davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-05
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Genuine Asphalt.

"The person who complains that as- phalt is slippery and does not wear well has certainly never been to a city where the genuine asphalt is laid.' said J. ". Coburn of the Memphis Asphalt and Paving company, who is in Birmingham to superintend the work of paving the streets of Mountain Terrace with Ber- mudez asphalt. we want people to ex- anime the pavement we lay and see if they find any such fault with it.
 "The material we use is the genuine asphalt taken from the Bermudez lakes, where it Is dug as we dig dirt. It is brought to this country in ships and looks very much like coke when 1t arrives There are a number of cars of asphalt en route to Birmingham from Jersey City, where the last cargo was unloaded.
 ''The successful laying of asphalt re- qures a concrete foundation, and that is what we will put down. To do this we will use about ten cars of Portland cement. A concrete foundation prevents any sinking. The work at Mountain Ter race will be a severe test of asphalt. A portion of the street is on a heavy grade and anything but the genuine asphalt would be a failure Our asphalt presents a smooth, even surface, and the elements have no effect on it whatever. In sum mer it Is the same smooth paving that it is in winter, and the July suns make no more difference than the March winds or January snows
 There are limitations of asphalt as there are of everything else, and they are mace largely from oils, and like many imita- tions they are failures I think that tho people of Birmingham will have differ ent idea of asphalt when they see the streets we lay in Mountain Terrace
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-05
Money from Other States

Senator Hammer, chairman of the committee on banking and insurance, heartily endorses the proposition of Lieutenant Governor Henry B. Gray to compel life insurance companies to loan here a share of the money col lected here. Senator Hammer repre- sents Etowah and St. Clair counties, and a proposition that commands his support would be apt to gain support in every part of the state. It is not a proposition that is wholly urban or wholly rural. It appeals to all as a measure both fair and just.
 MT. Gray would not countenance a proposition that would do injustice to any interest. If he thought the policy holders or the companies themselves would be injured by proposition to compel them to place portion of Ala bama money in Alabama, instead of carting it away to Wall street, he warld not urge the plan. but so long
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-05

as it would benefit all concerned he will continue to advocate 1t, and the indications are that he will find ample support
 Possibly Mr. Gray's bill may be broadened so that when foreign com panies are compelled to loan money in this state all distinctive taxation will be taken off. It would scarcely be just to compel an outside com pany to loan a portion of its money in this state and then tax 1t for doing it. That would smack of the efforts of the robbers of the Rhine in medieval days. Let us hope the legislature will see It's way clear to removal of spe- cial taxation of foreign loans when Mir Gray strives to compel the life insur- ance companies to treat Alabama as well as they do some other states.
 A bill drawn on the double line of keeping Alabama money in Alabama and repeating all distinctive taxation would indeed be a great blessing, for it would stop a heavy drain of our monetary resources, while it would in vite this way money from other states. For development purposes we need millions that we have not got. We need foreign capital-that is to say, capital from other states, and Lieutenant Gov ernor Gray seems to have found way in which 1t can be secured. Let us hope he will adopt the double pro- gramme that he is at present consider ing.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-05
Too Good to Be True

The Memphis News Scimitar puts forward a new and revolutionary doc trine, to-wit, "congressmen are now paid $7500 salaries, and should, as MT. Hobson is doing, devote their entire time to their constituents and to their country" If this doctrine is to become the rule in congressional life it will work a revolution in congressman, for all of them have side lines or side recreations at present. Even MT. Hob- son has, for he as well as Gov. Bob Taylor and Senator Tillman is wanted at the Chautauquas that this country is now we'll sprinkled with.
 The Hobson itinerary of the present week is widely discussed, and the comment upon it is favorable. But that itinerary does not cover MT. Hobson's recess. It Is to last but twelve days, and Congress does not meet until the first Monday in DecemDer next lhe twelve days will be usefully spent no doubt, but they will go almost like a dream as the Hobson party fits swift ly from town to town in the Sixth district.
 The time in which congressman will give all their time to public work has not yet come, and it's coming Is not even assured. It is not even in sight. The congressman have not even had their ears to the ground to hear 1t start, and the News Scimitar is giving us, alas, twenty-f1rst century talk in the twentieth century.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-05
JAMEsTowN's BEST EXHIBIT.

From the Philadelphia Ledger.
 As an ethnological treat it is suggested that Jamestown will hold its own with any. and will delight the most jaded traveller if he have eyes to see. The tidewater Virginian is much more inter- esting than the exhibit of mollusks in the marine section; the lank North Caro- linian from across the border, logged, perhaps, in hickory shirt and jeans, is worth great deal more to a tired man than a collection of minerals in cabi- net; the sight of a real southern negro woman, wreathed in smiles and decked as to the head In a red bandana kerchief, more enkindles the human sympathies than a lot of plaster casts from Hobo- ken; and the shout of laughter from an unsophisticated negro-the real, untamed unregulated. musical, symphonic, melo- dious, comprehensive, pealing outburst- why, 1t will repay the cost of the trip, and the auditor will receive a hint of the worlds youth and of those remote golden, mythical ages when even the grown-ups played.
 Go to the fair if you can spare the money, and be thankful for being intro duced to your fellow. citizens. The peo- pie who have cause to complain are those who cannot get away
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-05
THE TALLEsT ANIMAL.

From the St. Nicholas.
 The giraffe with its unequal legs, slop- ing back, long neck and two horny knobs on the head, appears to be the most awk- ward animal in the menagerie. It is one of the most interesting, because it is so queer. Giraffes are brought from Africa, and are used only for exhibition in the circus or in geological gardens. few naturalists say that there are eleven spe- cies, while others think there is only one. Some giraffes have two horns, others three or even five. Those with two horns are the kind usually exhibited here. The entire number of giraffes in captivity is said not to exceed thirty, but to buy a single one takes from 5000 to 5000, ac- cording to It's age. When about three years old one costs nearly $3000.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-05
NED BRACE TALKS ABOUT JOHN GATES
 AND OTHER PEOPLE WHO ARE ACTIVE

Birmingham has observed several in- stances of this kind. Gates has done something for --rmingham and he has held his interest here, and with the strong associates with him, will continue to do so His wings may be clipped tempor- arily but they will grow out, and I'll bet. on the fellow who never hollers how much he may be hurt.
 Speaking about men with the courage of their convictions. like the way Henry Gray has deported himself in the office of lieutenant governor of Alabama Gray puts on no airs but says what he thinks and says it forcibly. In presiding over the Senate he was no figure-head. He was active and firm, and did business. He said what he thought and did quickly that which he believed should be done. He was not only judicial, but creative and he Is keeping 1t up. His idea of com polling the life Insurance companies to invest one-half of their net profits from Alabama in Alabama is good. He would not tax their loans here-he would repeal that law-but he would compel them to find their own safe and sound invest ments in this state for one-half of their net profits from this state.
 Gray is thoroughly a business mana successful one; and one with the courage of his convictions;. and If he continues to tread the path he has been in since the day he took the oath of office as lieutenant governor he will be the next governor of Alabama without opposition. We all admire the fellow who Is right. knows 1t and then goes ahead.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-05
QUALITIES OF JUDGE TAFT.

From the Chicago Tribune.
 Secretary Taft has chosen wisely in de- cidng not to begin an active campaign for the presidency in Ohio He Is not the kind of man 1t would be easy to push or boost into the presidency. If he is nominated it will be on his merits. He has many qualifications for the presidency. He is big man every way-physicially, intel lectually and morally. At the same time he is an active man. The amount of work he is able to do would put to shame many men younger and lighter than he is
 He has travelled almost hundreds of thousands of miles in the service of the government. He has had to deal with a number of perplexing questions He has been concerned in matters that related to the state department as well as those that pertain to the war department. He has had to handle questions that in another country would properly be delegated to the colonial secretary. He has made no mistakes. The secretary stands high in the estimation of his countrymen, and most people will feel that if he shall be nominated for the presidency no mistake | will be made.
 In spite of his great bulk he is a man | of excellent health. of exemplary habits, and of indefatigable industry. He is light on his feet and nimble in his mind. He is able to turn quickly from one subject | to another and dispatch an enormous amount of business. Above all, he is a minded man. He has had a judicial training. He would adorn almost any position in the government, from that of l chief justice to that of President. If the l choice of the people evenually shall fail upon him, it will be a fortunate choice.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-05
THE LORELEI.

By Heinrich Heine. 1 know not whence it rises,
 This thought so full of woe, But a tale of the times departed Haunts me and will not go. The air is cool, and it darkens And calmly flows the Rhine; The mountain peaks are sparkling, In the sunny evening shine. Ard wonder sits a maiden,
 The fairest of the fair; With gold in her garment glittering, And she combs her golden hair. With a golden comb she combs It, And a wild song singeth she And melts the heart with a wondrous And powerful melody. The boatman feels his bosom
 With a nameless longing move; He sees not the gulfs before him, His gaze is fixed above- Till over boat and boatman,
 The Rhine's deep waters run, And this with her magic singing The lorelei hath done'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-05
STEEL PASSENGER CARS.

From the Pittsburg Dispatch.
 The first wholesale order for steel pas senger cars given by an American rail- road is an event of more than ordinary interest. It marked the inauguration of movement that must mean ultimately as great a revolution in the equipment of passenger trains as the steel freight car has brought in the freight equip ment. It means, moreover, vastly in creased safety for the travelling public.
 The special hazard of railway mail clerks in the ordinary mall cars has led to a demand for some years for the substitution of steel mail cars for those now in use, and the postoffice department has taken steps to that end. What is true of the mail cars is, of course, just as true of the coaches used by the public. although the risk Is less owing to the pos ton of the passenger coaches But 1t is question of degree rather than of safety, and the general adoption of steel passenger cars is a precaution owed to the travelling public by up to date railroads aiming to minimize the dan gers of travel for their patrons.
 An interesting feature of the order just placed is the design to have the cars for suburban traffic easily convertible Into motors. It may be that 1t will be a long time until the movement of through trains by locomotives. steam or electric, is superseded by motor cars but the increasing. use of these cars is tending that way and the provision in this order recognizes that. In addition to safety and conversion to motor cars the new coaches have the advantage of being stronger yet lighter, of eliminating the danger of fire and of sanitary superiority.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-05
Business Prosperity.

It used to be that presidential cam paign years were proverblally dull in the business world" said an old merchant, but conditions have changed for the bet ter in recent times.
 There is reason why capital becomes more conservative in seasons of election excitement, when the financial and economic policies of the government may change, but prosperity Is so pronounced now and has been for several years that old rules do not hold good. In 1880, the presidential campaign, for the first time, failed to bring us dull period In 1904 business was little affected by the cam paign, and I look for prosperity to con- tinue through -svo.
 "The capacity of the world to absorb every thing that comes out of the ground and every thing that is manufactured keeps the productive classes busy and nothing but crop failures will seriously affect commerce. The year 1908 may not be a record-breaker in the industrial world but there is no reason why 1t should not be a time of business thrift
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-05

and on the open market. with financial friends, bought control of Tennessee Coal and Iron, getting 1t fully from the Hanover crowd who had merely delved with it from a stock market point of view. He talked and acted. hose with him believed he knew the business and went in with him fully-to develop. extend and wrest the stock from the speculative market. He came upon the manufactur- ing field looked over it, went into de- tails and was largely instrumental, not only in putting practical men in charge but spending money for development and greater output. He referred little to the past but was enthusiastic in his predic- tions of the future. His plans, provided and under way for the development, he like Napoleon, sought other countries to cific, or some other things, that his jeal- ous rivals of the old regime, whom he
 
 financial battle, had balted for him, and he was caught and hard hit.
 
 Now newspapers and men who praised him bit ago would roast him and tell of his losses and herald the downfall of the man who has flown successfully in the flying machine of his own making. He may be going off for a rest, and he may not be carrying the bags of gol- den eagles that he had a few months ago, but the man with his brain and nerve, if he but keeps his health, cannot be downed.
 A <
 There are men who do something and men who sit back, with ill-gotten gains, to reap the profit of the men of action.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-05
GIRLS BIG SALARY.

From the New York Evening Telegram.
 "A Chicago man figured out my salary said Miss Elsie Janis, and tells me 1 get more for singing in vaudeville than the President does for running the nation. or the crack jockey-I forget his name for winning mounts.
 "They give me 5000 a week. and it makes a big bunch when they hand 1t to me in bills. like it that way better than a check It looks more real.
 What do I do with it? Well, I guess that's no trouble. I put away some, go shopping with some more. and spend some on charties-if you know a good one, send it along. Let me see, haven't got my salary yet for this week. but 1 spent half of it yesterday-bought an auto mobile"
 Miss Janis mentioned the purchase as indffirently as one might refer to box of chocolates. Perhaps it was a candy automobile.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-05
Snow in ChiCauo

The season thus far has not been normal The entire winter and spring seasons have been out of gear, and the snow that fell on Friday last in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa and Illinois, and possibly in many more states, caps the climax. When on the third day of May snow covers the ground and the temperature falls to thirty-four degrees in Chicago, all must agree that the spring season is out of joint-in Chicago. What Is true, however, of Chicago is pretty nearly true of the rest of the country.
 The spring weather Is belated, and germination Is backward. Unless warm growing weather comes along rapidly the young cotton plants will certainly show the lack of seasonal growth for this Is the month in which the plant is expected to send its roots down into the earth as a preparation against the heat and dry weather of June. Germi- nation and plant growth are for that reason greatly needed in the corn and cotton fields, particularly in the cot ton rows.
 The snow that has fallen in the win ter wheat states will prove beneficial, but let no one think that prolonga- tion of unreasonable weather in the cotton belt will be at all helpful, for it almost certainly will not be. In other words, if an abnormal May Is to fol low a very abnormal April, we will have an abnormally favorable summer if corn and cotton are to stand in good shape at the end of the cotton year.
 The entire spring season has lacked normality, and the temperature seldom rises to seventy-five degrees. We need seventy-five degree weather in the cot ton belt in order to ensure complete germination and to hasten subsequent growth.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-05
Public Library Meetinq

This city has no free public library no public library at all in the full sense of the phrase, and mass meet ing is to be held at the Majestic the atre next Thursday night when it Is hoped a campaign will be inaugurated that will result in giving this city the one thing it sadly lacks.
 The public spirited women of this city began the work, but they feel that the time has come to call in the men, and the mass meeting at the Majestic theatre Is expected to bring into the movement men in all walks of life all good citizens in short, for all need a public library.
 It is impossible to build a modern city without a public library. It can not be done, and unless the people of this city get speedily behind the new movement this city will soon win the unenYiable distinction or Delng the only considerable city in the land with out books free to all It is not neces- sary to argue the advantages of books open to all without money and with out price. All other towns have them and Birmingham must be brought into line.
 The Rev. Mr de Ovies is chairman of the campaign committee, and he is the right man in the right place. He is young, hopeful and optimistic. He believes in the future greatness of Birmingham, and he wants the Greater Birmingham of the future to have a public library that will be an honor to 1t. Let us all get behind him next Thursday night. Remember the place --the Majestic theatre.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-05

XO FEN are queer animals. In meas I(V ure they are not unlike the shark. They praise and follow and applaud and go into ecstasies of de- light over the achievements of a comrade. Yet when that comrade becomes wounded, and is bleeding from sword thrusts, they turn upon him and would eat him up-not because of actual hunger, but from jeal- ousy or lust or the mere animal spirit the brutal instinct of the aborigine- the monkey or the chimpanzee in us.
 The successful man apparently arouses the jealous spirit in his neighbor; and when he achieves great heights there are many who would plan, surreptitiously a downfall, and then applaud 1t eagerly.
 % N \
 Look at the John W. Gates case. A splendid fellow he Is and has been. He has always carried his brain, his energy and his nerve about with him. He went into the bull ring of Wall street with a
  of the best steel. They dubbed him a man out of the west who butted in. Yet he did not resort to subterreanean pas sages nor to dark alleys nor dark lan- terms. He went upon the open market and bought Louisville and Nashville con- trol while the old bull buffaloes of Wall street were off frolicklng. When they wanted it back he made them pay for 1t on the basis of what it was worth He made a few millions. Then they laid dynamite bombs for him in the railroad field and placed internal machines in his path. He could see through an ordinary veil. and with his money went into his chosen field of iron and steel making,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-05
FEED THE BRUTE.
1, the New York Press.

From the New York Press.
 ''Divorce will decrease about 90 per cent" says Dr. Harvey w. Wiley, the food expert. .'when women learn the art of cooking. If a man comes home to three good meals a day. good food and plenty of it. well cooked and we'll served, with a reasonable deference to his indi- vidual tastes, do you think he's going to quarrel with his luck? Why, he'd be a foolr'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-05
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New Y York Press.
 The average man thinks that for him to read joke in some paper is proof how funny he is.
 A girl wouldn't want to be married so much if she could avoid being an old maid any other way.
 One comfort a girl with toothpick ankles has is she needn't be afraid to wear pumps for fear they'll get thicker
 When a man wears clothes that are out of style either he is so poor he has to worry about something else or so rich hs doesn't worry about anything.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-05
GOOD EVIDENCE.

From the Boston Post.
 One Sunday morning recently the pas tor of a church remarked to his wife, upon returning from service:
 Mary, there was stranger at service this morning." / What did he look like?' asked the wife.
 '' don't know, for I didn't see him.
 Then how did you know that he was a stranger?'
 Because I found dollar in the con- tribution box," replied the pastar a bath"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-05
ALABAMA PRESS

Talladega Reporter: Mir. Bryan sticks to It that it was the democratic ideas of MT. Roosevelt that makes him popu- lar.
 C5adsden Journal: There are worse ac- ciden.s that can befall one tan peins kicked by mule. However, you we been kicked there's no use to look Tor the others.
 Marion Standard: The daily papers are now following in the wake of the week lies by filling a large portion of their editorial spAce with patent medicine read CTS. Well, it's healthy reading.
 Sheffield Reaper: The Capitol city au- thorities never fail to rake in the nm ble nickel" According to the Advertlser two Gypsy women were last week issued a license to tell fortunes. That is about the limit.
 Montgomery Journal: The liberal spirit disolaved by many Montgomerians to- ward the Methodist college is credltaoie to them and makes the community reel nroud to have them about when iiberality ann public spirit is demanded.
 Montgomery Advertiser: In lamenting the scarcity of poets in this country Mir. Bryce makes 1t quite plain that he doesn't read the Carolina and Virginia newspapers, or fails to understand what he reads. They have poets hanging on the trees in those states-or some of them ought to be.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-05

A dramatic critic says that new play is one of the cleverest and fun niest seen in New York for a long time, but not intended for young per sons. It is not good for old ones, either.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-05

Speaker Cannon Is committed to the Dingley bill, the Jamestown exposition and the Panama canal. These are his Big Three.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-05

Sig. Caruso has sailed away, and music and morals in this country. will have to get along the best they can unaided.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-05-05

John Temple Graves amended proposition Is to have MT. Bryan nom- mate MT. Roosevelt with the under standing that the former is to be the latter's understudy until 1912.