davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-12
MAY LOSE JOBS,
Too Many Cats In the Department of
Mouse Catching.

From the New York Herald.
Removals from the department of NOISE
catching in the general post office are
expected within the next few days. The
number of cats in the basement has in
creased to such an extent that it is inn
possible to keep their feed within the gov
eminent appropriation of So a month.
Some of them have got to go, and the
public, which may be interested in first
class cats of the right stamp, is requested
to call and make selections. There are
some cats there which descended from
the Original belled cat which lived in
the post office when the building was
down on Nassau street, many years ago.
They can pounce on mice like an old time
dating stamp on a registered letter.
Never was a greater variety of breeds
under one roof than that which may be
found in the basement of the post office.
Some of the animals wandered into the
place from City Hall park. They are of
the tortoiseshell variety, and are able
fighters and good hunters. There are NAL
tese cats and black cats. white cats and
cats of a peaceful gray.
Occasionally one gets in the mail bags,
and is carried to some distant city or is
kept permanently in the employ of the
railway post office by the clerks on the
mail flyers.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-12
Relief for the Money Market.

Secretary Shaw oyerlooks Wall
street and the speculative world to
place the blame for stringency in
money upon the cotton farmer in the
south, who. after demanding cash for
his bales. carries that money home in
his pocket. The western farmer, says
Mr.. Shaw. is paid in checks when he
sells wheat or corn or cattle, and he
deposits the checks in his bank, and
he does not absorb currency as does
his brother who grows cotton in the
south. SecI etary Shaw goes on to say
tina, the cotton money in the south will
be returned to the banks when the
southern farmers settle with their mer-
chants soon after the first of Jan.
uary.' but between now and then the
cotton-consuming country as well as
the cotton-producing country will be
short of money.
This makes the cotton farmer a big
factor in the currency situation, but
it at the same time puts on him all the
blame of creating high money rates, no
mention being made of the speculative
interests that are to be found in every
nook and corner of the land with Wall
street as focal point or base of opera
tions.
But, be this as it may, the Secretary
concluded that the time was fully ripe
for relief, and he proceeded to deposit
in eleven cities ten millions of dollars,
and to give notice that he will buy gov
eminent AS due next year at premiums
ranging up to 2 per cent. He will re-
deem those bonds up to ten millions of
dollars. Here is total relief amount
ing to $4,000 900. This seems to have
been what Wall street wanted, for the
call money rate at once fell from IS
per cent to per cent, and the specu-
lators are happy.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-12
Cotton In Alabama and Texas.

The census bureau reports that To-
025,445 bales had been ginned to De-
cember l of this years crop, as against
9,2S2,191 bales in the corresponding
period of last year. The report was
considered in the markets of a bullish
nature, and prices were slightly adj
vanced. The acreage this year was not
large, and yet current estimates call
for a commercial crop, including lint
ers, exceeding 12,500,0O0 bales. Every
bale will be taken by a naked world
and so long as the demand is strong
we need not be troubled by the size Of
the crop.
In this state 1893 ginneries were ii
operation, and they had turned cut UP
to the opening of the present month
: bales last year in the corresponding
period. Usually 80 per cent of the crop
is baled in this state en- December 1
If we add on account of unbaled cotton
and linters 100000 bales, we will have
a state total of 1.169,000 bales, as
against crop of 100000 bales last
year.
Texas and Indian territory had great
crops this year, and were it not for the
four million bales, more or less, that
they grew this year we would be wit
Messing today cotton famine. They
will make at least million bales more
than they did one'year ago.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-12

They will appeal in hundred ways 70
Senators to defeat in some manner the
pending bill. 1t may simply be pigeon
holed. Those who desire to see the bill
become a law should get in touch with
all the Senator's they know or can in
fiuenee.
AS things now stand, money is hur-
ried away from banks in agricultural
counties to commercial centers, chiefly
to New York, because the big banks
pay interest on balances, and in this
way the money of the country districts
sadly needed at home for development
purposes, is gathered in to swell the
funds of spectators and magnates in
Wall street. Congress should not vote
to continue this drain upon the deserv.
ing for the benefit of those who are not
an unmixed blessing to the country.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-12
The Corn Crop.

I'm no particular has the United States
shown more wonderful strides than in the
INCREASE of the corn crop during the last
quarter of a century," said one who de-
lights in statistics.
"In 1872 this country reached the one
billion bushel mark. The intervening one
third of century has shown an increase
in acreage of three times the yield and
four times the value. In the past ten
years we have added 15,000000 acres in
the land devoted to the corn crop until
we are close to 10O,OO0,000 acres, or to be
exact $685. 600.
"Only once has the yield of SO.2 per acre
been equaled or exceeded; in 1872 1t was
1913. In one single year, 1S94-5, the in
creased acreage in corn was 10000, 900
acres. This crop sold for the lowest price
on record, an average of % cents per
bushel Notwithstanding the enormous in
crease in production steadily the price
has ruled fairly good.
although the propaganda attempted
a few years ago to popularize the use of
corn products in Europe has been COM
paratively barren of results, the home
consumption for food and for stock rails
ing has made market for our near 9O00,-
100000 bushels of corn. 1t is in the produce
ton of meat that a large amount has
been used, for we only export 10 per
cent of crop, worth $1,215, 100000.
"Veriy, the tasseled tops of King Corn
bring rich returns to our farmers, giving
us meat bread and wine"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-12
NEW CIRCUS COMBINE

with Mr. Bailey. An agreement with him
to divide territory made strife for patron
age impossible, except in isolated cases,
but the quintet planned boldly for the
coming season.
Circus year ended in November, and the
Ringing Brothers at once threw down the
gauntlet. They would route their shows
as it pleased them, they notified the Bar
mum Bailey men; wanted no working
agreement of any kind, and the other
show had better keep out of their way.
John Ringing established headquarters
in the office of Thompson & Dundy, in
this city, and, although none of the prin-
cipals will discuss it, the belief is general
that an alliance has been formed
between the two amusement firms. Fred
eric Thompson has long had an ambition
to conduct a big travelling organization OF
the circus type, and Ringing saw in him
possible dangerous opponent if the pur-
pose executed.
Negotiations for the control of tine
Hagenbeck circus have been going on for
two months and the terms were definitely
settled yesterday. 1t was the property of
Carl Hagenbeck, a Hamburg animal deal
en-, and ranks in Importance and size with
the biggest nomadc enterprises. The
Ringlings will not winter it at their quar-
tiers in Baraboo, Wis. but sent half of its
properties to Cincinnati until spring. and
utilize the rest, comprising thirty cars
of equipment, in a three months tour of
Mexico
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-12
Public Buildings.

Il see that the supervising architect
of the treasury in Washington has not
reached the Alabama buildings ordered
by the last session Of Congress-" said
public man.
1T is not generally known that much
time is required by the supervising archi-
tects' assistants to prepare the designs
artistcally for all the public buildings.
Much field for artistic exploitation is
offered and today nothing is more typical
of our life and the component parts of
our citizenship than the multifarious
types of architecture shown in custom
houses, postoffice buildings and federal
structures throughout. the states.
In some of the older states the re-
naissanee type is shown. In the west a
composite of many blended types are
found. For instance, the Oriental and
Romanesque will be blended. Again, in
the borders there will be seen a type of
the Spanish and Dutch composite. Yet
others are so bizarre that no name can
be distinctly fitted thereto.
Here in the south, not fnfrequently,
there has been nicely of adaptation in
many places to the classic composite,
notably in this state the Admission build
ing in marble. Then again, the touch of
semi is found but to repeat, the
composite and varying types of our cit
izenshp made up in part of many ma
tionalities, is distinctly emphasized in our
national Notwithstanding distinctly
individual but throughout the whole coun-
try all in all characteristic
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-12
EPIDEMIC OF DELAYED TRAINS.

From the Mobile Register.
1t would be interesting to have a state
ment of how much time is lost in any
alone by reason of delayed railroad
trains. The writer Travelled three-quar-
ters of one day last week on two trains,
and lost three hours of actual time at
on one of the trains. In his company at
the Mobile station were a score or so of
people, and no one knows how long they
had been waiting for the train.
Like delays and inconvenience are ex-
perienced at all the principal junction
points and at way stations. Seldom, in
deed. is a train on time and often trains
are hours late. Commercial men are very
greatly damaged and disconnected and
their lives made miserable by the way
trains are run.
A protest in Birmingham lately had
result in getting the Southern railway
mana cement to order that its trains shall
not wait longer than thirty minutes for
trains to connect at junction points. This
is something gained, although it promises
no cure for the Southern's own delays.
What is the matter? Why Is it that the
Louisville and Nashville trains and the
Southern railway trains are so often and
so much behind time? Is it because these
roads are attempting the impossible? Are
they putting too much through business
or too much local upon their equipment?
or is it little of both? We recall nice
row that was raised some twenty years
ago about delayed trains, and it had its
origin here in Mobile. 1t had its effect,
too. Tor a long time. 1t would seem fitting
now TO treat this as Il public question.
What can our commercial bodies do about
IL? We do not know. but they can try.
Wake up, Let us see If there is not some
thing to be done to help ourselves and
others.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-12
AS to Cardinals.

"All this RooseVelt-Storer correspond
ence growing out of an alleged effort on
part of the administration to have the
Pope create Archbishop Ireland a car
dinal is interesting, but If the distin-
gushed prelate In question ever had any
chance of receiving the red hat such a
chance has vanished" said a well in
formed man. archbishop Ireland may
well exclaim, Save me from my friendsl'
''rhe fact is the United States will have
only one cardinal so long as Cardinal Glib
bons lives 1t was stated on vatican au-
thority not long since that in compliment
to Gibbons he would have the distinc-
ton of being the sole American in the
College of Cardinals. The red hat was
bestowed on the Baltimore prelate in 1856.
During the past twenty years the
New York Herald and other great pa
pers have periodically learned on the
highest authority that the archbishop of
New York would be created cardinal
at the next consistory.' First it was the
late Archbishop Corrigan, now it is Arch
bishop Farley.
Cardinal Gibbons is only a little past
70 years of age, and as he is In good
health may live out another decade. In
time to come the United States will have
doubtless several cardinals at the same
time. But Archbishop Farley and Arch
bishop Ireland will have passed away,
and the red hats will come to churchmen
now young and unknown"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-12
Street Car Etiquette.

81 have no intention to offer any apol-
ogy or excuse for that member of the
genus homo known as the end seat hog,
but | would like to say a word about
the whole seat woman. said a resi-
dent of East Lake.
81 have often stood on the platform of
the car all the way from Birmingham to
East Lake rather than face the whitening
look woman will give the man who
presumes to take a seat beside her on a
street carr especially if the man be such
a one as | am, dressed in my working
clothes.
"A woman will take up the whole seat
by spreading her dress out or setting a
parcel beside her. and if a man comes
along to occupy the vacant seat she con-
siders ii piece of impertinence ON his
part, and does all in her power to make
him feel uncomfortable. On cold night
it is not very pleasant to stand outside
and see vacant seats inside, but 1 have
occupied both positions and prefer the
platform.
I'm conclusion I would just like to say
that courtesy is the distinguishing mark
of lady. It's pity the world hasn't
more of IT"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-12
Peace Prize From Norway.

Yesterday was Reace's red-letter day.
The Norwegian Parliament had been
authorized to confer an annual prize
on the individual in the wide, wide
world who had in the year done the
most to promote peace. The prize
awarded to Theodore Roosevelt is for
the year 1906, and the work was done
at Portsmouth, where a fearfully
bloody war between Japan and Rus
STA was brought to an end. President
Roosevelt caused the Portsmouth CON
ference to be held, and he kept it in
critical periods from adjourning with
out accomplishing the object for which
it had been called together. He acted
boldly, bravely, and efficiently, and the
peace prize for the year clearly went
to the right man, for no other man in
the year had done SO much to restore
peace ON earth and good will among
men.
This is the first Nobel prize that has
been awarded to this country. Alfred
Bernard Nobel, a Swede by birth, died
in 1896. He left a large fortune made
in dynamite factories. He invented
that explosive in 1867 and when he
died he controlled fifteen dynamite
factories in various parts CT the world.
When his will was opened it was ascer-
tanned that he had left fund amount
ing to SO, 100000 to be invested, The
annual interest of which is to be di-
vided annually in five parts, one Of
which was to go to the person who had
done the most for peace. One part
goes to the writer of the best magma
tive book, and the other three parts so
to men who have advanced in the high
est degree scientific subjects. Each
of the five annual prizes is about $40,-
900.
Theodore Roosevelt has decided to
emulate the example Of Alfred Nobel
by donating his prize money to the
promotion of peace between capital and
labor in his own country. Herein we
have a peace prize in the international
field working for the cause of peace in
the national field Of industry, and
Nobers money may thus go long way
and do world of good. Nobel the
donor, and Norway and Theodore
Roosevelt and the people of the United
States are each and all honored In this
noble piece of business of the twentieth
century.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-12
SEABoARD'S PLANS.
Most of the $1s,ooo,ooo Elves Will Be
Devoted to Refunding Purposes.
From the New York Herald.

From the New York Herald.
Regarding the intention of the Seaboard
Air Line railway to authorize an issue of
SIS 100000 new per cent bonds, it is I'M
derstood that the $7.9O0OOO which will be
issued Immediately are to be devoted
mostly to refunding purposes.
It is pointed out that the road, since
December 81, 1903, has expended very
nearly $14, 600 for betterments, improve
ments and equipment. This sum also in
cludes the payment of obligations out
standing, and advances for the construc-
ton and operation of the Atlanta and Bir-
mingham Air Line railway.
OF this amount, the largest item was
81, 800 900 for advances on account of the
Atlanta and Birmingham Air Line. The
sum of $2S 900 was devoted to the pay
ment of notes and open accounts. For
construction and betterments and the pur-
chase of material supplies. s2,5OO,OOO was
expended.
To raise funds for the payment of these
operations, there was made an issue of
100000, three years collateral trust and
general lien bonds, due March, 1907 A
large amount of notes was also issued,
and securities held in the companys treas
ury were sold.
The S,S00,000 new bonds soon to be is
sued at 90 will realize about s6,570,OOO.
After refunding the 100000 bonds due in
March, about 100000 is to be devoted to
the payment of outstanding notes held
other than by the Seaboard company.
The remaining funds will be devoted to
expenditures on the railway line.
1t appears that in the neighborhood of
100000 notes will be outstanding in Feb
ruary, 1907, of which 100000 will be held
by the Seaboard company. The remainder
of the new bonds to be authorized-$10,-
ZOO 000-will probably be issued from time
to time as needed.
Conditions one the Seaboard Air Line
are by no means satisfactory. AS is the
case with most of the southern roads,
the property is in need of a comprehen-
sive plan for it's improvement and de-
velopment to meet the requirements of the
growing south. The southern roads, more
over, have not as a rule been enabled
to share in the general railway prosperity
of the country.
The Seaboard now faces a heavy in
crease in fixed charges, while its operating
expenses have been steadily mounting
up. The first quarter for the present
fiscal year showed a deficit of $4,000, as
compared with a surplus of $4,000 in 1906.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-12
Map OF BIRMINGHAM.

At the instance and request of Con
gresham Underwood the United States
geological survey undertook the task
of making a survey of Birmingham and
the mapping of its various features.
The work is done, and the map has
been published, and copies of it can be
obtained at five cents each on applica-
ton to the director of the geological
survey, Washington, D. C.
On the map is shown not only the
central town, but also its numerous
suburbs, including its railroad and cleo.
trio lines. The coal fields near The city
are also shown, and Red mountain
with its wealth Of iron, and the ridge
of ebert, and the deposits Of limestone
and of fine clays. Every material
needed in the manufacture Of iron or
steel lies within a distance of three
miles from Birmingham. OF what
other city in the world can this be
said? The ores melted in Pittsburg
are mined a thousand miles away, and
the fuel consumed in Chicago's iron
and steel mills bears the tolls of five
hundred miles of railroad transporta.
ton. One city alone has all within a
radius of three miles, and that city is
the one that the geological survey has
just presented on map that is at once
scientific and satisfactory.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-12
Bank Loans on Lands.

The House bill to permit national
banks to loan money on farm land has
been sent to the Senate. No loan is to
be made exceeding one-half of the val
uation of the land "conservatively esti-
mated" and no lean of this nature IS
to run longer than a year. The entire
amount laoned by bank on farm
lands is not to exceed one-quarter of
the total capital and surplus of the
bank. The bill was passed by the
House, and it has gone to the Senate.
Its fate is uncertain in the Senate,
because the larger national banks
themselves do not desire it, and be-
cause all interests centered in Wall
street are strongly opposed TO it. The
latter want for their own uses and pur-
poses the largest possible supply of
money.
The pending bill would not introduce
unsound banking in country districts.
Limited as loans on farm lands are by
the bill, it would not in any manner
introduce an element of uncertainty or
risk. The truth simply is, the men
who have long monopolized the money
held by national banks do not desire
to divide their privilege with the farm
ers. They have thus far been able 20
shut the farmer out, and they seem to
think thew can kean him out hereafter
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-12
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Large Southern Cities.

birmingham is growing rapidly" said
c. B. Ryan, general passenger agent OF
the Seaboard, who was here last week,
but Norfolk seems to be growing quite
as fast. Norfolk is going forward at
phenomenal rate and will give a fine ae-
count of itself in the next census.
Richmond has just extended its bound
aries and it is claimed that its population
in 1910 will be something like 125'00o.
Nashville, which recently annexed extern
sive outlying territory, has now a popu-
lation of about 10000, which makes it as
large, If not larger than Memphis. At
lanta's population is considerably over
$4,000, but 1t can hardly hope to make
as good a showing in 1910 as Memphis,
Nashville or even Richmond.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-12
SUNFLOWER PHILOSOPHY.

From the Atchison (Kan.) Globe.
When woman runs for office she
looks as she does when she runs for a
car-funny.
If you make figures before election peo-
pie will know what bad guesser yeu
are.
When the neighbors can't find any otfs
er fault with a woman they grumble that
she is entirely too patient with her chill
dren.
What has become of the old-fashioned
mother who made her little girl back up
against the door when there was com-
pany, make a bow, and recite?
When a woman spends more than she
can afford on her clothes she attracts
almost as much unfavorable comment
as she would IL she went around with
out enough on.
The boy of today, in his unthankful
moments, should remember that he
doesn't have to saw and chop UP natural
gas, and fill the wood box with it every
night after school,
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-12
MISS DANDY.
e Field.

BY Eugene Field.
The other night as in my bed
l lay profoundly sleeping.
An angel babe, with hairless head
Came through the darkness creeping;
And, waking at the dawn of day,
Bliss percolated through me,
When, smiling in her artless way,
She murmured Papa to me-
Strange, was it not? But stranger still
What next claimed my attention
The robes, with wealth of tuck and fril1
Too numerous to mention;
Whence came these bibs, with lace be-
decked;
These fiannels all so handy?
And who could possibly suspect
The coming of Miss Dandy?
Well. she shall live thousand years
Unmindful of each morrow;
Her eyes shall know no plash of tears
Her heart no touch of sorrow:
And she shall dress in silk and lace
And feed on taffy candy
God bless her fuzzy little face
Ny little angel Dandy.