 o'clock
tomorrow morning. The reply Is writ
ten, there being two texts-one in
French, the other in English. Upon
the two crucial points, indemnity and
the cession of the island Of Saghalien.
the reply Is an absolute non-possimus.
Other points are accepted as basis for
discussion, while others are accepted
conditionally. The reply is rather long.
because in enumerating the condition
on which discussion is admitted. and
those on which consideration is de-
clined, reasons and arguments are
given. Tho Japanese plenipotentiaries
are expected to ask for an immediate
adjournment to examine and prepare
this reply
Mr. witte will probably intimate that
the Russian plenipotentiaries expect the
Japanese to display as much expedition
as they. 1.-The Russians, have shown in the
preparation of their response. Monday
therefore is expected to be the day an
which the real discussion of the nego-
tiations will begin. Neither side wants
to indulge in diplomatic sparring. The
time for fencing is over and less than a
week must decide whether basis of
peace is possible.
JAPANESE ARE SILENT.
The tactics of the Japanese are inscru-
The San Francisco call., 1905-08-12
Funds Promised Do
Not ALI Materi-
alize.
Chicago Slayer Lacks
$500 for Supreme
Court Fees.
His Lawyers Make Plea to
the Public Asking Fl
nanCial Assistance.
speclal Dispatch to The Call.

CHICAGO, Aug. u.-Johann Hoch's
case may not be appealed and the sec
ond reprieve may have been in vain. Six
hundred dollars more is needed to pay
for copying the abstracts and briefs re-
Quired by the rules Of the Supreme Court
and in a last effort TO raise the money,
his new attorneys, Comerford and Neiger,
have appealed to the public for contrbu-
uons. 1t is explained that this appeal to
the public would not have been necessary
had it not been that the st. Louis editor
returned to the donors S400 raised by him
to aid Hoch in appealing the case. Com
erford and Neiger asked that contribu-
tions be sent to Jailer Whitman. Their
statement in part is as follows:
Part of the funds with which to per-
feet the appeal in the case of Johann
Hoch pledged at the time of the repreVe
Of Governor Deneen did not materialize
OF $500 subscribed for this work, $500 has
been paid for a transcript of the evidence
and $3.50 has been paid for the official
record. There is needed $500 more at once
to pay for the printing of abstracts and
briefs. as required by the rules Of the Su-
preme Court. This money must be had
If justice is to be done. We have worked
day and night preparing the case for the
Supreme Court. Every citizen who be-
1eves that poor man should have the
same rights as a rich man, and is of the
opinion that the full guilt of a man
should positively be established before
his life is taken by our State, should re-
spond to this appeal, and make whatever
contribution he can afford to Jailer Whit
man at the Cook County Jail, Chicago"
Hoch himself declined to-day 10 discuss
the action Of his attorneys in making the
above appeal to the public.
The San Francisco call., 1905-08-12

the indemnity and the cession of Sagha-
lein. The surrender of either Is i'm
possible. If Baron Komura should
yield on these points public feeling in
Japan would be so strong that he
would be murdered upon his return to
Japan We must be reimbursed for
the cost Of the war and we have na-
tional claims on Saghalein which we
have never forgotten.
About 200 years ago the island was
explored by a Japanese, Juzo Konda,
who occupied and called IL Karafuto
the name bestowed upon it by the
aboriginal Ino race. who at that time
also inhabited the island of Hokkaido.
Finally it was discovered by Rus
sian captain and a long, desultory
negotiation followed. But Japan then
was weak. She had neither army nor
navy, nor internal organization In
deed, she was almost on the verge Of
revolution. Japan could not resist and
the upshot was that Russia one day
ended the controversy by announcing e
that she would take Saghalein and give
Japan the Chishma (Kuriles) Islands,
which Japan already owned
Japan has no desire to humiliate Rus
sia more than is necessary. and even now
is seeking to avoid wounding Russia s
susceptibilities. but public opinion In Ja-
pan is absolutely so firm upon the main
The San Francisco call., 1905-08-12
DREAMING PASSENGER
JUMPS FROM TRAIN
Thinking There Had Been a
Wreck He Dives Through
Window.
Special Dispatch to The Cali

SAN BERNARDINO, Aug. u.-One Of
the passengers on the Santa Fe train
which reached here this afternoon
showed bidly skinned nose as the re-
suit Of a unique experience on the desert
Riding in the day coach, he dreamed that
the train had been wrecked. His fellow
passengers were startled by seeing him
dive head first through the window. His
neighbor grabbed at his heels, but was
too late. The man was seen to light head
first in the sand. He sat up to look at
the rear platform it sped by.
The train was running only twenty
miles an hour and the sand was deep and
loose, so the dreamer was not hurt ex-
cept on the nose Speaking with a strong
German accent, he declined to give his
name or place Of residence.