davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-10

~ the most serious obstacle to the reali-
zatlon of the modern ideal Of municipal
government IN this country The aues-
ton OF administration is a perplexing
one. Honest, capable and fearless men
are too seldom selected for positions OF
trust and responsibility. But the gradual
munielpallzatlon OF public services. will
bring increased interest in public af-
fairs, and good men will be found for
municipal administration. Increased re-
sponsbility will develop increased inter-
est. The elimination of great monopolies
now dependent for existence upon NUM-
cipal protection will remove one of the
most insidious causes of official oorrup-
ton in city politics Again we shall
find the paradox true, that 1.-THE cure of
the disease Is to be found In the cause"
In the large cities of this country the
administration Of government is aeeomp-
lishedd by two distinct elasses one con-
sists of the officials, who too often seek
the offices for personal gain; the other
consists of the unofficial citizenship al
ready mentioned. who volunteer their
means and their services. without remun-
Grafton. for the promotion Of rSe highest
interest of the municipality In the large
cities of Europe. the unofficial class Is
at tho helm. The best and the fittest vie
with each other in unremunerative official
or semi-offical service to the public.
The hope of our American municipalities
lies In the Increasing interest of the I'M
official majority In the administration of
government.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-10
MUNICIPAL EXPANSION


aim of municipal propriotorship to reduce
the necessary living expenses of every
family in the city The burdens of the
toiling masses would thus be relieved and
life would become tolerable, and even
attractive to thousands that are now
hopeless. Tho city would become a mora
attractive place of residence, and there
would be an insensible but gradual in
crease of means to every member of the
community. Such an increase of commun-
ity wealth, distributed among all the
people, is far more beneficial than the
accumulation of the same aggregate IN
the hands of a few capitalists.
The leading arguments against the ex-
pansion of municipal functions may be
considered In three words Socialism. pa
ternalism and political corruption. The
arguments based on socialism and pater-
nalsm are usually of a speculative nature
and are only remotely applicable. Some
of the leading advocates OF municipal
proprietorship. are the strongest oppo-
nents of state socialism. 1t is difficult
to see how the expansion Of local power.
and the increase of local responsibility
can be called "paternal." Municipal evo-
luton will scarcely develop a relation
more paternal than that Of the state
towards the municipality at present.
Municipal activity has been delimited and
interfered with, to such an extent by the
legislatures and the courts that the peo-
pie take little interest in the city af-
fairs at home, but look to the state for
all municipal remedies. This is admitted
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-10


perience of this plant another has been
erected within a short distance and is
now partly In operation. II is a hope
full sign that these two companies, which
appear to have the means necessary,
for the forwarding of their plans, should
nave embarked on the fretful sea of
gold mining with the evident intention of
making a safe port.
1t is not claimed By either of them
that they have great bonanzas in sight
or that the investment of a dollar today
will return two dollars tomorrow. This
is the most common of all Authorizations
in the mining industary, studded with
Authorizations as it is. In almost any
other legitimate business investors are
content to see the proper equipment and
organization before expecting any consid-
cradle reimbursement, but in mining,
especially in the mining of the precious
metals, a certain impotence outruns the
better judgment and profits are demand
ed from the grass roots to the center
of the earth-and beyond
In extenuation of this 1t is urged that
the risks are greater and therefore the
profits must be larger. This may be
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-10
BY WILLIAM B. PHILLIPS

full OF all the southern gold mines, the
Haoe. in Lancaster county, South Caro-
lima, has been working for many years
on an ore that seldom exceeds $3.50 a
ton in value. It is not necessary that
an ore should carry extraordinary values
for It to come within the limits of prof
table treatment, II we assume that
the average value of the Alabama ores
ranges around $500 a ton, with exeep-
tional cases of much higher value. we
shall be somewhere IN the vicinity of the
truth.
The problem is not to treat high grade
ores, almost any one can do this, but to
make profit from ore that will carry
less than 5000 a ton. This requires
experience and ability OF no mean quality.
The great mistake that is so often made
In gold mining and milling is to erect
extensive works before the extent and
nature of the ore has been fully investi-
gated. There are many expensive monu-
ments to folly, not only In this state,
but also in the west, the home of gold
mining
II one has $4,000 to spend It is far
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-10

better to put 100000 of It into the mine
and 10000 into the mill than the reverse.
one can generally secure money for
good mine with a poor mill. but a poor
mine and a good mill may go a-begging.
IT Is not easy to edapt the are to the
nnl. 4 set of carpenters tools Is indis-
pensable in building a house. but for
dental work they do not seem to be SO
well suited. A blast furnace makes good
pir iron but for steel one had to use
something else. A process suited for
certain kind Of gold ore may be en-
tlrely unsuitable for another
The recovery Of gold from It's ores is
one OF the most difficult and delicate
problems with which the engineer and
the metallurglst has to denl. 1t Is
business n which experience counts for
more than anything else, experience based
on the best technical training, tempered
by many hard knoc1s-and rendered vary
by many. and often costly. mistakes.
have known but one man who said and
believed that he made no mistakes.
He is now dead. but he made no mistake
thousand years or more.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-10

to me TO see so much wealth slowly, but
passing out OF my life, en-
quilted. not In the mystic mere. but In
the profound depths of tolerable but
not gilded poverty.
What is to be the future of gold mining
in Alabama? Are there deposits which
may be prohtably worked? Are there
properties which a conscientious and
painstaling engineer may recommend?
believe that gold mining will eventual
ly take its place among the recognized
industries of this state. not, perhaps, on
a very large scale but certainly on a
profitable one.
I believe that there are properties which
may be recommended to gold mining peo-
pie with a reasonable probability of profit
able investment. 1t is not likely that
very rich mines will be found, but 1t is
not necessary. The largest installation
of gold milling machinery in the world.
on Douglas Island, off the southwest
coast of Alaska, where there are 900
stamps, was put in to treat an ore that
seldom exceeds $500 a ton in value. The
average content of the Australian ores
is about 5000 ton. The most Success
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-10
SOLDIER, REST.

BY Sir Walter Scott.
Soldier. restl thy warfare Ger,
Sleep the sleep that knows not break
ingl
Dream of battled fields no more.
Days of danger, nights of waking,
In our isles enchanted hall,
Hands unseen thy couch are strewing,
Fairy strains OF music fall
Every sense in slumber dewing.
Soldier, rest! thy warfare DER.
Dream of fighting fields no more;
Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking,
Morn of toll, nor night or waking,
No rude sound shall reach thine ear.
Armour's clang, or war-steed champing,
Trump nor pibroch summon here
Mastering clan, or squadron tramping.
Yet the lark's shrill fife may come,
At the daybreak from the fallow,
And the bittern sound his drum,
Booming from the sedgy shallow.
Ruder sounds shall none be near,
Guards nor warders challenge here.
Here's no war-steed's neigh and champ
ing,
Shouting clans or squadrons stamping.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-10
THE FISHERS BOY.

BY Henry David Thoreau.
My life is like a stroll upon the beach,
AS near the oceans edge as l can go;
My tardy stops its waves sometimes
o'erreach,
Sometimes stay to let them overflow.
My sole employment is, and scrupulous
care,
TO place my gains beyond the reach OF
tides
Each smoother pebble, and each shell
more rare
Which ocean kindly to my hand con-
fdes.
I have but few companions on the shore;
They scorn the strand who sail upon the
sea,
Yet oft I think the ocean they've sailed
Ger
Is deeper known upon the strand to me.
The middle sea contains no crimson dulse.
Its deeper waves cast up no pearls to
view:
Along the shore my hand Is on Its pulse,
And i converse with many ship
wrecked crew.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-10
BY !. c. HIDDEN, D. D.

who made Them why should they not
stand Reeredited7
Samuel johnson was the most able
literary man in England Of his day. lie
undertook, without studying the history
OF the drama, 70 prepare an edition OF
the plays Of Shakespeare, and the result
was that. with all his ability and general
knowledge, he produced what Maeaulay
calls one OF the most worthless editions
that has ever been published, not only
of Shakespeare, but of any great classic.
If you want TO study successfully. you
must stand by the historical method.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-10
TO THE TERRESTRIAL GLOBE BY
A MISERABLE WRETCH,

By William Shakespeare.
When in the chronicle of wasted time
see descriptions of the farcst wights,
And beauty making beautiful old rhyme
In praise of ladies' dead, and lovely
knights;
Then in the blazon of sweet beauty's best
OF hand of foot. of lip. of eye, of brow,
see their antique pen would have ex-
prest
Ev'n such a beauty as you master now.
SO all their praises are but prophecies
OF this our time. all. you prefguring;
And for they look'd but with OWNING
eyes,
They had not skill enough your worth to
sing:
For we which now behold these present
days,
Have eyes TO wonder. but lack tongues 20
praise.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-10

and the necessity of the historical
method" in the correct decision of a
great constitutional question.
This same method is absolutely indis-
pensable to the correct Interpretation Of
the Bible 1t is not enough to know what
is said: you must ask, WHO said it?'
ITO whom was it said?" when and
where did he say it?" What were the
historical conditions under which he said
it?" Were there any people present
when he said it; and If so, who. and
what sort of people were they?" If such
questions as these be ignored, You can
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-10

Biblical authority Tor suicide. Judas
Iscarlot changed himself "Go and do
thou likewise" The statement and the
exhortaton are both in the Bibiei but
the historical connection has been ig-
nored.
After the same fashion you may
prove that John the Baptist was posses
sed of a devil. and that Jesus Christ was
a glutton. a wine blber and a violator OF
the sabbath-nay, that he, too, was IN
link with the Devill Every one OF these
charges are made against him IN the
New Testament; and II you do not ask
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-10

prove atheism from the Bible You ind
In your Bible the statement. There Is
no Cod" Why does not that prove that
atheism Is true? Simply because It was
a fool who said It. All that man hath
will he give for his life" is a libel upon
every brave man that ever died in the
defense of his country. and upon every
heavenly-minded martyr that ever per-
ished ct the stake. Who said it7 Satan:
and it was as foul a Islander as he ever
uttered.
II you disregard the questions which
are here emphasized, you can get good
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-10

similar character are absolutely inexplic
able to any man who has not carefully
studied the history of the conditions
which led to the meeting of the federal
convention.
Any one who will carefully read Chief
Justice Taneys opinion of the supreme
court in the famous "Dred Scott case
must be impressed with the manner in
which the great jurist deals with the
history of the events and of the eondl-
lions which led to the adoption of certain
clauses of the constitution. Without in
tending to deal with any such matter.
he unconscoiusly emphasizes the truth
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-10

he do with 1t? How many puzzling and
absolutely insoluble problems it would
awaken in his mind! Who were 1.-The
people" who ordained" and "estab-
lished" It? What is meant by the phrase
persons held to service or labour," or
of that other phrase, "All other persons?"
How did it happen that, though dealing in
very important ways with the existing in
stitution of slavery, and even legislating
upon the subject of the African slave
trade, the trainers of the constitution so
carefully avoided the use of the terms
slave" slavery and slave trader"
These and many other questions OF
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-10

~ URING the last two or three
0 year. there has . been n,,' ssy'v al
this state Two new plants have been
erected, both In Tallapoosa county, and
one of them has been in continuous
operation for nearly four years. This
plant has done more to advance the in
dustry than any other that has been
erected in Alabama since the first dis
covery of gold. Up to the time of the
building and continuous operation of
this establishment there was not within
the state any gold mine or gold mill
conducted on modern principles by men
who were making it a regular business,
irrespective of the more or less profitable
business of selling stock. No stock in
this company has been or is offered for
sale, nor have any inducements been held
out to the optimistic public, irrestib1y
drawn towards the yellow metal. To use
a common expression the owners have
been Saving wood" and there is said
to be goodly pile of this material stih
on hand.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-10
POEMS YOU OUGHT TO READ
ENSIGN EPPs, coLoR-BEARER.


BY John Boyle O'Reilly
Ensign Epps, at the battle of Flanders,
Slowed seed of glory and duty
That flowers and flames in height and
beauty
Like a crimson lily with heart of gold,
Today, whom the wars of Client are old
And buried as deep as their dead COM
manders.
Ensign Epps was the color bearer
No matter on which side, Philip or earl;
Their cause was the shell--his deed was
the pearl.
Scarce more than a lad, he had been q
sharer
That day in the widest work of tina
field.
He was wounded and spent and the
His comrades were slain or scattered
host:
But stainless and scathless out of the
strife
He had carried his colors safer than
life.
BY the rivers brink, without weapon or
shield.
He faced tho victors. The thick heart
mist
He dashed from his eyes, and the silk
no kissed
Ere he held It aloft in the setting sun,
AS proudly as II the nRnt were won,
And he smiled when they ordered him TO
yield.
Ensign Epps, with his broken blade,
Cut the silk from the gilds6 STAFF,
Which he poised like spear TIL the
charge was made,
And hurled at the leader with a laugh
Then round his breast like the scarf
Of his love,
He tied the colors his heart above,
And plunged in his arrnor into the tide,
And there, in his dress OF honor. died.
Where are the lessons your kinglings
teach?
And what IS the text OF your proud COM
rnanders7
Out of tho centuries heroes reach
With the scroll OF O deed, with the word
of story
or one mans truth and OF all mems
glory,
Like Ensign Epps at the battle of
Flanders.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-10

" HE majority of the people of the
United States are destined to live
4 in cities. The growth of cities dur
ing the last twenty-five years has been
so great that we are at last forced to
recognize the fact, that the city ele-
ment is about, to predonlinate in
country whose governmental fabric was
originally based upon a foundation of
rural life.
When Washington was inaugurated IN
1882 only three per cent of the population
lived in cities In 1900, there were only
six cities in the United States with
population of more than 5000, and the
largest of these had only $4,000 In 1890,
this class of cities had increased to 437,
and contained 20 per cent of the entire
population. During the last decade of
the century the growth of cities has
been still more rapid, and it is estimated
that nearly fifty per cent of our entire
population are now living under condi-
lions more or less urban.
The remarkable growth Of American
cities is sometimes attributed to the
fact that our country Is comparatively
new. This reasoning falls to the ground,
when we remember that during the same
period the cities of Great Britain and
of continental Europe. with the exception
perhaps of those of France, have grown
even more rapidly than those of the
United States, Notwithstanding the effect
of emigration This growth of cities has
been the natural result Of Industrial
and economic forces, which with soma
notifications, have affected every civil
lied country. The past century was
dominated by the spirit of industrialism.
The extraordinary progress of invention,
the application of machinery to produc-
ton, and the rapid increase of cheap
transportation facilities. brought about
two related facts,-enormously increased
capital and production, and the rapid
concentration of large masses of people
within limited areas. The great economic
and social problems of civilization, pre-
sent themselves in a perfectly rational
and logical order. The industrial and
manufacturing era had to deal with prob
lens of production and questions relating
to the development of capital. Political
economy naturally and properly became
the popular science, for the social and
ethical problems involved, could not be
anticipated. The new Industrial forces
created new conoiuons of life. The new
social and economic problems developed
by industrialism and increased wealth
production. are today pressing for solu-
ton. In the past two decades, economic
thought has been directed chiefly, not to
wealth production, but to wealth distribu-
ton. The old science of political economy
has been largely superseded by the new
science of sociology. The sociological
problem which now presents itself in
logical order. is the readjustment of the
results of industrialism, to the demands
of new social conditions; the recogni-
ton of the so-called evils of today as
stepping stones to better things; the evo-
luton of "the soul of goodness in things
evil"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-10

on don't really know anything
l(CH until you know its history" was
- one of the wisest, acutest, pro-
foundest and most wide reaching utter
ances that 1 ever heard from the lips of
John A Broadus; and I was his pastor,
taught with him in the Southern Baptist
Theological seminary and was intimate
with him for many years.
Suppose that any modern man, ignor-
ant of our colonial history and of the
old Articles of Confederation" should
happen to fall upon a copy of the con-
stitution of the United States; what could
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-10

II is customary to decry the concentra-
ton of people in large cities as an evil in
itself. as though men, like hills of corn,
must be planted a certain number of
feet apart in order to thrive. If city life
emphasizes such evils as dirt, disease
and crime the cure of these evils may be
found In their causes. This seems para
doxical, but is yet a truth. Emerson's
doctrine of compensation, may find here
a potent illustration. II city life deprives
the individual of some of the freedom and
pleasures of the country and exposes
him TO new dangers, 1t bestows upon
him opportunities for growth and culture.
that would be impossible in the country.
The Dement'S of city life may be made
to largely counter-balance the evil. The
collective wisdom and energy of all who
live within a certain limited area, may
be directed to the promotion Of the physi-
cal and intellectual and moral we'll
being of each. The logic of the situation
is simple The concentration OF larse
masses of people in the city, is the NUM-
cipalitys opportunity. At least one OF
the great evils of industrialism may
thus become the means of higher and
more widely dlffused civilization, provided
municipal activity follows the lead of
municipal opportunity.
There are two conceptions OF the
sphere of municipal government. The
frst is based upon the doctrine that the
best government is that which governs
least" that the less work a municipality
has to do and the more that is left to
private effort and individual Initiative,
the better for the government ana Tor
the people. The second theory regards
the municipality as an agency through
(which the collective wisdom and power OF
1hA entire community is made to con-
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-10
TO HIS LOVE.

BY Within Schwenck Gilbert.
Roll on, thou ball, roll on
Through painless realms OF space
Roll on
What though I'm in sorry case7
What though l cannot meet my bills7
What though / suffer toothache's illsT
What though I swallow countless pills7
Never you mind
Roll on
Roll on, thou ball, roll on.
Through sear of inlky air
Roll on
It's true I've got no shirts to wear,
It's true my butchers bill is due,
It's true my prospects all look blue
But don't let that unsettle you'll
Never you mind!
Roll on
It rolls on.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-10
THE RIFT WITHIN THE Lutte.

BY Alfred Lord Tennyson.
In Love, IL Love be Love, IL Love be ours,
Faith and unfaith can meier be equal
powers:
Unfaith in aug'ht is want of faith in all.
It is the little rift within the lutte,
That by and by will mako the music
mute,
And ever widening slowly silence all.
The little rift within the lovers Lutte
Or little pitted speck IN garnered fruit,
That rotting inward slowly molders all.
It is not worth the keeping; let It goi
But shall 1t? answer, darling, answer, no,
And trust me not at all or all In all.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-10

The function of municipal inspection in
our American cities, will bear considerable
expansion before We get such efficient
service as is provided in European cities.
In our large cities we need thorough in
spection and supervision of food and drink
products. Consumers are too far re-
moved from the sources Of supply to
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-10

Upon the same principle thlrd-class of
municipal functions may be extended
without the introduction of any new
powers. There is a class of public needs
above the primary wants of life. for