davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-23
Secession In Mobile

Very naturally Mobile thought 1t was entitled to home rule under the local option plan. Birmingham and it's coun- ty had enjoyed that right, and Mobile and it's county had anticipated like democratic opportunity. When this opportunity was rudely snatched away by the state prohibition bill it was angry clear down in it's boots, natur ally angry, and Citizen McDermott straightway proposed secession as a remedy.
 But the trouble with the remedy is there is no trustworthy state at hand to secede to. Florida and Mississippi are both open to the white-ribboners, and if Mobile could and should join either it~could not secede again be. cause there would be nothing contigu- ous to secede to.
 But Mobile is not going to secede. CltlIcH MCDel HOIt 6HOulu CdllU ulUl- self. He is over 40 years behind the times Mobile not only cannot secede, but it does not want to do anything of the sort Mobile" says the Register, lis the only seaport of the state, is the outlet of it's great mineral re- sources and manufactures, and is the very central point of interest in the great development now under way in this state. There is not enough terri tory here out of which to form a sep arate state, and we could only proceed by alliance with southern Mississippi or western Florida, which, if effected, would put us on plane with other and rival gulf ports adjacent to Mobile, and rob us of the distinction of being the only port of our state. This would be hurtful to our interests and turn a damper upon our hopes of considera- ton because of our unique geographi- cal position In whatever way it is re- garded the secession idea is impossible and we beg to be relieved of the inn putation that it is seriously regarded here."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-23
IN HOTEL LOBBIES.
Forms of Official sionature.

Some of the governors in signing pi oc- lamatlons and other state papers follow the style of the President of the United States" said an old citizen, while many of them, perhaps a majority of the mod ern governors, do not follow any partisu- lar form. The word president never ap- pears after the executives signature. But under the Presidents name, to the left, the secretary attests the signature thus By the President. Blank, Blank, Sec retary of State; or if 1t be pare of minor importance: By the President. Blank, Blank, Secretary to the Presl- dent Until recent years, the goYerners of Virginia were always particular In fol- lowing White House form. I notice that Governor Conner, in signing his recent Thanksgiving proclamation, puts the word governor after his name, and then has the secretary of state attest the sls- nature a la the President. To be strictly in form, it is seen that the signature should have been simply B. B. Conner.
 By the way the Presidential style seems to have been original and not bor- rowed from the rulers of Europe, as few of the customs in vogue at the White House were. Emperor William and King Edward write after their names, R. l. - Rex Imperator CKing and Emperor)'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-23
Oklahoma is still in a f1utter.
WHO 70. HENRY" IS.

From the Washington Herald
 The recent announcement of the ap- preaching marriage of the writer, known to large number of people through his magazine stories O.. Henry, adds to the public interest in the near-mystery which has enveloped the man since he became a popular author. As most of his admirers who do not enjoy his per sonal acquaintance have guessed, the strange name he attaches to his fiction Is non de plume. his real one being William Sidney Porter Some twelve or 10 years ago MT. Porter was engaged in the commonplace and unliterary work or receiving and paying out money in bank at Austin, Tex. He gave up his place as result of a disagreement with his superiors. which afterward led to le- gal proceedings. Though he had not written for publication at that time, he felt the divine fire burning within him. and so decided to make journalism his life occupation. With sublime assurance he launched a humorous weekly paper, which he fondly hoped would become a prosperous successor of the once famous Texas Siftngs. He called it the Rolling Stone, and the name was prophetic of the end that came to it. It was gen. timely funny, but in the absence of any accumulation of moss in the form of dollars, it's editor was compelled to sus- pend. Soon afterward he was employed by the Houston Post to conduct a daily column of humor, called Some Post scripts" This was highly successful, and soon the former bank teller acquired a reputation as writer which was more than local. Then, suddenly, he left Houston one night for Austin and never went back. His friends in Texas heard no more of him for five or six years, when, through the publication of 70. Henry's" picture in New York maga- zine. they learned that the two were one and the same. During the time he was in retirement he travelled exten- sively and gathered the local color for the stories of life in the West and in Central America which are now so popu- lar with magazine editors and readers alike.
 As for the legal proceedings at Austin, they were never brought to conclusion. because of MT. Porters absence. He is a widower and has a grown daughter.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-23
New Orleans Coal Supply

Coal is scare and high in New Or leans because of the long continuance of low water in the upper Ohio. There is now plenty of water in the Ohio river and the coal famine in New Or leans will soon be lifted But such famines will return from time to time so long as the port depends upon coal brought from distant mines by water.
 The New Orleans Times-Democrat thinks the time has about come to place the port beyond the whims of the upper Ohio. This is why it well comes the inauguration of steel barge line from the Warrior coal fields via the Warrior and Tombigbee rivers to Mobile bay and thence by Missis- sippi sound and the Lake Borgne canal to New Orleans. Not only" adds the es-Democrat, should the coal sup ply thus provided be sufficient to meet the constantly enlarging demands of increased shipping and industrial activ- ity. but the economies of transporta- tion should operate to keep the price down and to prevent advances of quo tations such as may not unnaturally be expected to occur occasionally so long as we are practically depapdent
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-23
EstImatinQ the Crop

The ginners of the country report that up to November IA they had turned out 1,261 ,00O bales less than they did in the corresponding time last year. These figures are the results of actual counts made at 26,571 active ginneries.
 But the state commissioners of agri- culture gathered at Columbia, s. C., say the crop will be 2,017000 bales short of last years crop. That crop was 13,439,734 bales, and the state commissioners therefore estimate the present crop at 11,412,O00 bales.
 Perhaps a compromise between the ginners' returns and the commission CTS estimates would be as good a guess as the case affords. This com promise calls for a decrease of 1,666,- 900 bales below last years crop, leav- ing as a result crop of 11,760,00o bales.
 The years diminution occurred chief ly in Texas. Commissioner of Agri- culture Miner of that state says the crop of 1907 in Texas will not exceed 2,500. .000 bales, loss of over 100000 bales, but Commissioner Milner un- doubtedly overestimates the Texas re- duction. Up to November IA there had been ginned in Texas 1,709,5S bales, and it is reasonable to say that the ginning of the rest of the season In the big state will exceed 800,000 bales.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-23
Common Sense Returning

From the pay car of one railroad s10OO0O in gold was disbursed this week in this district, and if everybody would pay out every dollar of cash they hold the stress and strain of the times would soon pass away. There would then be no excuse for the issu- ance of scrip, and the banks would speedily fall into line. The banks take their cue from individuals, and when individuals show no signs of boarding the banks will do none of it. Every body has a duty to perform in this cur rency emergency, and if everybody will pull together the country can get back to a cash basis by December 1.
 It is indeed time that common sense should assert itself-the sense that recognizes the fact that the country is full of big crops which the world needs. It is so full of products, nat ural and manufactured, that the rail roads cannot move them promptly. Its national treasury is full of money and so would it's banks be if the people would let common sense take the place of unreasoning fear-in other words, if they would stop hoarding of all sorts. Just as soon as they will do this the banks will know it, and they will speedily go back to cash basis. That basis should be reached without de- lay. There is neither rhyme nor req son in further fear concerning the md of general business.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-23
A New Rirminaham Booklet.

"Of the many booklets or pamplets setting forth the progress and resources of this district none have been quite so comprehensive, perhaps, as the Mercan- tile and Industrial Review of Birmng- ham and Jefferson county just issued by the industrial department of the Seaboard Air Line" said a member of the Con- mercial club. "It contains g broad pages, including the paper covers, there covers. like the rest of the book, being brimfull of information. The Review is finely illustrat- ed and the maps are excellent and right up to date. The map of Greater Bir- mingham-the city of Birmingham that is to be-is particularly interesting It Is drawn to large scale and covers nearly a page
 "The compiler of the information in the Review has done his work in pains taking manner and facts and figures are presented succinctly and attractively. The book will be widely circulated and will be, of course, a great advertisement for Birmingham"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-23
Briuht Outlook
here

The pig iron market is in a waiting condition and will probably remain in active until after the middle of Jan uary. There is naturally much con next buying movement will start off When the market came to standstill early in the fall the price was $1S.50 to $19 on No. 2 basis Nominally, quotations are not much below those prices now; but with the new year lower level may be fixed; how much lower few will venture to predict. It is felt, however, that consumers will be ready to pay s15 or $16. If it turns out to be so, furnace companies will have a good profit even at the present high cost of production.
 Had it not been for the financial furry in New York in October the gen eral business of the country would have remained in a normal condition. There would have been recession in prices, no doubt, for prosperity had been long running at great clip and needed little rest; but there would have been sufficient demand for iron to keep most of the furnaces in blast. With a restoration of confidence in the business world consumers will be quickly in evidence again. The wheels of industry will be in motion from one end of the country to the other, and the Birmingham district will be as busy as ever. It is safe to say that within the next few weeks iron melt CTS will be impatient to get iron. They will be urging prompt delivery and iron makers will be clamoring for cars. Many of the furnaces recently "blown out" needed repairs. When the pig metal trade does revive the idle stacks will be in shape to do their best, and before the new year is many months old the public will have forgot that we ever had a touch of hard times.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-23
OLD SCHOOL FIGHTER.
Jake kilrain in Battle of 1O6 Rounds
 That Lasted Over Three Hours.

From the Kansas City Star.
 "A newspaper man to see me? That's funny. John deals the dope for the fam fly. He keeps the newspaper men busy. I'm not good hand at entertaining, but come in and we'll see what we can do about it.
 Jake Kilrain, one of the greatest fight CTS of the old school. was talking, and as he spoke he pulled aside the curtains of his wee bit of a dressing room at the Majestic theatre last night and made his visitor have seat on his big trunk and make himself at home.
 He's a quiet man. this Jake Kilrain Not yet has he rounded out half cen- tury, and he looks some five years younger Full to the brim of humor and with droll wit. fitting smile and an an interesting talker. He doesn't care a great deal about the fight game now and would rather talk about other things, but when he gets started he tells many tales of the old fights In the days when hardy men met in out-of-the-way places and fought finish fights for big purses and big bets It was bare fists then and the best man won.
 That fight with John in Mississippi? Haven't you forgotten that fight yet? No? Well. neither have I.'' And the twinkle in his eye convinced the visitor that Jake Kilrains memory was very fresh with incidents of the great 75-round battle he fought with John L. in Rich burg. Miss. IS years ago. 'Yes, of course that was my hardest fight. John (sulli- van is always John with Kilrain) was
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-23
TENNESSEE CO.'S PRESIDENT.

From the Iron Trade Review.
 George G. Crawford, the newly elected president of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company, is admirably equipped by wide range of experience for his new position. He was porn in Madison, Ga, In 1869; graduated in 1890 in mechan- ical engineering at the Georgia School of Technology; studied chemistry until 1892 at the University of Tubingen in Ger many. He was with the Sloss Iron and Steel company in Birmingham for three months as draughtsman, then came north and entered the chemical laboratory of the Edgar Thomson Works of the Car negie Steel company. He was later trans ferred to the draughting office. and later made assistant to the superintendent of the Edgar Thomson blast furnaces. His next position was with the National Tube company as superintendent of blast fur naces and steel works department, and in 1900 returned to the Carnegie Steel company as superintendent of the Edgar Thomson furnaces, returning to Mckees- port in 1901 as manager of the national department of the National Tube coni- pany, comprising the blast furnaces, steel works, rolling mills, tube and pipe mills. and Boston Iron and Steel Works at McKeesport, the National Galvanizng Works at Versailles ana the Republic Iron Works in the southside, Pittsburg.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-23

a fighter those days and we had a merry time. But my trouble with Jim Smith, the champion fighter of England is the fight remember best of all I challenged the English champion and then crossed the water to meet him. We couldn't fight in England, so we journeyed to France. George Atkinson, a sporting writer, said he would fix everything if we would leave the fight to him. We did. I remember we were in a little town in France. We rode on a train quite a distance, then we hiked up some river on boat. The steamer stopped at a little island in the river and there Smith and l had our fight.
 Tt was a cold day in December and the ground was covered with snow. Sew enty-five persons crowded around the ring, but only two of them were in my corner They were all in Smiths corner. We fought 1O6 rounds. A round in those days lasted till one fighter was knocked down. That fight lasted more than three hours. and was called draw on account of darkness. I didn't get anything out of that fight because the bets were drawn. l wanted to go on with the fight because l had Jim Smith whipped and everybody knew it. It was my fight, but l didn't get it." Kilrain returned to England, where he remained for Il months and became a great favorite with the English public. Jake was never fighter with wonderful punch-a poke that carried dreams and stars and earth quakes in its wake; but he was a fighter who literally pounded the other fellow ,o threads, always boring in with more of the same. There never was a fighter who won a fight after having met Jake Kil- rain.
 We used to fight for money in those days said Kilrain, money and big bets. The gate receipts didn't amount to much. It was what we bet It cost to see the fights, too There weren't but 75 saw that fight with Jim Smith in France, but each one paid e5O-that's $25O, you know. And you had to win to get any thing. The loser didn't get a cent. 1t wasn't like things are now, when a fight CT oftens goes into d mill expecting to be whipped, but intent on copping the loser end. There was no losers end in the bare knuckle days, when l fought. If you thought you couldn't win you wouldn't go into the fight We took good care of our hands then, and the fighters didn't have nearly so many broken dukes as they dO nOWaudyS. we ulun nave our hands all wrapped and bandaged and we hit with our fists instead of skipping and hurling In any and every direction with open hands half doubled fists.
 But let me show you something. Climb off that trunk" Kilrain opened the trunk and rummaged among it's con-. tents. Here, look at this picture" he said. That's my daughter and her baby girl ? years old. Isn't she cute kid? I.k II.- grandfather" And Jake Kilrain's smile broadened and his eye .twnkled with more merrment and more pride than at the mention of any of his great fights.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-23
Prosperous Restaurateur.

If all lines of business are as active as mine, no one will have cause to com- plain" said the proprietor of a Second avenue restaurant.
 q have served more meals this week than l did the corresponding week in October; and my daily receipts are about as large as they were in the summer and fall of 1906. Birmingham's floating popu- lation does not indulge In high price meals, but the men eat plain food without stint As for that matter the people of Birmingham who frequent restaurants and cafes today are, as a rule, plain livers, as compared with those of former years l came here in the early sos, as a cafe waiter, and I saw more expensive dishes served and more champagne opened in a day in the early period than I saw in a months time during recent times of prosperity and accumulated wealth. cannot understand the change People are certainly better able to indulge them- selves in rich living than they were when I first came here. But 1t Is a fact that the painer the restaurant Is today the more business it gets. Men who drink at meals today call for beer, highballs and cocktails and ignore fine wines"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-23
OKLAHOMA.

From the New York Herald
 Oklahoma is larger In area than In- diana and Ohio combined
 Oklahoma will be the twenty third state in the union in point of population.
 Oklahoma has $500 miles of railroads. TOO banks and 50 daily newspapers.
 Oklahoma's metropolis, Oklahoma City, has 40 miles of asphalt pavements.
 Oklahoma's constitution is the biggest in the union, being made up of 6O.OO0 words.
 Statewide prohibition is provided in the constitution.
 The initiative and referendum" are in the state constitution, and extend also to municipalities.
 Oklahoma has 24.66s full-blooded In dians and 50,670 part Indians. Many of them are highly civilized.
 Oklahoma is a corn state,' having raised 15OOOO,0OO bushels last year.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-23
BU6oNlc PLAQUES HARVEST
Mortality Resulting From the Disease
 Has Been High In the Past.

From the Paris edition of the New York
 Herald.
 The mortality resulting from bubohc plague is very variable. As general rule, 1t is very high; relatively it de- bends upon the weather the location, and the epidemic; compared with that of other infectious diseases, it is one of the most considerable.
 It is said that certain great outbreaks of plague in ancient times caused losses of human life of which we cannot easily form an idea at present. The Black Death, according to some estinations, largely open to doubt, cost the lives of two-thirds of the population of France and carried off one-third of the inhabi- tants of Europe; that is. 50,OOO.Oo0 lives
 At Constantinople. in 1872, plague is stated to have killed 16OooO persons, if one can depend upon the documents in the archives of the French embassy there. The epidemic in 1S34-SS carried off in Lower Egypt alone 50,000 of the popu- lation that is, about one-third of those attacked.
 I'm Western Persia and in Mesopotamia bubonic plague in 1S30-5l is credited with causing the death of many hundreds of thousands of human beings, and Bagdad alone lost 6o,000 of It's 15OO00 inhabitants
 In 1S5S the mortality in Barca is said to have been four out of six patients in 1873 and 1874 i'm 1rak-Arab plague de- stroyed a twentieth of the population; in 1876 the mortality was one in eight; that is, 22,000 out of population of 170,000.
 In the circumscribed epidemcs in the most recent epochs the mortality has not been less. In Kurdistan, in 1871 and 1872 1t was estimated at about eight of of Il patients; in 1872 at 10 out of 20. In 1877 plague at Resht killed more than 2o0o persons in a city of 2o,000 inhabitants four-fifths of whom had fled
 In the dreadful epidemic of bubonc plague at Vetlianka the deaths reached 94 and 95 per cent of those attacked al most much as in the epidemic of 1867 In Irak-Arabi. But the total number of deaths in Vetlianka and the neghboring villages was only from 400 to 300, which was not large when compared with the mortality in Persia and in Irak-Arabi.
 The epidemics in India and China in modern times give almost the same lethality as those in Nearer Asia At Hongkong. in 1894, 95 per cent of the peo- pie who were attacked died from the plague.
 There is ground, however, for re- assurance; that Is, bubonic plague is T microbian disease, and by this very fact is avoidable Thus we see the disease die out on the spot without being prop gated, when the prophylactic rules, which are well known today, are applied
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-23
o SWALLOW, FLYING SOUTH.

Alfred Tennyson, in The Princess. Swallow, Swallow, flying. flying south. Fly to her. and fall upon her gflded caves. And tell her, tell her, what tell to thee. o, tell her, Swallow, thou that knowest
 each, That bright and fierce and fickle Is the
 south, And dark and true and tender is the
 north.
 O, Swallow. Swallow, if I could follow.
 and light Upon her lattice, would pipe and trill, And cheep and twitter twenty million
 loves.
 O. were I thou, that she might take
 me in, And lay me on her bosom and her neart Would rock the snowy cradle till died. Why lingereth she to clothe her heart
 with love. Delaying as the tender ash delays To clothe herself when all the woods arc
 green?
 Oh, tell her, Swallow, that thy brood 10
 flown; Say to her. I do but wanton in the south. But in the north long since my nest is
 made.
 Oh, tell her, brief is life, but love 10
 long, And brief the sun of summer in the norths And brief the moon of beauty in the
 south. O Swallow. flying from the golden
 woods. Fly to her. and pipe and woo her, and
 make her mine, And tell her, tell her. that follow thee.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-23

upon a field more than 2000 miles dis tant and inaccessible by the water route at times. The Alabama mines will be brought within 500 miles of us by the proposed barge route, whose capacity should be ample for present and future needs. When the prime necessity of steady and abundant coal supply to New Orleans is considered, the new project is recognized at once as of the highest importance to this city and calculated to confer lasting benefits upon our industries and com merce n
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-23
ALL SIREN E.

From Life
 The trust president pushed the button and the general counsel stood before him. Have the books been burned?" They have
 Has the mortgage been erased, the bonds stolen and the safe buried?" .'It has been done.'
 "Then announce to the government that we have nothing to conceal"