davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-11
What's the Matter With Panama?

j. B. Mcdonald, who built the sub
way in New York, says the trouble at
Panama is traceable to the hostile in
fluences at Washington of the trans
continental railroads. Mr.. Mcdonald
intimates that they are enticing away
from Panama all men of executive and
technical ability, and this may be why
the President has sent there Major
Cocktails and his associates, who can
not readily resign.
II is either this or red tape or New
York city influences that are deeply
felt in Panama canal matters. On
March % the governors. senators and
congressman of the south are to meet
at New Orleans to consider the Pan
anna canal situation. At present the
government transacts all Panama bust
ness to and from New York, ignoring
altogether tie gulf ports. And it may
well be that the Oliver bid was re-
jected because New York saw that its
acceptance would imperil its hold upon
the vast construction business at PAN
ANA. Those who think the administra-
ton is above and beyond the power
full New York influences, do not under
stand the situation. An administration
that quails before the standpatters
surely would finch when New York
said NO" Wall street has long CON
Quoted this government, and its grip
is as strong as it ever has been, and
that grip will never be weakened until
William Jennings Bryan becomes Pres
ident.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-11
Birmingham a Great City.

"Birmingham is undoubtedly a great
city, said T. F. Whittelsey, general man.
ager of the Seaboard, yesterday. Mr.
Whittelsey is making his first trip over
the Seaboard since he became general
manager at the recent meeting. Il have
been here TWO or three times before. dur
ing the time l was with the Mobile,
Jackson and Kansas City. but today we
have been all over the city in automo-
biles. and | certainly like 1t.
I'VE went to the Country club. around
Highland avenue, and 1t Is a beautiful
residence street One gets away from the
usual rectangular lots, and finds world
of opportunities around Highland ave-
nue. for picturesque houses. The lots are
pretty and the curves make it possible
to build all kinds of homes.
II am. like all others who so over
the Seaboard. greatly pleased with our
properties We have some first class road
bed, excellent terminals and We are now
getting the equipment with which to
handle the business, so that the Sea-
board has some bright prospects ahead of
it, according to my judgment. We hope
to be able to put more equipment into
Birmingham shortly and get larger
share OF the business here. We can get
as much as We can furnish equipment
for. We have engines, cars and coaches
coming soon, ana these should put us
into good shape
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-11
Reckless Drivlnu.

Il wish to draw the attention of the
police to the reckless manner In which
negroes drive wagons around street cor
ners," said a citizen. "They seem to take
fiendish delight in imperillng the lives
and limbs of people who may chance to
be crossing the street at the time.
ION Saturday night about IL o'clock I
was crossing Nineteenth street at Sec
ond avenue. A horse and wagon was COM
ing up the avenue at furious rate and
did not seem to be about to turn the
corner, but / had hardly time to spring
forward out of the way when the wagon
swept past me and two drunken negroes
began to laugh and jeer. | never carry a
pistol, and it was lucky for these ne
groes l don't, else one or both Of them
would have bit the dust.
Il hear complaints of a similar nature
frequently made, especially In cases
where negroes drive wagons out of al
leys at nighttime. Some of these days we
may have lynching to a telephone pole
If child gets knocked down and killed
by some drunken, reckless negro. 1t ap-
pears to me there are a lot of negroes
in this city who are hunting trouble
with white people, and I know there are
hundreds of white men ready at mo-
ment's notice to give those negroes all
they are looking for.
I'VE want no race troubles here. In
this city there are hundreds of good,
honest, Industrious negroes, who work
every day and put their savings into
real estate or business, but we have also
a worthless gang of fellows that work a
day or two in the week and the rest of
the time loaf around saloons or pool
rooms,, These latter are the negroes that
are a menace to the community and
when they come within the reach of the
law they ought to be made to feel it to
the full limit.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-11
Scarcity OF Metals

The first great commercial metal is
iron, and the next in rank In this COM
mercial age is copper, and there is al
most famine In each of them. IL
crops this year are as good as they
We're last year prosperity will be main
tanned in this great country, and the
process of iron and copper will be
maintained also, simply because our
mines and furnaces are not quite equal
to the demands Of booming prosper
ity.
1t seems strange that foundry iron
should sell in this district up to $25
ton when Red mountain is full of
ore and our coal beds are full of fuel
but neither can be dug and smelted
fast enough to soften the demand. This
is the case at Pittsburg and In other
eastern markets where iron has sold
up to $26.50 a ton in the last few
weeks. WHeTe lneTe Is ore enough
there is not coke enough, and where
there are abundant supplies there
are not furnaces enough or men
enough to do the work. Even an an
nual production of 25,000,000 tons does
not meet and satisfy the needs of
orr great national trade
So 1t is In copper. This metal com
mands in open market % to &c cents
a pound, or double the price of few
years ago. But high as the price the
demand outruns the supply. and al
most any price can be secured for
spot copper, or copper for quick deliv
cry. Electricity did this, and as the
uses of electricity are constantly being
expanded, no one can see any cessation
In the demand
America is now the chief seat both
of iron and copper production, and
these two metals are adding yearly
to the wealth of this country. Both
are booming, and so is this country,
and the record of 1907 will, If the
years crops are good, outrun that of
1906 in all three respects-iron, cop
per and general trade.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-11
EXIT GRoSVENoR.

From the New York Sun.
We shall miss Charles Henry Grosvenor
in the Sixtieth Congress. A character and
type i'll his way. Not always without
guile as a logiclan, but full of the pomp
and circumstances of wordy war. No
blower on the wry-necked fife but a
FOUNDER on the big belied drum, wagging
a defiant beard at the opposition and
giving not an inch of ground to demon
stration. a rubber ball in debate, al
ways able to make the worse appear
the filter reason, a lusty time killer, a.
fearless last ditch fighter falling with his
face to the insolent foe, never buried bv
facts, emerging ever to take arms against
& sea of stats teal troubles, and withal
on good terms with human nature. and
a full blown optimst
What is Washington's loss is the gain
OF Athens. Down by the Hooking river.
where the pawpaw blows, the general will
spend well earned season of rest, the
admired of all admirers, and perhaps he
may write his memoirs, Fifty Years of
Public Life" Il work to be continued and
sold by subscription after his next term:
for 1t must not be supposed that because
his colleagues have given him service
of silver as a pledge of their love, 300
pieces for his massive sideboard for use
as well as ornament and proof of merit
what feasts of reason and flow of soul
will grace the generous Grovesnor ban
quet.-it must not be supposed that Con-
gress has seen the last of him. At "A
he Is still boy in residence and hope
and by no combination can he be kept
out of seat which he is called upon to
Nacate by circumstances over which he
has no control at present Congress will
be dull without General Grosvenor, and
quieter
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-11
How the Biz Race Looks

AS 1908 approaches the renomina-
ton of Theodore Roosevelt becomes
more probable. No one but himself
seems to stand in the way, and he
himself may yield at the last moment.
Fear of the charge of imperialism and
the unwritten law against a third term
would not stay the republicans if the
straw votes in the Nebraska and North
Dakota legislatures and interviews
gathered by the New York Herald be
true indications Of public sentiment,
and no doubt they are
Bur 1t We assume thar Mr. Roosevelt
will absolutely decline TO be a candl-
date in 1908, preferring perhaps 10
run in 1912, then the question will be
asked by the republican leaders, WHO
san carry New York; The answer
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-11
From the Ne. York POSI-.

From the New York Post.
ELF-EFFACEMENT was SO the
0) law of Mr. Garrdsons being that
- even now when his lips can no
longer frame a protest, one hesitates to
essay his praise. 1t was his lifelong
joy to sink himself in his work. For
twenty-five years literary editor of the
Evening Post, he seldom put his name
to anything he wrote in its columns. If
he had been an artist, it would have
been his preference to leave all his paint
ings unsigned. To the discerning, how
ever, his true monument is visible in
those eighty-two volumes of the Nation
which passed under his vigilant eye and
amending pen, and into which he poured,
In all of Millions meaning, the precious
life blood of a master spirit.
Uneyentful outwardly, Mr.. Garrison's
life was yet singularly intense. It was
intense in an austere idealism, ever con-
scious of the obligation of his name; In
tense in devotion to the labor which was
his delight; intense in the discharge of
every duty as citizen and in the
unwavering fidelity and unselflsh services
of friendship His close association for
thirty-seyen years with Mr.. e. L. Godkin
was one of the most remarkable editorial
relations that ever existed. With un-
bounded admiration and loyalty for his
chief, Garrison brought to his assistance
a nice Judgment. and noble sympathy.
When Mr.. Garrison received, in 1905, the
impressive tribute from his eminent list
of contributors to the Nation, in cele-
bration of his forty years with that jour-
nal, his first instinct was to pass on the
laurel to Mr.. Godkin. He spoke of HIM
self as but a pupil of that great writer
and master political moralist, whom with
admiring eyes I saw
Mount in his glorious course on compe-
tent wing"
Nor was Mr.. Godldn unaware of the
rare qualities of his colleague. writing
to Mr.. Garrison in 1883, he said: TT any
thing goes wrong with you, 1 will retire
into monastery. You arc the one steady
and constant man have ever had to do
with" And he set great store by Mr..
Garrisons disciplined opinions on pub
lie affairs. Thus he wrote to him in
1891: Your article makes me regret for
the hundredth time that you have not
been able all these years to write more
I know no better political philosopher I
can safely say that, in twenty-five years
of perils by land and sea, there is no.
body from whose advice and arguments
1 have got SO much comfort and cour-
age" Yet Mr.. Garrison's invincible mod
esty would not suffer such acknowledge
meuts to go uQithnut ahat en- emf oOn cool
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-11
Teach Punctuality.

II have noticed all my life" said a man
yesterday, that the punctual people get
the worst of 1t every time, while the
late corners fare best.
II go to a show, or a concert, or a
lecture, or any public entertainment which
is announced to begin at a certain hour.
When l arrive there at the hour speci-
fled L generally ind a few Rubes, who
thought, like me, that o'clock meant
8 O'clock but later on we learn that 8
means 9.
Now IL that custom applied only to
places of amusement 1t might be toll
Grated. but the practice has spread until
1t enters into every transaction of busi-
ness I make an appointment to meet
man ir the lobby of a hotel or at hi
office OF at my office at certain honr
l go there and walt, losing probably
half an hours time, while he Is standing
on street corner talking. never think
ing that I mean to be punctual, 1t being
contrary to the general custom.
'Why, IL the people in New York or
Chicago were to act like that business
would be paralyzed in an hours time.
And here / wish to say to any man,
young or old, who goes to either of these
cities and hopes to succeed, he must learn
to be runctual to the second. When min
utes mean money busy man is not 60
ing to sit around twirling his fingers
waiting for a late conner
This bad habit of the people here could
be cured in less than weeks time il
all the public business was begun punct-
ually at the appointed time When a
church announces 1t will hold services at
II o'clock or o'clock, begin, even If there
be not ten people present. LIE. The thea
tres, concerts, lectures and meetings do
the same. Teach the people to be on
time, even If you have to make the
time midnight, to allow them to get there;
but when that time comes do just as a
train does. What confusion would we not
have If trains waited to suit the peo-
pie, but knowing the train will start on
time, they generally get there In time.
That's what is wanted in every other de-
partment of public life, punctuality."
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-11
WENDELL GARRISON

reflection" he once wrote, II am con-
scious how slight Mr.. Godkins debt to
me is in comparison with mine to him.
Oftener than not, in doubtful cases when
appeal has been made to my Judgment, [
have simply confirmed his first impulse
or his phraseology. Perhaps my SYM
pathy and support. understood rather
than exressed, have been more to him
than 1 suspected"
Between Mr.. Garrison and the large
corps of Nation reviewers and writer's
which he built up, and brought with him
to the Evening Post, there existed a Pc
culiar, almost a family, feeling. He
watched over them with an interest and
pride wellnig'h of kinship. The relation
was, to him, less editorial than frater-
nal There must be thousands of his
letters, written out in that beautiful hand
of his, and with his marvellous felicity
and business of expression, still in the
possession OF his contributors as a wit
ness to his high conception of the tie
that bound him to them. No one could
surpass him in discriminating. encourage
ment. Even In his later years he kept
young heart and keen eye for rising
writer's. He thought of his band of
workers as one continually to be re-
newed by the influx of YOUTH and if
youth brought, at first, immat urity and
awkwardness, none SO patient and tact
full as Mr.. Garrison in bearing with it
and correcting 1t. Critical severity he
could convey with the most exquisite deli
"a r1N--x hing In ha nj If
friendship.
To be, rather than to produce, was al
ways the first motive with Mr.. Garrison.
To him. life was more than books. And
how high he pitched his life, every man
who was ever long in touch with his
grave courtesy his unfailing kindness,
his unbending integrity, and his lofty
ideals, would enthusiastically testify. 10
be in contact with him even in a news
paper office was to have ones admira-
ton for him lxndled and continually
heightened; while those admitted to the
intimacies of his friendship cannot hnd
words to do justice to his faithfulness
and self-sacrifoing ardor in bestowing
a favor or anticipating need.
Mr.. Garrison impressed all who knew
him as a man of the wel-fibred virtues of
an elder day. He nourished himself on
inward aud hidden strength. One felt
that his soul dwelt apart yet one saw
ham cheerfully laying the lowliest duties
upon himself. In the total combination
of nearly ascetie sternness with him
self and infinite consideration for others,
We shall not soon look upon his like
again.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-11
Lower Fares on the Railroads

State after state is passing a bill
providing for lower rate for passen-
ger service, generally two cent rate.
But the public should not expect i'm
mediate compliance on the part of the
railroads, for they will no doubt test
the constitutionality of the bills in
question before they proceed to adopt
rates named by the politicians.
The real objection to rates named
In a legislature is that demagogues
In the future may lessen them until
the conflscatory point Is reached. All
railroads are not alike. Some carry a
vast number OF passengers, and some
carry comparatively few, and a uni
form rate would work injustice.
The Alabama rate is to be 21a cents
a mile, and as this Is the mileage
ticket rate 1t cannot be very unjust.
1t is the happy medium as things are
going, and possibly 1t will not even be
tested in the courts. The legislature
had the good sense to resist the pas
sage of two-cent rate law, know
ing as they did that what is perhaps
feasible in the most crowded states
is not feasible In Alabama where two
thirds Of the soil is not cultivated
where active development Is but be-
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-11
COTTON AND BATTLEsHIPS.

From the Washington Post.
The New York Globe sees in the Amer
lean cotton crop an agency better than
battleships. for the preservation of
peace The Globe notes that the depart
ment of commerce and labor has just in
formed the country that in 1906 the value
of the cotton exported amounted to prac-
tically 5000, 600. While there was fall
ing off in quantity of cotton exported as
compared with the year 1905 the number
of pounds shipped in 1905 being 4137, 154,-
935, while for the year 1906, 1t was 1850. 80, :
030, the increased value more than offset
this-the value of the 1906 export being
S21 100000 in excess OF that of the 1905
export. The Globe says that comparing
the value for 1906 with the average value
for the period 1888. 1t is seen that the
value of the export has much more than
doubled in less than a decade, Our con-
temporary contends that through our cot
commercial world, and especially Great
Britain, in bondage We produce five
sixths of the total cotton supply of the
world. Therefore according to the Globe.
we need not build batteshps. So far as
Great Britain is concerned, another war
with her IS almost uncomfortable. In addf-
ton TO her dependence on this country
for cotton and am immense amount of
food, we have Canada within easy reach.
In recent years the friendly ties be-
tween the two countries have been grow
ing stronger all the time. 1t may be
said that both mutual interests and in
clnatens are utterly opposed to war.
Nevertheless, in the present state of
international affairs, we are bound to
prevent our big, stick from becoming
weaker. And to make it retain its pres
ent strength will call for the contin-
uous constructor of battleships.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-11
WASHING IN FRANCE.
Laundry Work as Fine But Rather
Laborious Art.

| From a Consular Report
Consul Robert 2. Skinner of Marseilles
writes that large steam laundries are
not common in France.
Domestic washing in France Is fine
art, in which the tin boiler, the CORFU
gated metal board, the rubber roll wiring
er and the rotary washing machine have
no part. The clothes go first 10 some
rural spot, where the laundress, over
fiat board, washes the clothing in clear
running water pounding 1t great deal
with a wooden paddle and using plenty
of good white soap.
The clothes are next rinsed and in a
dampened condition returned TO the nome
of the laundress, where the lye washing
takes place in a tub, preferably WOODEN;
In the middle of the tub Is hole closed
with a cloth wound block, SO that the
LIQUID contents may seep away away
slowly. In the bottom are placed the
coarse. common articles and then the
finer things The towels are placed on
top, so that dainty lngeries shall be pro-
tected Lastly a special coarse linen
cloth is put over the surface and around
the edges to prevent the wood ashes,
which are to be added, from WORKING
down into the articles below
On top of the coarse linen cloth IS
strewn a layer of choice wood ashes. IN
the south of France they prefer the
ashes of the olive wood or the truHie
oak Oftentimes the laundress adds TO
the ashes some roots of the iris plant
or other secret aromatic herbs NOW
the difficult work begins. First is poured
into the tub, very slowly, some cold
clear water, then an equal quantity OF
tepid water, then warm water and hnally
boiling water until from the tub arise
moist clean odors. II this operation De
gins. says, at o'clock, and II the week.
work is important and the workWoman
very conscientious. SO slowly does she
pour that water that 1t Is sometimes Il
at night before she Is through. Then
the ashes are removed, and the water
drips through tho bottom of the tub
until the following morning, when the
contents go again to the riverside TO De
a second time washed with soap, but
never twisted or stretched, In clear, colo
runng water. Nothing remains after this
but to dry the linen upon bushes, grass
or a clean gravel brook bed, TO be nnally
sent home white, fresh and sweet smell
ing and turned over to another to iron.
In the cities modern progress has In
terfered to some extent with these
methods. In the shops there are to be
! found large galvanized iron tubs which
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-11
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Important Enternrlse.

'One of the largest and most modernly
equipped manufacturing plants In Jeffer-
son county is that of the Kilby Frog and
Switch company at North Birmingham"
said a technically educated man. II Wis
tied the works recently and was glad to
see SO important an industry flonrishing
here. The machinery and the electric de-
vices are strictly up-to-date, and SO sue
cessful has the company been that 1t is
now enlarging its plant. Its capacity will
soon be doubled.
North Birmingham is filling up with
varied industries. and SO far as I can
recall every one of them has been a fine
dividend payer from the start