davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-01
Our Skill at Your Service

In strengthening and adjusting your eye glasses. We are expert eyeglass frame adjusters. James H. Finder scientific optician, 3O6 North Nineteenth street. Bell phone 56S.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-01

Security prices are going through pro- cess of readjustment on higher interest bearing basis. The burden of opinion seems to be that on the new basis high class bonds will sell at Az to per cent and that the average of railroad stocks will range from to per cent in the open market. This theorizing is now almost entirely speculative, but 1t enters tangibly into the calculations of those who are try ing to form judgment as to the possible maximum limitations of the next bull movement which almost everybody seems to believe will begin when money condi- tions work back to the normal. Just when this will be is the thing about which everybody is guessing.
 Every time stocks stick their heads up they run into liquidation and nobody ap- pears to be able to give q good reason for predicting just when this unpleasant phc- nomena is to cease. Banks are still hard pressed, and the mercantile and industrial outlook is bad. In the natural automatic evolution of affairs there should soon oc cur real relief from the money pressure but that does not mean that we need soon look for actual hetterment in business viewed as a whole. If the stock market holds its own for another thirty days it will then be time to figure on a resump- tion of speculation for the advance.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-01

that stands out conspicuously and strongly Is the thought that the time may be opportune for the creation of cen tral bank under governmental auspices modelled upon the plan of the Bank of England. Sentiment in favor of such an institution is taking decided form, and will beyond doubt be actively pushed during the ensuing session of Congress.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-01
Tomorrow The Store IS Ready

Many of the most prominent people in the country, far and near are asking that you do your Christmas shopping early-thereby making the work easy thousands who work behind the counters.
 Cooperating with this, we have ordered in the Christmas goods early and tomorrow will find the store as rich in gift things as it will two weeks hence. Get a pencil and paper and sit down and plan your Christmas gfts-take time by the fOreock and find ans wers here-aS to what you shall give. WoMENs REApY-To-WEAR HANDKERcHlEFs Tailored Suits, $1o to $75 AND MuFFLERs Skirts $25 MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN. S Picnats s4 es |o soa Handkerchefs pan Broadcloth Coats $10 to $55 hnen' 'E|2c o foc s.s eno 0"" ' Y O Handkerchefs, linen, fancy Or Silk Rubb Coats, st85o women 12Iac to $s MILLINERY Mufeers for mon or women 5oc WOMEN AND CHILDREN +o s9sn i0' "en UT "onen' 'oo 0 $35
 Untrmmed Hats $1 to $s Silk Handkerchefs, C1iLDKENS COATS to $t. 
 to Handkerches for CLOVES dren 12Lac to 50c children's.
  Mems Kid Gloves $5o and S2 chiefs, to Womens Kid Gloves $ to $2 ~ Womens Gloves, $ Gloves, $1 ohioes 4o. .o so. Womens Long Kid Gloves, s2 Handke Womens 2easp Cashmeree cnlefs' 2Sc Gloves, silk1ined, to s15o ~ ~ ~ ~ - Mems Umbrellas, to $1e.5o. Boys Gloves 25c s1 $25. up Chidren's Umbrellas to STERLING SILVER AND In planning your sLvERPLATED WARE
 Toilet Table Articles. shopping plan to Toilet Sets. g, to s,s stay all day in the Hat Brushes SIPS o to 70 s17s
 Cases 5foS
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-02-27
$4,000 Divorces a Year.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 22.-Prelimin.
ary estimates of the bureau of the GEN.
sus as a result of the investig alton of
marriage and divorce statistics. which
began last summer, indicate that the
number Of applications for divorce
filed throughout the United States
during the 20-year period from 1887 to
1906, will reach the enormous total of
l, 400, 900. 1t is estimated that three
fourths of the applications have been
granted, so that the statistics when
compiled will show that in the period
stated more than 100000 divorces
have been allowed.
The returns from large number of
counties have been studied and they
show the surprising fact that divorce
is on the increase in rural districts,
leaving out Of consideration South
Dakota, whose preliminary statistics
are laughable, both as to the number
of applications and divorces. This
state, of course, is the banner one in
that respect.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-02-27
viii Slug Washers.

ST, PAUL, Feb. 23.--Ou- hundred
yOung men ia MINNEAPOLIS. LED by
Rev. g. /. Morrill,, have organized
themselves into club 10 slug mas hers
The mlris.er and his cohorts propose
to drive mashvr- frOla tbs st.eets If
the Mill City.
Ma. hap some nu.il@r v,n.i tull the
tables and ''trin'' tje cll.>ad .r who
seeks 10 administer tnD ii-,;r vrurr,
but If the tables should be ,uu- formed,
two or more OF the fstic band VIII ~,
for the victorious masher, and if ;ie ,
caught d second time in. r!lipg or :
he'll get first class whipping, it /,
takes half dozen crusader. To 90 it.
DR.. Morrill, organized the "slug.
gers" at a service at the y uditorium,
where he berated the practice OF young
fellows annoying women on the streets.
He decl AIRED he intended using his fists
on such offenders, and ia response to
an appeal to others to aid him in the
crusade 100 sturdy members of the
congreg alton held up their hanas to
signify that they will ''punch the stuff.
fin - out of any masher caught d,
large.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-02-27
Wreck Survivors Rescued.

Hook OF HOLLAND, Feb. 22.-After
thirty hours of almost incessant efforts
and splendid work the Dutch lifeboat
men were rewarded by reaching the
wrecked British steamer Berlin, which
went ashore here yesterday morning,
and ten survivors upon the after.part
of the vessel were saved.
Buffeted and driven back time after
time the sturdy Dutchmen never re.
laxed their attempts in behalf of the
handful of shipwrecked people and
all through yesterday. last night and
this morning they launched their boat
repeatedly only to be foiled by the
mountainous seas.
In the early afternoon the lifeboa,
went out again. The receding tide
and some improvement in the weather
gave better hope of success and after
hard tussle the persons still living
were safely taken of at $3.50 p. N.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-02-27
THE DUTIES OF CITIZENSHIP.
Ex-President Cleveland Uses WASH
ington's Life As Object Lesson.

CHICAGO, Feb. 22.-At the Wash.
ington birthday exercises of the Union
League club today Grover Cleveland
was the principal speaker. It was the
ex.president's first public appearance
in Chicago in many years and keen
interest was manifested in his visit
and his address. Mr.. Cleveland said
in part:
"In furtherance of the high endeavor
of your org ganiz alton, it would have
been impossible to select for obser.
vance any other civic holiday having
as broad and fling significance as
this. 1t memories the birth of one
whose glorious deeds are transcend.
emily above all others recorded in our
national annals; and in memorizing
the birth of Washington it commemo.
rates the incarnation of all the vir.
tues and all the ideals that made our
nationality possible and gave it
promise of growth and strength. 1t is
q holiday that belongs exclusively to
the American people. All that Wash.
ington did was bound up in our ma
tional destiny. The battles he fought
were fought for American liberty, and
the victories he won gave US national
independence. His example of use
fulness, conservation and lofty patrio.
tism made manifest as in an open book
that those virtues were conditions not
more vital to our nations beginning
than to its development and durabili.
ty.
"The land we live in seems to be
strong and active, but how fares the
land that lives in us? Are we sure
that we are doing all We ought to keep
it in vigor and health? Are we keep.
ing its roots we'll surrounded by the
fertile soil of loving allegiance, and
are we furnishing them the invigorat-
ing moisture of unselfish fidelity?
"The land we live in is safe SO far
as we are dutifully careful of the land
that lives in US. But good intentions
and fine sentiments will not meet the
emergency. If we could bestow upon
the land that lives in US the care it
needs, it is Indispensable that we
should recognize the weakness of our
human nature, and our susceptibility
to temptations and influences that in
terfere with a full conception of our
obligations; and thereupou we should
see to it that cupidity and sel6shness
do not blind our consciences or dull
our effOrts.'
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-02-27
Works Hardship On Settlers.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 22.-The house
in committee of the whole placed itself
squarely on record today in favor OF
limiting the power of special agents OF
the department of the interior by a
vote restricting the use of the appro.
priation of $3.50, 900, covered by the
sundry civil appropriation bill to pay
the salaries OF such agents. BY vote
of lO4 to ITO the committee adopted an
amendment offered by Mr.. Mondell.
During the debate the work of the spe-
cial agents was severely condemned
and the orders of the president regard
ing final proof on homesteads criti-
cised as working unnecessary hard
ships on settlers.
Mr.. Mondell, in speaking on the
civil appropriation bill, insisted that
the pernicious activity of special
agents was known to every honest set.
tier on the public domain. Mr.. Lacey,
of Iowa, chairman of the public lands
committee, believed the president was
sincere in the efforts to enforce the
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-02-27
Slot Machines Go To Fishes.

TACOMA, Feb. 22.-Fifty-one large
slot machines, of total value of &c..
250, were buried in the deep waters of
the bay just at the point where the
Andelena, sailing vessel, sank sew
eral years ago. The machines were
put through an operation to relieve
them of their cash and slug contents,
and the dissection yielded S108.79 and
several thousand checks.
An order was then made by Judge
Arnston that they should be des.
troyed. The officers announced that q
watery grave would be best and the
funeral time was set. Every one OF
the machines is OF the latest pattern
and some of them are valued as high
as $500. Itwas found that the com.
partments we're all neatly plugged
thus elimin atiug all possibility OF win.
ming any large amounts.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-02-27
RATES HAVE DECLINED,
American Railroad History Shows
Reduced Cost Of transportation.

WASHINGTON, Feb. Ex-senator FL
kins, of West Virginia, has just com.
pleted and filed in the senate his mi.
nority report of the railroad rate law.
1t presents comprehensive history of
the economic development of American
railroads, together with exhaustive
tables which tend to show constantly
decreasing freight and passenger rates
and the relation between such rates
and the price of commodities and cost
of labor.
The report says that the cost of
transportation in 1904 was nearly g..
OOO, 600, 600 less than it would have
been had the rates for 1870 still pre-
vailed. The passenger business of
1904 exceeded that of 1900 by more
than "a per cent, while the freight
only was 1926 per cent. greater, in
comparison with an increase in wages
of railroad employees.
The report says that the service in
1904 was so much more efficiently or
ganized that the labor contrib ibuted by
the average employe, accomplished %
per cent. more in movement of passen-
gers and "A per cent. more in the
movement of freight than in 1880.
The report gives the total railway
capitalization June 30, 1904, as $1O,.
Ill, 794, 078 aud this amount is 4. IA per
cent. less than the commercial values
as estimated by the census bureau. In
the face OF the great improvement OF
the railroad property since 1890, the
report says, the relatively insignifi.
cant increase of 5.31 per cent. in cap.
ita!ization shows decided tendency
toward careful methods of financing
these properties. Compared,with rail-
road rates abroad, the report says:
"The figures in the foregoingJare I'M.
doubtedly significant. They show tn at
American railways carry freight for
rates THAI Averave but STA per cent.
OF the average charged in France,
6O.3o per cent. of that in Germany,
90 30 per ceul. of III at in Austria, 81. 10
per cent. OF at in Hungary, about SO
per cent. Of that in Russia.
"S'nce 1890 American rates have de.
clued 1915 per cent; French rates,
3.64 per cent: German rates, 80 per
reAa.: Austrian ra.es, 9.35 per cent.
a"u hungarian :ate,, 10. Ia per cert. -
~ :" lhe l'.creAsr y equipment, the
'"pnrb says that ia the last IA years
: h" Increase in the humber of cars and
"'"m"tiy"s has been relatively much
greater than the mileage increase: be-
"','-, both ears ana locomotives are
+ Cow mach larger than formerly.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-02-27
Hill Predicts Hard Times,

New YORK, Feb. 21.-Jas. J. Hill,
president of the Great Northern road,
who has returned from St. Paul, ex.
pressed the conviction yesterday that
the tide of prosperity is turning, and
that there are indications of signifi.
cant recession in business.
General policies of retrenchment
are under way" said Mr.. Hill. "Less
money is to be spent on new work, and
the effect of this movement is being
felt at the present time in the falling
off of orders. The beginning of this
movement is very evident in Chicago.
While would scarcely call it a re.
cession in business, it is that of q
drawing in. The railroads are cur
failing their expenses and placing
fewer orders. On our lines we will
finish the work we have under way,
and that is all.
1.-THE movement toward economy is
scarcely perceptible, but it should be
sufficient to relieve the strain from
congested business. In q way it is q
good thing. It is better so, as the cur
tailment is gradual. Otherwise there
might be q sudden slump with serious
results. The first tendency is toward
the curtailment of luxuries. Then
there will be a falling off in the amour,
of manufactured articles. This will
continue during the coming months.
But 80 far as concerns the future, the
year 1908 may be q hard one, and
many men may be out Of employ.
ment''
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-02-27
Murder Conspiracy Revealed.

WALLACE, Idaho, Feb. 23.-The
story of the plot to ass sassinate ex-
Governor Steunenberg was told to the
world today when Steve Adams con-
fession was read to the jury which is
trying him for the murder of Fred
Tyler.
Adams confession states that he
joined the Western Federation of
Miners at Cripple Creek: that he knew
Meyer, Haywood and Pettibone; th at
Pettibone told him to 60 to Idaho and
see Simpkins-that they wanted to
"get" Steunenberg; that Pettibone
went to Haywood and got 5000 for his
expenses; that the manner of "ge:ting"
Steunenberg was left to him: that he
went to Idaho, met Simpkins and there
planned the crime.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-02-27

land laws and protect the honest set.
tier from the land speculator. He also
declared that we never had more
honest secretary Of the interior.
"Nor one who was more universally
Mistaken" answered Mr.. Cushman, of
Washington.
Mr.. Lacey continued in his defense
of the secretary of the interior, who,
he said, had been greatly maligned
and much misunderstood. "He has
endeavored to enforce the law and he
has caught some pretty big fish," 1t
was in the interest of honest settlers,
he said, that inspectors should not be
hampered in their work.
Mr.. Gronna, of North Dakota, told
of the hardships occasioned by the
two now famous orders of the presi.
dent suspending final proof on home.
stead entries until expert examin alton
could be made.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-02-27
THE ST. MARY PROJECT,
Engineer 6abb Says Work will Be
Pushed Night andtDay
Great Falls Leader.


G. c. Babb, district engineer in
charge of the St. Mary's irrigation
project, Is In the city, having come
here to meet Supervising Engineer
H. N. Savage, who he expects will ar.
rive on the evening train from Hunt.
ley. The two will hold Ia conference
over irrigation matters andiMr. Sav.
age will probably go overl the Sun
River project.
"We have been frozen up all winter,
but we are now going ahead with the
work.. said Mr.. Babb. in speaking of
the St. Mary's project. q We are now
bridging the St. Mary river::opposite
our headquarters in orderl to bring
over steam shovels and other machin.
cry. We were fortunate in striking q
good vein of coal, an exceptionally
good blacksmithing coal, and have q
tunnel running in to distance of 200
feet.
"When work opens up in the spring,
we will operate steam shovel and an
excavator and will probably have be.
tween 300 and 400 men employed.
Work will probably open up about
April l. Following the plan of last
fall. we shall put Indians to work
again, operating them in one division.
We will run two and possibly three
shifts, by the aid of an electric plant,
being able to work both night aud
day.
"The work that we have on hand
now Ia on the st. Mary's canal. Some
time this season the government will
call for bids for tunnel at the head
of the canal, including head.g ates,
etc, and a large amount of concrete
work which will be involved. There
will also be a temporary dam con.
s,ructed, as it will not be necessary to
build the large 10 foot storage dam
for several years. During the past
few months we have been doing main.
ly carpenter work, in connection with
the erection of buildings at head
quarters.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-02-27
Collected illegal Fees.

SALEM, Ore. Feb. 22.-Suit has
been commenced in The circuit court
against former Secretary of State F..
l. Dunbar, alleging that during the
past eight years he has collected fees
to the amount OF 800, 900 to which he
was not entitled.
The right of the secretary of state
to charge and collect fees in addition
to his constitutional salary is ques.
tion which has been agitated for a
dozen years or more. This is the first
time, however, that the question has
been in court
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-02-27
Death On Diving Horse.

SAN ANTONIO, Tex, Feb. 22.-Five
thousand spectators saw Oscar Smith
dive to his death on one of DR.. Cary.
er's horses, Powderface, this after.
noon. Smith, known as the "boy
broncho buster," volunteered to ride
the diving horse, which leaps from q
forty.foot platform into q pool of wa.
ter fourteen feet deep. The horse hit
the water nose first, with Smith sitting
gracefully on his back. The crowd
cheered until the horse came up with.
out the rider. 1t was twenty minutes
before Smiths body was recovered.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-02-27
Mr.. RockefeIler's Fortune.

NEW YORK, Feb. 23.-Frederick T.
Gates, the representative of John D.
Rockefeller, who on Thursday made
an announcement saying that Mr..
Rockefeller 9 fortune could not exceed
s250. 900, 600 or $500, ,0oo, 900, and that
his income did not exceed els. 900, ,00O
or s20, ,OOO, 600, added to his statement
yesterday. in an interview, that Mr..
Rockefeller does not control the
Standard Oil company now, nor has
he ever controlled it.
At no time said Mr.. Gates have Mr..
Rockefeller's holdings of Stand ard
Oil stock been as much as thirty per
cent. of the total.
This statement was brought out by
reporter who visited Mr.. Gates at
his home in Montclair yesterday.
''Mr. Rockefeller was never in con.
troll of the stock OF the Standard Oil
company" Mr.. Gates said in reply to
a question on tn at point. 1.-THE stock
holders control and always have con.
trolled the company"
"Have there not been times when
Mr.. Rockefeller held more than
twenty per cent. of the stock?"
"His holdings have varied from
time to time said MIR. Gates.
"Will you say what were Mr..
Rockefeller'- largest holdings OF
Standard Oil stOck?''
"At no time responded MIR. G Gates,
"have they been as much as thirty y =
cent. OF the totai'
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-02-27
TWO HUNDRED DROWNED,
British Mail Steamer Wrecked When
Close to Land.

LONDON, Feb. 2l.-The Rotterd am
mail steamer Berlin from England
with 141 passengers and crew, was
wrecked off the Hook of Holland, at
the entrance of the river Mas, lead.
ing to Rotterdam, shortly before 6
o'clock this morning and with few
exceptions all on board perished.
A terrific southwest gale was blow.
ing in shore and drove the steamer on
sand bank close to the northern jet.
ty as she was trying to enter the new
waterway.
Heavy seas quickly pounded the
vessel to pieces. She broke in two,
her forepart sinking Immediately,
while the doomed passengers and crew
could be seen for brief space of time
clustered upon the afterpart. Then the
afterpart slipped off the ledge and
disappeared.
Tugs and life boats, when the alarm
was first sounded, promptly put out to
the assistance OF the Berlin, but the
violence of the gale and heavy sea
made it impossible to approach the
wreck and the helpless lifesavers saw
the steamer break up and the crew and
passengers washed away without be.
ing able to render the slightest assist
ance.
The waterway in which the disaster
occurred is new one, on the north
side of which is the railroad station.
The steamer must have been within q
few miles of tying-up after her rough
passage when she was overtaken by
the disaster. Land was but few
yards away, and except in the rough
est weather those on board the Berlin
could have been rescued without diff.
Guilty, especially as the waterway is
navigable at all tides.
The Berlin was steel steamer, only
II years old, and popular with travel.
ers to the north Of Europe. In sum-
mer she usually was crowded with
passengers, but at this time of year
her average was about as it was las,
night, the number being equally di.
vided between first and second class.
ROTTERDAM, Feb. 2l.-The agents
of the wrecked steamer Berlin say tn a,
although they are not positive regard
ing the numbers. they believe the yes
sci carried 12O passengers and crew
of 60 men and officers.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-02-27

smallpox symptoms tonight, but w ar.
den Hall asserts that the man has a
case of the grip.
There is prospect that the house
and senate will be short of members
this week, not alone because of the
sickness, but because several who
went home Saturday confided to their
friends that they would not return
during this session.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-02-27

due to the fact that the Indians have
cOntr acted the white mans habits In
an exaggerated form. They build
small houses and in the winter keep
them at temper ature which would
kill white man. 1t is probable several
physicians will be sent north to stop
the ravages of this disease, there not
being physician at the present time
within q of radius 1900 miles.
f. Stewart, of the Can adj an forestry
department, is one of those who have
brought these alarming reports and
he believes the government should At
once look into the matter.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-02-27
Blow At Mining Frauds.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-Represent.
alive CARRIER, of Ohio, introduced a
bill today to abolish fraudulent min.
ing companies. The bill makes it a
penal offense to use the mails, tele.
graph or express companies in adver.
tising fraudulent mining stocks. 1t
also makes it penal offense to pay
dividends out of additional stock sold
for the purpose of promoting mining
schemes.
The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1907-02-27
Cannot Ship Lumber.

BELL1NGHAM, WASH, Feb. l9.--Not
car of lumber has been loaded in
northwest Washington for shipment
for the east for the past thirty days.
Eighty.tive per cent, of the mills are
closed down and it will be at least GO
days before the railways can furnish
relief.
Two mills, employing several hun.
dred men, will close here this week.
Hundreds are idle throughout the dis.
trict. Many empty cars stand on the
sidetracks, but the use of these is re.
fused for storage purposes even.