davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-16
Indian Summer.

Did you ever see such weather." said
man on the street yesterday afternoon,
and there was chorus of Noes from
half a dozen persons around him.
Here it is almost Christmas time and
a man not only does not need an over
coat but a top coat would actually
be "a burden to him if he were to wear
it, especially in the middle of the day.
"rhis has probably been the mldest
winter that Birmingham has known in
"a long time. With one exception there
has not been any freezing weather, and
the thermometer has not been below 81
degrees, but once this winter.
The Birmingham Railway, Light and
Power company is actually running sum-
mer cars and summer trailers on some
of its lines, to aid in handling the i'm
mense travel right now, and no one COM
plains that it is too cold to ride on
them
Christmas is just ten days off and the
weather is ideal Indian summer the days
being warm and the nights cool"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-16

white flannel suit simply because It
kept him warm and 1t pleased his eye
and taste At the age of II he claims
the right to wear whatever suits him.
But In Washington he went further
than an individual view of the subject,
for he then and there said that man
should begin to assert himself by wear
ing fine clothes, as do the other males
in the animal creation. He cited the
cock, the turkey gobbler, the lion and
the buffalo. As a philosopher he says
man should line up with the rest of
male creation.
The trouble is, no one can tell where
Mr. Clemens ceases to be a humorist
and becomes a philosopher. He has
so long been the former that the habit
has perhaps become fixed and chronic
and not wholly eradicable. He GER
tainly can not be trusted to lay it aside
at pleasure in the countrys capital.
The world therefore accepts his SER
monizing on clothes as but a chapter
of his customary manner, although he
did present an object lesson in white
in Washington.
Our humorists should take warning.
They cannot hope to remain humorists
throughout long and active careers Of
humor and then suddenly be accepted
as philosophers without the fling of
previous declaration giving the public
time to get into a proper frame of
mind to receive it.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-16
The Holiday Business.

Business has been unprecedentedly
good this fall and winter" said H. j.
Porter last night.
while the unseasonably warm weather
has been a serious detrement in selling
heavy clothing, still I've done probably
40 per cent more business than for the
corresponding period last year.
Business has ben equally brisk through
out the city, too. For the past few days
the holiday business has been on in dead
earnest. Tonight the streets are thronged
and the gratifying feature is that they
all have money and are ready spenders.
or course, the re-Christmas trade will
be extremely heavy during the coming
week. | observe a large number of out
'of-town people are coming to Birming-
ham to do their buying. There Is plenty
of money in circulation throughout the
rural sections and in the smaller towns,
and lot of the people take advantage of
the convenient railroad facilities and shop
here.
Birmingham, of course, is the states
metropolis recognized as such, and the
people like to come here. They are well
repaid in the better quality and cheaper
price, and the complete stocks of mer-
chandise to select from.
Eyes, business conditions in Birming-
ham are sound and flourishing.'
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-16
Street Cars.

q desire to draw the attention of the
Birmingham Railway, Light and Power
company to the condition of the cars on
some of it's lines, especially the North
Birmingham" said frequent passenger.
"A day or two ago some ladies boarded
a North Birmingham car and were about
to take a seat when they saw the foor
of the car beneath the seat actually
swimming in expectorated tobacco juice.
One of the ladies became almost sick at
the abominable sight, and every pas
senger on that car had to endure the ef-
fuvium rising from that filthy fluid.
Another parctlce among certain class
Of men Is to spit out through the open
window when the car is running, their
filthy saliva being generally blown in
the face or ON the dress of the person on
the seats behind. 1t IS time something
was done to put a stop to such things.
II wish some of the head officials of the
company would take a ride on one of
these cars on Saturday night when peo-
pie are returning home from the city. A
lot of half-drunSen ud-tallling men
keep up a scene of noise and confusion
to the terror of every woman on the car.
The later the hour the worse is the con-
dition, and for young girls who have to
work late on Saturday night, the prospect
of the ride home is regarded with fear
and trembling.
81 think we are entitled to some pro-
lection from these annoyances, and
speak the sentiments of hundreds in max
| ing this complaint.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-16

naces can turn out in 1907 will have
been sold. and the question of prices
will then be shifted to 1908.
Production is going ON at a great
rate. The coke and anthracite fur
naces turned out IN November 2,1S7-
Go tons, or within 5000 tons of the
record output in October, which was
a month of 81 days. This district in
creased It's output to 10000 tons in
November. as against 143.254 tons in
October, 1884 tons in September
and 127, 165 tons in July. We are MAX
ing an excellent record and possibly
we may in the present month reach the
maximum of our furnaces.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-16
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Hi Of Best.


Il stood the other night on the steps of
the st. Vincent's hospital" said a man
yesterday. Below me. in mist and smoke,
blinked and fickered the pale light of a
thousand arcs and against the nortnern
horizon one pitlful little monument of
mans strength held up its head barely
above the mountain.
"Then, as I swept my eye over the whole
valley-a valley of sleeping laborers,
crowded by myrlads, as 1t were, between
four walls and under one roof, high as
was above the grimy and tollsome scene,
the thought stole over me that it were
better some time to go up into the hills
and high places where ones thought can
broaden out to things of greater moment
! and come into deeper sympathy with his
fellows.
81 had almost forgotten myself and
where [ stood, when even further above
and behind the muffled sound of a groan
startled me, and as began to realize the
surroundings, up from the sleeping val
ley there came the distant sound of a
ringing gong growing louder and louder,
until with it the hurried hoof beat of gal
Looping horses and the pant of the ap-
preaching animals broke upon the still
ness Out of the lower mist appeared an
ambulance toiling up the steep hill.
1.-The body was hastily removed, and a
sister of charity dressed in gray and
white, came to open the door and receive
the tired traveller into the house of rest.
The entrance was closed, the ambulance
returned to the city and I was left alone
once more.
was this not nearer heaven, a middle
place, where were sent the worn and
wasted and illused? Those that could be
mended were sent back to work, but
those whose time was finished leaving
their old forms to die, were taken on
up?"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-16
Plain Facts Should Decide

The location of a sub-treasury is, or
at least should be, a question of none
tary convenience only. It should not
be one of pull" of any sort, or Of civic
ambition, or of political intrigue in
any form.
If the sub-treasury in the southeast
is to be located with impartiality,
geography must be considered. A ra-
dius Of 300 miles drawn from each of
the competing cities would soon settle
the geographical feature, AID it would
settle it in favor of Birmingham, for in
the circle would be nearly all the
southeast clustered around Birming
ham.
Aside from the geographical prob
lem four things remain to be consid-
cred, as follows:
[. Transportation facilities.
,. Tonnage.
3. Payrolls.
4. Prospects.
Judged by any of the four, Birming
ham has all its competitors whipped
a block. We repeat it, by any one of
the four, and no one of our competitors
dare face any one of them, particularly
Atlanta
Until the Louisville and Nashville
railroad and the Seaboard secured lines
into that city, it was a one-railroad
town, and today neither the Rock
Island nor the Illinois Central has
been, or probably ever will be- ex-
tended to it.
And the reason is plain-it has but
trifling tonnage. While Birmingham
has 25,000,000 tons to offer to the rail
roads, Atlanta probably has not a mil
lion tons all told to be moved, and a
good share of that small aggregate is
drawn from this district
The discrepancies in payrolls is al
most as large. Birmingham is pre-
pared to show a payroll of $500, 900
a month-can Atlanta show onehalf of
that sum? And as to prospects, take
the testimony of any intelligent and
reasonably fair-minded citizen of At
lanta itself on that point. We will
prove relative prospects by Atlanta
people alone.
Atlanta would not contest the loca
tion of the ub-treasury if it had not
acquired a chronic habit of claiming
everything in sight. 1t has secured al
the prizes that have thus far beer
awarded by the general government
and it is proceeding to gather in all the
rest as they come along. IT, however
it secures the ubtreasurership it will
first have to trample underfoot geogra
ply, tonnage. payrolls, railroads ant
prospects. Congress will not permi
such gross injustice.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-16

- OWhVER optimistic some OF US
mN who have lived in Birmingham
for several years might have
thought the statement of John w. Gates,
it has undoubtedly added to our enthusi-
asm over our town and made us more
compact and ardent in pulling together to
make It what Mr. Gates has predicted for
It.
tested in the movement to obtain the pro-
posed southern sub-treasury for Birming-
ham,
The true Birmingham spirit is aroused.
A splendid delegation went to Washington
yesterday afternoon to work for the loca-
ton of the sub-treasury here, and dele
cation two or three times the size will go
in January to continue the work up to the
time the final ballot is cast by the repre-
sentatives In Congress of the southern
states affected.
1 am of the opinion that Birmingham has
most excellent chance to obtain this
sub-treasury. 1t is the natural location.
1t is the distributing point for the entire
territory involved in the policy of the
Treasury Depar tment. 1t only takes en-
thusastlc work on the part OF Brming-
ham.
Atlanta is our only real rival, and the
fight is to narrow down between Birming-
ham and Atlanta.
1t is now up to every man in Brming-
ham to put his shoulder to the wheel, to
bring every influence possible to bear, and
by locating the sub-treasury in Brming
ham to make it the real hub of the south
Let's do it, Now is our chance All to-
gether, boysl
talk with him up In Washington last Sat-
urday just before the Gridiron club din
ner He and Governor Elect Conner were
introduced In the reception ROOM when
Mr.. Conner, In that ra ther blunt, but smil-
ing, style of his, said:
Mr.. Gates, was that hot air you were
giving us people down in Birmingham in
that interview published from you the
other day."
Not by any MEANS" said Mr.. Gates
that interview was carefully prepared,
and was submitted to our entire board of
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-16
Secretary Roots Issue.

The speech of Secretary Root at the
banquet of the Pennsylvania society in
New York should not have surprised
anybody, for the republican party has
been conspiring ever since it was
organized to overthrow the consttu-
tional systemic establish what Mr.
Root calls progressive Capitalization.
This means, of course. that the power
of the states is to be minimized, while
the grasp of the general government
is to be enlarged and strengthened.
Just at present the excuse is that the
states do not exercise their powers
against the abuses and aggressions of
corporations, and that therefore the
general government must act. An ex-
found if there is desire to find it.
San Francisco furnishes ready to hand
such an excuse in its public schools,
and it is SAT 10 say that plenty of other
excuses can be found
But is it best to seek excuses for
ignoring the plain terms of the constl.
tuition. which has long been the basis
of our government? This is the issue
that Mr.. Root speaking doubtless for
the administration, puts before the
country 1t is an issue that goes very
deep, and it is an issue that outranks
all others in importance and priority
1t should be observed that Mr.. Root
does not call for. constitutional
amendment-he simply proposes tC
ignore the constitutional provisions
mental policy. He desires to do in
directly what he knows he can moi
change directly with the consent and
knowledge of the American people.
1t remains to be proven that the gen
eral government would be more effect
i've in checking abuses than the states
have been. The Dingley tariff does no.
show it, nor can any evidence be founf
in the Senate that has long been con
trolled by trusts and monopolies. Tht
entire Root policy is favored today by
the magnates who have in the pas
rolled up huge campaign funds ant
who expect in one way or another tt
control the central power. They seen
to think it would be easier to contro
il than to control forty-six states.
The changing of the constitution il
to be made, it is plain, by "construc
tions" progressively no doubt brough
out. Is the country ready for sucf
changes? The issue is here, whether
they are willing or unwilling. The re
publican party has progressively
though insidiously, brought it forward
until Mr.. Root and the administration
feel justified in announcing it in plair
terms. "The rights of the states" Ii
the issue, and it's fate may be decided
in 1908. A Waterloo for the fathers
of the republic or the centralizers i'm
ponds.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-16

with a wit which often robs his wicked
opponents of the full power of combat.
He has already defined that which Con-
gress shall do at this session. and If Joe
Cannon is himself, the chances are that
1t will do exactly that which he dictates.
While many of us cannot agree with him.
we cannot help admiring his nerve.
The performance of the House of Rep
resentatives last Friday in the salary in
crease under the legislative appropriation
bill was humorous to say the least of 1t.
1t was proposed that the salaries of the
Vice President of the United States, the
members of the cabinet and the speaker
of the House of Representatives should
be increased to $12, 600 a year. This amend
ment was voted upon and was adopted by
a vote of 241 to 81.
At the last session of Congress the sal
airy of the President was practically in
creased from $4,000 a year to $4,000
year, by an amendment allowing the Pres
ldent an expense account for personal
trips and personal expenses of $4,000 a
year. Yet when on Friday it was pro-
posed. after the vote favorable to increas-
ing the salaries of the Vice President and
cabinet officers, that the salaries of SEN
ators and representatives in Congress
should be increased from $4,000 to $500
year, the representatives lost their nerve
and voted against increasing their own
salaries, although the provision of the
bill was not to go into effect until two
years from the 4th of next March.
One representative, in discussing the
matter with me in Washington last week,
said: you know full we'll that a con-
gresham who has to pay $3.50 month
board for himself and wife in Washington
cannot live upon a salary of $416 a month.
If 1 did not have an income over and
above my congressional salary, | could
not live in the manner that a representa-
tive of my constituency should live. Yet,
thousands of voters in the country coun-
ties of my district consider $1,000 a year
tremendous salary, and would Undoubtedly
dlsapprove my act in voting larger
amount to my colleagues and myself. 1t
is merely a fact that they do not under
stand the situation in Washington. For
tunately by virtue of my outside income.
/ can stand it, and it is easier for me to
vote that way than to attempt to explain
to thousands of my constituents to whom
1t would be difficult to explain"
And that is the way a great many con-
gressmen feel. Apparently, the majority
of them. Is this discretion. or what is it?
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-16
C. e. Buck.

C. e. Buck, vice president of the South
ern Steel company, leaves today for the
east on an extended vacation. During his
absence c. p. Perrin of New York, chair
man OF the board of directors, will be
stationed In birmingham to look after the
work assigned to Mr.. Buck, namely the
supervision of blast furnace and mining
operations. The stleet plant at Gadsden
and the wire and nail plant at Ensley are
especially In charge of Vice President r.
T. SCHUYLER
Mr.. Buck has been a tireless worker
ever since he came to the Birmingham
district. He has been successful in all
his undertakings hereabouts and can well
afford TO take rest.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-16
Piu Iron Prices,

On February 1 the railroad rate on
pig iron from Birmingham will be ad-
yanced % cents ton. This will make
the rates from Birmingham to Pitts
burg $4.S5 ton, to Cincinnati 1928,
and to Chicago $4.15 ton. Iron that
has been sold will be hurried away be-
fore this advance becomes operative,
always provided cars can be obtained.
Iron is actually being sold for deliy-
cry in the last half of 1907. Third
quarter pig is quoted in Pittsburg at
full prices, and no one will be sur
prised to hear that sales of iron to ba
delivered in the last quarter of the new
year had been made.
Consumers continue to think that the
prices of iron can not be maintained
throughout the coming year, but sell.
ers say they cannot see how prices caa
be reduced when the prices of every
thlng that enters lhto llol 10 solhS ny
coke, and ore, and labor, and all the
lesser articles. High prices throughout
1907 are as well established as any
thing months ahead can be established
in this world. So long as the demand
remains where it is just so long will
prices stay up, and long before the
crope of 1907 have reached the esti-
matink stage all the iron that the fur
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-16
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR

From the New York Press.
When you remember about avoiding
temptation it's too late.
You can never convince a girl that a
man loves her unless she can make him
jealous.
Men are so naturally conceited that
even one with whiskers thinks people ad-
mire them.
Hardly any rich man could make liv-
Ing following the advice he gives to young
men on how to do ii.
Even the man who denounces million
aires brags about having ridden in the
same street car with one.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-16
NED BRACE TALKS ABOUT BIRMINGHAMg
PROGRESS AND OTHER r1ATTERS OF INTEREST

directors before 1t was given out for pub
LEGATION. believe in every word of 1t, and
far more"
Just at that moment Senator Tillman of
South Carolina came up and spoke to Mr..
Conner. The two began to tell each other
how they had pitoh-forked the octopuses,
and began to pat each other on their re-
spective shoulders.
Mr.. Gates, stepping to one side. said TO
me:
1T is absurd for people who should
know the realities of the Birmingham dis
trict to question its great future. AS a
matter of fact, instead of the Tennessee
company spending ten million dollars in
improvements in the Birmingham district,
confidently believe that we will spend
double that sum within the next few years
and that We will reap rich rewards from
such expenditures ! don't know any
place in the world where the prospects of
money-making are SO great as in that dis
trict."
One in Washington for several days
hears much of interest. I happened per-
the statement in the presence of num-
Der of his friends that under no circum-
stances or conditions would he again be-
come a candidate for President of the
United States. He said 1t with that force
and emphasis which left no doubt what
ever in the minds of his hearers. AS to
what he proposed to do, he made no state
ment.
His friends there state that he has ex-
pressed no opinion nor desire as to who
should be the nominee of his party to sue
coed him. As it is, however, the Washing
ton atmosphere is full of Taft
Taft is the worker of the cabinet. He is
active every minute; business-like, quick,
a man of most excellent Judgment, and
always full of good nature. Although he
is strict in matters of business, everybody
who knows him likes him and believes him
to be just and fair in all things
If Joe Cannon, the speaker of the House,
had not reached an advanced age, he
would be an ideal candidate for the re-
publicans. His nerve and his wit are yet
at full tide, but his physical strength is
apparently waning.
And, by the way, in this connection,
Cannon is certainly conducting the af-
fairs of the House of Representatives as
If he were the general of an army in full
command. His will is of iron, and the
words of his command are interspersed
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-16

Scottsboro Citizen; The mistake that
Senator Joe Bailey of Texas made was il
borrowing money from the octopus.
Sheffield Reaper: John D. Rockefeller's
income for this year has been estimated
at the rate of STA every minute. Time is
money with your Uncle John D.
Huntsville Tribune: 1t is whispered
around that Huntsville will have only one
candidate for mayor This would be de-
lightfully refreshing, but we fear 1t is too
good to be true.
Alexander City Outlook: A local option
law will fix the blame where it belongs.
If the people want mean whisky sold in
their midst their votes will tell the story.
Camp Hill Times: If Mr.. Cleveland and
Mr.. Roosevelt would both land in the
Senate, Mr.. Tillman would have as much
fun as he did in Chicago.
Opelika Post: The anarchist soys On
everybody" The socialist says: ';D-n the
, rich" We shiver and say: Long toddy,
pleasel'
Hartsele Enquirer: The legislature will
convene on January for a fifty days
| session Some of the members will have
to hurry if they redeem half their pledges
to the dear voters in that time
Selma Journal: The Presidents stenog-
raphers must have a hard time these days.
The great message was plenty and now
the Storer letter has followed and still
there remains two or three special mes
| sages to be gotten out
Sylacauga Progress: In New York the
authorities are insisting that sacred con-
certs'' shall be sacred. Next. they will
be insisting that church members go to
| church.
Montgomery Times: It's too bad that
Atlanta and Birmingham can't have little
sub-treasuries of their own, with wire
fences around them.
Sylacauga Advance: Congress sat upon
| Rooseyelts abbreviated form of spelling,
| good and stout We don't like some of
| Webster's, but we like the abbreviated
| form still less.
| Pine Belt News: Contentment is more to
be desired than great riches. We quote
/ this on good authority. We have never
| tried the riches.
| Franklin Times: Hon. John w. Gates, a
capitalist of New York, predicts that In
| twenty years Birmingham will have
| 100000 population. We all hope that this
prediction will come true and we see no
reason why they should not for great is
Alabama and greater Birmingham.
Tuscumbia North Alabamian: The cry
goes up from every town in Alabama to
enforce the vagrancy law. The legislature
should carefully consider a vagrancy law
that will force the idle, worthless class
to go to work.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-16
Mark Twain on Clothes.

The appearance of Mark Twain in
Washington as a lobbyist in a white
flannel suit was a sensation of the
deepest sort, for what reaches deeper
in society than things sartorial? He
was lobbying in favor of life copy
right on books, and he was wearing a