davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mena weekly star., 1907-06-20

lake unknown connections, sarsapar1llas, etc, because they usually contain potash or other strong mineral ingredients which act unfavorably and often dangerously on the rundown, weakened system, at time when it needs gentle and natural stimulation . to throw of the impurities and recuPerate it's lost energy. A great deal is being sad these days about living close to nature, '11 and it is more applicable to medicines, perhaps I 5 than anything else. Nature has provided a made from natures vegetation act better Ill which are the products of the chemists or
 The greatest of all tonics IS $. ,. ,; i of the forests and fields, selected tor their P it does not contain the slightest trace of Ill systemic remedy, one that is absolutely. s the blood ridding 1t of any and all lmpuritl, of rich, nutritive strength so that 1t IS enat orating energy needed to pass this trying SC
The Mena weekly star., 1907-06-20
@ @ R GREATEST S.S.S. eEzzE ToNICs

should take Spring. their systems require require It. tne blood has become buldg the hea Tch iaso the Winter dandst and poons dlra the proper and
 
 sympomso ad1rde1e DNo0a that the When Ill dsordeed condition II not safe
The Mena weekly star., 1907-06-20

pleasant and SatIsIaCtOfy or ar tonlcs and blood purifiers, and those who are beginning to feel the need of medi- cine to fortify the system against the unpleasant conditions that come with Spring, will do we'll to commence its use at once. It will not only tone up the system, but will remove any tairt or
The Mena weekly star., 1907-06-20

TEsE SWIFT SPECIFIC COMPANY, ATLANTA, GAs
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-30
Panama Canal Bids

Mr.. Bangs has been eliminated from
the bidding for the construction of the
Panama canal, but Mr.. Oliver is still
an acceptable bidder, provided he can
line up sufficient capital behind him.
He is looking for some one or several
men to fill the shoes of the unaccept-
able and repudiated Mr.. Bangs. The
government seems inclined to stand by
Mr. Oliver, and the chances are that
the contract will go to him and his
associates.
There are grave doubts as to whether
6.75 per cent on the estimated cost is
large enough to cover all possibilities
and all hazards. The bids ranged from
6.75 to % per cent on the estimates of
the government engineers, thus show
ing that many contractors do not con-
slider 6.75 per cent a sufficient allow
ance above the engineering estimates.
There are many features of unusual
risks in the case. The nature of the
labor to be employed is not determined,
but the experts seem to think that the
Chinese will have to be called in in the
long run, and they live across a wide
ocean.
While all agree that it would be bet
ter TO dig the canal by private contract,
and while the percentage plan stands
approved, yet 1t is believed that public
opinion would sanction contract based
on a higher percentage than that of
not be considered an unreasonable al
lowance
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-30
CURIOUS sAMPANs OF CHINA.

Nan Peacock in Leslie's Weekly.
The sampans are the Cabs of Hong
Kong and other South China ports. All
travellers have to come by steamer, and
unless launch is available, visitors must
take a sampan for the transfer of them
selves and their lighter baggage to the
shore. 1t seems impossible at first sight
that there should be sufficient passengers
for such vast numbers OF sampans. but
when it is remembered that the port OF
Hong Kong is second only to London in
the tonnage passing annually through
its waters 1t is not so surprising, since
all the crew who can get leave must
necessarily take a sampan to get ashore,
to say nothing Of officers and passen-
gers. when no launches are available.
The sampan itself is a marvel of COM
pactness. 1t is quite small, about thirty
feet by six feet, capable of carrying one
small sail. The deck of the boat is re-
movable, and the under part is arranged
in three separate compartments. In the
stern, when the boards are lifted, tho
storehouse Of the family is discovered:
the old rags that form the bedding are
kept there and the presumably extra
clothing, old sails and mating, and all
the indescribable Accommodations of a nu-
merous family.
The center of the sampan boasts of a
shelter of bent bamboo, with tarpau-
lin stretched across. This is, in the day
time. reserved for passengers, the remov-
al of the center boards forming a well
with seats around. At night the whole
t..ta ~
the boards but one over their heads,
sleep warmly, at any rate. At meal
time and when there are no passengers
the boat presents the appearance of a
fat deck, wheron the children play, or
the members of the family squat on their
heels in circle to eat their Chow"
which they do at a tremendous rate, the
ubiquitous basin of rice held close to the
mouth with one hand, while the chop
sticks in the other serve as shovel.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-30

ped by its competitors, and the rail-
roads assist in its system of espion-
age.
The report of the interstate COM
merce commission, just sent to Con-
gress, shows that no known trickery or
oppression has been left unutilized by
the oil trust in order to perfect its
monopoly and its power to tax the
people. And yet it goes along I'M
scathed, untouched and unendangered.
The interstate commerce commission
says it's methods are disreputable, but
so firm is its grip upon the people and
the country that the commission has
no distinct remedies to propose, al
though it says that "as to no other
important traffic is there an approach
to the monopoly of the Standard Oil in
that of OIL"
The helplessness of the country-of
eighty millions of people-before the
Rockefellers and Rogers of the trust
is the most pitiful feature of the entire
situation. The taxes it levies are
heavy, but no one sees any way out of
the hole into with we have fallen.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-30
Standard Oil

The report of the interstate COM
merce commission concerning the
Standard Oil surprises no one, simply
because everybody knew the material
facts long ago. Everybody knows it
has long been the most daring and
grinding monopoly this country has
ever known.
1t is now officially declared that it is
based on the ruin of its competitors
On the restraint of trade, in other words.
1t no longer blows up rivals by dyna-
mite. but II brushes them by undercuts,
and the cost of all undercuts is taken
out of the pockets OF the people. Its
profits are immense, running in one
proven case up 10 8 cents a gallon
These profits of the monopoly are but
q tax upon the people. 1t has numer-
GUS press agents, who are engaged in
teaching the benefits conferred upon
the people by the Rockefeller combine.
The people pay for the press notices.
n stands in with the railroads to pre-
vent the building of opposition pipe
lines. 1t still enjoys secret rebates
possessing, says the interstate COM
mission. all of the elements of Illegal
rates. Its spies watch every car ahiD-
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-30
Mininu Enuineers for Alabama

There is nothing Atlanta does not
want from penitentiary to a pennant,
but all it's wishes cannot be gratified.
1t Is demanding just at present the To-
cation in its midst of mining schools
for the entire south" in general, and
for Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, the
Carolinas and Florida in particular.
The mining engineering required in
Georgia would not call for many en-
gineers. It's marble quarries are con-
Quoted in the open, and If there are
any mines in that state they must be
in it's alleged gold district about Dab
lonega.
Let not Atlanta be troubled over the
want of a school that will turn out
mining and mechanical engineers. The
needed school will be built, and it will
be built and conducted where the blasts
from the mines are intermingled hourly
with the hoarse sounds of shop whis-
ties. 1t will be built in the midst. not
of Atlanta, but of mines and mills in
a real mineral district
Georgia does contain some brown
ores, but no mines are needed in order
to get at them. Those ores are loaded
by steam shovels into cars to be
trundled away TO stacks in Alabama.
Georgia should remember this fact, and
not build too extensively for no school
Of mining she may build will meet and
satisfy the wants of Alabama.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-30
MANS BEST FRIEND.
Senator Vests Famous Plea on Behalf
of the Dog.

Bulletin.
Senator Vest had been retained the
attorney of a man whose dog had been
wantonly shot by neighbor. 1t Is said
the plaintiff demanded $500. When Vest
finished speaking the jury awarded 5000
without leaving their seats. The speech,
in full, is as follows: Gentlemen OF the
Jury: The best friend man has in this
world may turn against him and become
his enemy His son or daughter that he
has reared with loving care may prove
ungrateful Those who are nearest and
dearest to us, those whom we trust with
our happiness and our good name, may
become traitors to their faith. The money
that a man has he may lose. 1t flies away
from him, perhaps when he needs 1t most
A mans reputation may be sacrificed in
a moment of ill-considered action The
people who are prone to fall on their
knees to do us honor when success is
with us may be the first to throw the
stone of malice when failure settles its
cloud upon our heads. The one absolutely
unselfsh friends that man can have in
this selfish world the one that never de-
serts him, the one that never proves
ungrateful or treacherous. is his dog
Gentlemen of the jury, a mans dog
stands by him in prosperity and in pow
erty, in health and in sickness. He will
sleep on the cold ground, where the
wintry winds blow and the snow drives
fiercely, If only he may be near his mas
ter's side He will kiss the hand that has
no food to offer, he will lick the wounds
and sores that come in encounter with
the roughness of the world. He guards
the sleep of his pauper master as II he
were Prince. When all other friends
desert he remains. When riches take
wings and reputation falls to pieces he is
as constant in his love as the sun in its
journey through the heavens. If fortune
drives the master forth an outcast in
the world. friendless and homeless. the
faithful dog asks no higher privilege
than that of accompanying him to guard
against danger to fight against his enc
mics. and when the last scene Of all
comes. and death takes the master In
its embrace and his body is laid away
In the cold ground. no mattar II AL othar
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-30

consumption, did succumb, while the re-
mainder of my companions dwindled
gradually in numbers as We crawled tor
tuously from station TO station-prison to
prison-over the barren leagues between
Russia in Europe and the confines of the
empire. Akatul, a decrepit village at best,
was more than half buried in snow when
we-myself. two other prisoners and
guards-arrived, after sledging the last
fifty-mile stage of the journey. Rising
over the town at one end was the gray
prison, surrounded by high and massive
walls, built 1t is said, of material taken
from the great wall Of China. Half frozen,
nearly famished and wholly discouraged
by the first glimpse of what was to be my
residence for nearly two years, I was
lodged in a roomy cell in company with
two other prisoners of hope
During the eighteen wretched months
that followed, every spare moment we
had was spent in planning an escape, but
so heavy was the guard maintained over
the town as well as the prison, and so
vigilent were the soldiery, that two years
passed before my dream of escape came
true--two years of drudging, unremitting
labor in the silver mines of the region;
two years of rigor and hardships which
sibly survive. Death. in fact is a release
which on a dozen occasions l have heard
welcomed in our exile community there.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-30

From the Chicago Inter-Ocean.
n AMUEL RAYMER, son of the late
Jacob Raymer, candy king of
- Pittsburg," who married a dancing
girl two years ago against his father S
wish, and who had been estranged from
his relatives ever since, was received
with his wife at a family reunion on
Christmas day.
And why not. The elder Rhyher,
who died soon after the younger Raymer
defied his authority, really had no good
ground for opposing the match, at least
not In Pittsburg, where the alliances of
similar character are so numerous as TO
be almost common.
In Pittsburg, as in Butte. especially
in the families of the kings. that is, oil
kings, steel kings, hoop kings, nail kings.
screw kings, nut kings, pipe kings, cop
per kings, etc.-when one asks
Whom did Charley So and-So. or
George What You-Call- 'em marry?'
the answer almost invariably is, pro-
vided Charley or George is the son of
king.
Don't you remember that little blonde
in the Take Me Back Home company?
Or that little brunette in the Box of Bon
Bons' company? Or that large fine look
ing girl who did the double handspring
In the song and dance with the Two
Weeks From the Bowery' company :?
Well, he married her. And they are so
happy. They live opposite Jimmy Will
son, son of the pocket flask king, who
married Emeline Montmorency, the emo
tional actres who carried everything be-
fore her as the premier high-kieker IN
the Hoop the Hoop company, and in
the same nat building with Billy KIM
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-30
THE IRISH DELI.

From the Bohemian.
Before Nine. Kalich became ceie-
brated English-speaking STAR" she was
for years the idol of thousands of Yid-
dish theatergoers of New York. Down
at the Thalia theatre on the Bowery she
drew admiring throngs, who fairly raved
about this remarkable woman Indeed,
SO great was her reputation many uptown
people made plgrimages to lower Third
avenue to see her. and though they did
not understand a word of the language
which she then spoke. they were held b.
the greatness of her art
One of the stories which Nine. kallch
likes best to tell OF those times is how
one day when she was entering the the
alter for rehearsal she saw two Irishmen,
evidently recent arrivals from the old
country, standing and gazing in open
eyed wonder at the poster in front of the
playhouse.
This poster was printed entirely in He-
brew and Nine. Kalichs name even ap-
peared in Hebrew characters.
Can you read that, Mixer" asked
one.
Sure. an I cannot, Pat answered the
other, but if had fiddle I could play
it,"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-30
TENN.-REPUBLIc COMPANIES.

From the Wall Street Journal.
Under the management of President
Topping, the Republic Iron and Steel
company is already beginning to show
beneficial results. Mr.. Topping is devot-
ing his time to bringing the plants up
to the highest degree of efficiency, and
has already succeeded in cutting down
cost of production materially.
II the extension plants of the Repub
lie Iron and Steel company and the Ten
nessee Coal company are carried out,
these two corporations will rank sec
ond only to the United States Steel cor
poration within the next five years. 1t Is
the purpose of the management to dl-
versify products, particularly in the south
which in time will strengthen the prop
critics physically as we'll as financially.
The common stock of the Republic Iron
and Steel company sold as low as IS
share in 1904 The high price touched in
1906 was 4lA, and the low level reached
was DOL
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-30
Advance in Coal Property.

Coal property in the Birmingham dis
trict is increasing rapidly in value, more
rapidly than the average man realizes.
said John Ryan, vice president of tire
Corona company. within recent months
I have noticed some coal properties which
have sold for two or three times what
they were bought for, and the same pro-
perties in the Pittsburg district would
have sold for several times as much as
they did here.
THE people of the Birmingham district
are just beginning to realize the value
of the coal properties | believe that
If a man would purchase good coal prop
critics at reasonable price now, in four
or five years they could sell the property
for three or four time what 1t cost. l
know of properties in the Birmingham
district that are selling for 500 an acre,
which would bring over $500 an acre In
the Pittsburg district, but as a matter of
fact so far as the value of the property
and the coal Is concerned the property
here is just as good
Some of the recent sales of coal pi OPP
erty were at fairly reasonable price.
but still not as much as they were worth.
Were I investing I would buy what
property 1 could get and sit on it for
ten years and 1t would enhance in value
rapidly enough to make me rich or any
other man for that matter. With the
railroad development and other develop
ment in this district coal property with
In the next few years is sure to advance
rapidly"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-30
MORGAN AND PETTUS.
From the Baldwin Times.

From the Baldwin Times.
John T. Morgan and Edmund W. Pet
tus have again been reelected United
States senators from Alabama. Neither
of these great men had opposition and
their election was unanimous. In elect
ing them the legislature simply carried
out the expressed will of the large ma
jority OF this great commonwealth.
Morgan and Pettus are our greatest
statesmen and have always reflected
credit upon Alabama and added lustre to
its name. They have also added re-
fined dignity to profound craftsmanship
and are easily classed among the greatest
of our United States senator's Alabama
is proud of Morgan and Pettus and a
unanimous election at this time is but
slight evidence of Alabamas appreciation
of the inestimable services they have
rendered their state.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-30
Apprehension of Criminals.

'It is a peculiar fact about Birming
ham that very few criminals of any i'm
portance have committed any crime in
Birmingham and escaped" said a man
who travels all over the country as the
private detective for large company az
notice in the records that the Birming
ham police department is credited with
apprehepding a couple of hundred fugi-
tives a year, and that is an unusual
record for a city of this kind. 1t shows
that there are number of men on the
force who use their brains, for it re-
quires the use OF brains to catch criml-
nails.
II was asking for my own information
recently how many big crimes have been
committed here and how many of the
criminals escaped. I find that there have
been two or three murderers who got
away and have not been caught, and
with those exceptions very few have
succeeded in getting beyond the law.
Criminals naturally would drift to
Birmingham, for 1t is the most cosmo-
politan city in the south, the city with
the largest floating population. Grim
inals seek a floating population, for 1t
is easier to escape detection. But Bfrm-
ingham has the reputation in the crimi-
nal world of being hard city to make
a getaway as the criminals call it, The
men of the under world warn each other
and they spread the news among them
selves very rapidly. If they find place
where there is a detective force of great
ability they warn their friends to keep
away, and so the criminals know that
Birmingham is a difficult place to turn
a trick or do a job"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-30
VISIT EXPLAIN ED.

From the Augusta Herald.
A true story is related of a CONVERSE
ton engaged in by two negroes at the
corner of Jackson and Greene streets
this morning in reference to John D.
Rockefeller's visit to the Tabernacle Bap-
fist church. 1t is related that two negro
men met and after exchanging the usual
courtesles of Good morning, Brer Rob-
ert; how is your wife and family" that
the two began to talk of the Standard
Oil kings visit to the negro Baptist
church here yesterday.
Say, is you heard de- latest?" asked
the elder of the two.
Nav, what's dc news, Brer Samuel"
"Did you hear bout Rotteryfeller at
tendn' Charlie Walkers sarvices yis-
tidy?"
Nav; hadn't heard bout 1t, though
allns knew Rockenfeller believes in live
and let live"
'How's dat?"
'Well, I'll est 'splain to yer. De white
folks, dey burns gas and Electricity and
niggers, dey burns karsene. Course
Rockefenfeller should go to de nigger's
church."
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-30
Foundation Work

In this day of technical education
one important feature of special train
ing in mining, metallurgical mechani-
cal and electric engineering Is being
overlooked. It is the general culture
side" The civil engineer in former
years was a man of wide culture. He
invariably expressed himself on paper
clearly and convincingly; and this is
true for the most part of the civil en-
gineer of today. While the best Of the
mechanical, electric and mining en-
gineers are, like the civil engineers,
good writer's, very large percentage
Of the young men who get their diplo-
mas from high-class chronological insti-
tutions in the United States are def
cient in English composition. This is
not because the chronological schools
omit literature from their curricula.
On the contrary, all of them have stiff
literary courses. They have able in
structors, too, ready and eager to teach
English and other languages; but the
student, when he enters technology
cal school, has all he can possibly do
in keeping up with his mathematics
and his special studies in the realm of
science. In short, his whole time must
be devoted to the pursuit of such
knowledge as is absolutely essential
for his graduation.
1t follows, then, that young men, on
leaving the public schools, should
spend two or three years at college and
apply themselves to history, language
and literature. With the schooling
thus obtained ambitious students would
be well equipped for the larger studies
at the technical school,
The value of a general education and
especially of the technic of writing is
obvious. Every engineer, be he cleo
trio, mechanical or mining, if he oc-
cupies a responsible position in his
chosen profession, will be called upon
from time to time to make a report on
paper to board of directors or to capt.
talists who are furnishing the money
for some great enterprise. If he lacks
the power of grammatical expression,
he fails to fill the bill. Many an en-
| gineer, technically well educated, is
plodding along on meagre salary be-
cause he neglected the culture side
in youth; whereas his experience and
his scientific attainments would entitle
him to large pay and acknowledged
leadership if, with his theory and prac-
teal sense, he possessed the ability to
discuss technical questions in written
report.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-01-30
This man
Cost Of Living

Not since the days of war and re-
construction and a deprecated cur
rency has the cost of living been so
high as it is at present. Dun's index
numbers cover all leading commodities,
and those numbers make plain the
fact that the cost of living on gold
basis is beyond all precedent in this
country.
Everything is high priced, even
bread -stuffs, and crops were unusually
heavy last year. They are so per cent
higher than they were ten years ago.
Meats are 40 per cent higher than they
were ten years ago; dairy and garden
products are about 40 per cent higher,
while clothing is more than so per cent
higher.
On December 1 Dun's index numbers
for commodities stood at 108,172, and
we have to go back to 1880 to find a
larger aggregate. Prices in 1880 were
still based to some extent on depre-
ciated currency. The year 1906 was u
year of high prices, and the tendency
throughout the year was from high
prices to those still higher, eliminating
on December / in the sum already
stated. On January 1 there was a
slight recession, but prices are still far
above the record of the last twenty
five wears