davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-10

cover he pushes de stuff ober to Tom Greenwood en seys, Git out CT hyar quick en take dis stuff wid yer. Burn hit up. en don't eber let me hear uv yer sellin' anymore uv hit CT I'll have CT policeman make yer swoller whole boxn #es
 we wuz all kinder relieved when dat combination wuz gone, cause hit sho do git nex' ter CT ole nigger lack me ter have CT cyclone goin on inside CT my nose. never wuz so zasperated in all my days!
 officer Lyons presented two niggers ter Jedge Feagin yestiday what wuz found down on Second avenue. tryin' ter drink CT gallon CT whisky each. George Harris had already drunk CT quart but Joee King, bein' older, couldn't git rid no more'n pint. When found they wuz dead ter de worl huggin de jugs fer dear life. Dey sezs Prohibitions good nouSh fer us. but we'll tank up while we may Oats CT quotation from Scriptur', did you know hit?
 One uv de mos disappointed customers uv Jedge F'eagin dis morin' wuz Joe Murphy, CT one-legged nlgger what stole CT shoe ter fit de leg what he didn't have Joe begged de jedge not ter fine him much cause he couldn't wear hit nohow. Hit ain't no easy matter fer a big nigger lef' foot ter git inter a right shoe.
 'De jedge gifts all kinds CT correspond ence from behind de bars. Dis l. what one nigger handed out Please yer honor, MT. Fagins, you tole me ter tell de war den to turn me out Saturday night He refused ter do so l think he ought ter be fired, yours respectfully, Howard Jack son. Howard is still languishn' behin de prison bars.
 'I tells you we is havin' too many womens befo' dis court Nineteen ngger womens wuz up hyar terday fer goin' in.er saloon. All uv 'em had ter pay 8, but If I had my way dey would go ter Flat Top You know, Jedge Feagin followed my advice dis mornin He tole CT officer ter rest de fust nigger what spoke CT word offn de witness chair, en de court rooAn wuz es quiet es CT church. Ito had me watch de policemen, en you bet I kep' dem quiet. Things is im- provn' since I come up hyar. I b'lieve fo' long Marse George'll be putin me on a pension"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-10
Parks w. Parker.

yesterday morning at his late residence at Rising station. The funeral serv- ices over the remains will be conducted from the residence this morning at Il o'clock. The interment will be in the Oakland cemetery at Ensley.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-10
DEATHS AND FUNERALS
Mrs. LiIlie Thomas.

The body of lrs. Lilie Thomas age 3S years, who died Sunday at her tenn porary residence, 2021 Avenue G, was sent to Talladega yesterday morning by Llge Loy for interment.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-10
Miss Mary Scott.

Miss Mary Scott, age 55 years died at her hame at Leeds yesterday after noon The funeral services will be con- ducted from the late residence at Leeds this morning at 10 o'clock. The inter- ment will be made in the Shiloh ceme- tery.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-10
Alexander Clark.

Alexander Clark. age SS years, died yes terday afternoon at his late residence, 1927 Avenue r. The funeral services will be conducted from the residence this aft ernoon at o'clock. The interment will be made in the Southside Catholic ceme- tery.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-10

riie on it, unless equipped with a per- init from the superintendent
 The passing of the Boyles accommo- dation is an event of great interest in Birmingham, as that little road in re- spect to it's mileage, has caused the death of more people. and greater num- Der of injuries than any other road in tn, United States. The distance from Birmingham to Boyles is only seven miles.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-10
THE WEATHER.

Washington, December 9.-Forecast for Alabama and Missssippi: Fair and colder Tuesday; Wednesday fair, fresh north west winds.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-10
Engsfeldt Is First Witness.

The first witness examined by the com mittee was G. c. Engsfeldt q representa- tive of a brick company who said he knew of no graft, thought the city was getting a square deal from the bitulithic company, and knew of no rebates or other violations.
 Julian Kendrick. city engineer. intro duced further evidence, showing the broad terms used in the specifications so that other companies could bid He stated that during the past year more vitrified brick has been laid than bitu- lithic by about s2o, 900. and that. although the contract had been open to competi- ton, but one company had made the bid.
 J. E. Donelson. local representative of tho bitulithc company, was the next witness called He told how he came to be connected with the company and then took up the statements which had cen previously made before the commit tee to the effect that he had deceived them with reference to the assessments. which he positively denied, explaining each incident.
 He stated that the company has not made anything on paving laid during the past year, on account of the increased cost of materials. teams hauling, and other things. MT Donelson's estimate of the cost of laying bitulithic was $ 65 to 70 a square yard. which with bad luck added, including damages collected. authorizes the president to state that no profit has been derived from Birming- ham this year.
 I've set aside fund to maintain the pavement whether we guarantee it or not, to protect reputation. I want to state that the charges of graft are due to smooth people representing the Barbour Asphalt company dropping into the city and spending two or three da-s.'
 Found But One Case of Graft
 Mir Doneson then occupied some time describing the contests between his com pany and others, the methods used on both sides. the quality of pavement laid and the relative cost. In closing he said:
 1T want to say that in all niy promot- ing in ten or fifteen cities have never found but one alderman who used his office for private gain Asked by alder man Estes where he replied "In Birming- ham. I have already testified on that matteri" He further stated that a com pany which started giving rebates would losc money on about the third contract. Tn, remainder of his testimony was tech nical and did not bear upon any Sraft. The committee adjourned until tonight when President Ingram will be present ant the books of the company will be examined
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-10
Infant Morris.

The 4-months-old child of MT. and Mrs Morris of 602 North Reese street, Wood lawn, died yesterday morning after a somewhat prolonged illness. The remains will be sent to Springville by Shaw & Son for interment.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-10
Mrs. Eliaheth Bare.

The funeral services over the remains of Mrs Elizabeth Bare. who died Sun- day, were conducted from the chapel of Shaw & Son yesterday afternoon at 7 o'clock The interment was made in the Woodlawn cemeter.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-10
Richard C. A. Dye,

The body of Richard Clinton A. Dye, who died Sunday evening, will be sent to Brookside this morning by Shaw & Son for interement.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-10
Mistaken In Measurements.

am quite sure that the complaining witnesses, Messrs. Stradford and Brown. gave thelf testimony with the greatest honesty, but they were simply mistaken III their measurements. The slag has d tendency to powder in being crushed to- together by the impact of thej 4heayy roller, and unless the hole is distinctl,, cleaned With shovel down to the cla Y It IS easy to suppose one has reached tl,e bottom. In addition to this it is also easy to be misled by the mud squeezing up between the slag in cases where the ground was wet when it was first laid Tn one case shown on the annexed plat or MT. Nicholson the ground had been so wet that from two or three inches of siag were crushed down into the clay. ana casual inspection of this place would have left the impression that the slag was only three and one-half inches thick instead of six. But a furtber examination showed conclusiveIy in ev- cry part of the hole, five feet long. that there was two and a half inches of slaee below, crushed into the clay. and disool ored by it.
 "I would also draw attention to tba fact that In every case without exceptlon ti.e measurements show that the expen- sive part of the street, namely, the ton coating of the bithulithic mixture. is in excess of the thickness contracted to he laid, this excess ranging from a quarter oI an inch to three-quarters. I feel ius- tified in reporting that the character of the work as a whole is fully up to the requirements of the city engineers speci- fications. Yours very truly
 MES RONNPON
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-10
FuIqhum Thinks It Equitable.

Alderman Fulghum, another member of the miscellaneous committee, said: I think it is equitable, fair and just, and conscientiously drawn. The schedule IS drawn after the plans in Washington, Richmond. Chattanooga, Atlanta, and other towns whose schedules we investi- gated, and the licenses we set are no higher proportionately."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-10
Sol caheen Opposes It.

Among the merchants who were inter- viewed, Sol Caheen of Caheen Bros. ex- pressed his mind very ably. Why should they should all the burden over on us merchants who are already carrying more
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-10
B|TUL|TH|C FOUND UP ID THE STANDARD Nerwosd Pavement Even Bet
 ter Than Is Required DONELS0N ON THE STAND Says Company Has Not Made Any. thing On Pavement Laid In Bir.
 mingham During the
 Past Year.
D0NELSON ON THE STAND

The investigation committee which is inquiring into the Southern Bitulith.s company held a long session in the city hall last night The feature of the in vestigation was the report of James Bow ron, who was appointed as d special committee to look into the Norw ood pave ment. Here it is:
 ITO Alderman George II. Estes. chair
 man:
 Dear Sir-In pursuance to the instrue- tons of the committee. I spent the en- tire morning Thusday, the 9th inst. in company with MT. Nicholson, assistant city engineer, inspecting the bituthic pavement in Norwood. This inspection was made in thep resence of MT. J. E. Donelson representing the Bltulithic com pany. l undertook to verify the recent measurements made by the engineering department where cuts had been made by plumbers under city permits, so far as the same were still open, and in other cases by having cuts made, as a general proposition adjacent to the points meas ured by witnesses who have complained before our committee of insufficient thick ness Of the work. These cuts are shown exactly as to situation, both positive and relative, and also as to thickness of top coat and sag, on the annexed report of MT. Nicholson, which l make a part of this report.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-10
Hogan Opposes Certain Features.

Alderman Hogan, a member of the mis- cellaneous committee, said that there. were some things to which he objected, some licenses that he thought ought to have been higher. some lower, but he be- lieved they would be properly adjusted with consultation and final adoption. Said he: "The things come to this. Pro- hibition has carried, and somebody's got to carry the burden. and l do not think the merchants will have to carry too much of it'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-10
Inspection Is Satisfactory.

I am glad to state that the inspection was entirely satisfactory and showed that the work was fully up to the city's specii1cadons. The measurements were taken very carefully by cleaning the holes In each case down to the clay. cleaning the top. laying straight edge across, and then taking perpendicular measurements in at least three or four parts of the hole, after which the ton pieces cut out were broken by us in every case and the bitulithic, or wearing coat, separately measured. The examlna ton was extremely satisfactory to me. because 1t showed that the wearing coat on which the success of the pavement depends, had really become an artificial stone. This was proven in two ways: first, by the great amount o1 time and strength required to cut it. second, by the Tact that in breaking the top a. cleaVerage plane was established right through the stones that were bedded in the composition instead of these stones breaking loose separately from the bind ing material.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-10

done got inter de noses uv everybody from de jedge ter de prosecutin' 'torney down ter de litlest nigger in de court room. We all had ter adjourn fer to relieve our sneezers.
 Bout time de jedge managed to re-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-10
E. T. Shaw & Son. Undeftakers.

Green Undertaking Co.,. Wallace C. Johns. Manager.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-12-10

e II. Estes, chair
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-11
THE WAINWRIGHT Biz.

The arguments On the part Of Tammany op-
pOnents Of the Military Inquiry bill that i'm
the event OF its passage Governor Hughes may
appoint some Republican investigators and that
the Guard should be allowed TO investigate il
SER are additional and potent reasons why
The Wainwright bin passed by the Assem-
bly, should become law. The National Guard
IS running in a rut, from which It must be
lifted by outside forces, and their selection
'Paradise Jimmys' opinion 10 the contrary not
withstanding can with perfect safety be in
trusted 10 Governor Hughes. II It is true as
reported 70 the Assembly committee that officers
whose names have not yet appeared in connec-
ton VITA the graft stories have eytorted money
from enlisted men IN their commands and that
employment under them could be obtained only
by men who We're willing 10 divide the proceeds
Of the Sob with their employer--if these charges
are true, the commission will bring them 10 light
and the offenders 10 justice. and it will concern
the people little whether the men who render The
state and the National Guard the great service
be members Of one party or another If Oh
the other hand, the charges cannot be estab-
nshed-snd it is generally believed that they
cannot and that the custodians OF the states
property are honest men-the commission VIII
have earned the thanks OF every Guardsman be-
Cause il viii have removed the suspicion which
the fault Of one brought upon all.
The commission can accomplish the most, how
ever. by suggesting changes IN the laws govern
Ing the National Guard, with a view 10 promot-
ing its efficiency. Recruiting has suffered ana
interest IN Guard matters has Wnned because Of
existing conditions, and those officers who will
speak on the subject say that unless remedial
measures are adopted the militia Will fan below
its present standard. which Is not IN all RESPECTS
as high as il should be- searching inquiry on
the part Of commission having no axe 10 grind
with no preference for any organization and
with no leaning toward any particular head
quarters, can result only in great good, not only
30 the state. but 10 the Guard itself The ap-
p0intneEs OF the commission would probably
revive action so favor Of a division. Since we
have four bElgades, with headquarters, respec-
iigely, In New York, Brooklyn, Albany and Buff
n1c, each commanded By brigadier general, ana
haFo a major general at the head OF all, the
Q1esflo2 VIII be asked. Would It not be well
b lfcrm the state troops intO q division? Then
bflAer assignments could be made FOR the thou
ss1t1s of mlifianaen who, updsr the present ar
n3F,mants, are assigned 70 TIE headquarters OF
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-11

might of course. be another ordinance, forbid
ding people to live below the street level.
That would abolish the cellar tenements, but
it would doubtless result in still greater con-
gestion in the five stories above ground. Again,
there might be law prohibiting the housing
Of more than so many people on so large an
area That would prevent congestion, but what
would be the effect upon rentals? 1t would al
most certainly send them up, in many cases to
a prOhibitive degree. If it is necessary for a
man TO get $1,000 a year from the building on
n certain lot in order to meet his taxes and
have a reasonable return from his investment,
ne may get it at the rate of 500 from each
OF ten families; but if you forbid more than
five families to live on that lot, ne must exact
5000 from each Of them. The law is memorable.
The problem Of domcile is thus a complex
one. It is desirable to prohibit the building
over Of TOO large q proportion of the ground
area, 10 prohibit too great congestion on the
area which is built upon TO prohibit dark
rooms and other unsanltary conditions and to
require a certain standard of safety and sub
stantialness in all structures. But when all
that is done there remain the financial fac
tors 10 be dealt with. The landlord must have
fair returns on his capital, and the tenants
must have rentals which they can afford to
pay \ solution OF these phases of the prob
lem may be found in the plan, extensively prac
tisod in London, Philadelphia and other cities.
of distributing The population in cottage dwell
iings over a considerable semsuburban zone
of territory. That can probably he done in
most other cities far more readily than in New
York. Here there are exceptional difficulties
in the way. But in any city it in turn involves
two other formidable factors, that Of mex
pensve and expeditions transit and that Of
human nature-the gregariOus and social in
stinct which constrains so many, especially
among the poor, TO cling as closely as possible
to the centres OF population. The whole ques
ton is one of the most complex and puzzling
with which modern society has to deal, and it
is as important as it is complex.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-11
JUSTICE AMID FEUD4L CONDITIONS.

The trial of Judge Hargls and his feudsts for
the assassination of DR.. Cox is off again until
May p. change Of venue has taken IL away
from pistol tOting Breathitt TO one Of the lone
lest places in Kentucky. Sandy Hook, the
county seat Of Elliott County, whittier the trial
has been sent, has population of two hundred,
and is described as 'plastered on the side of q
mountain twenty-eight miles from a railway
station" Communication between the county
seat and the railway station is on muleback.
Now. this seems rather odd place to which 10
send Kentucky's celebrated case for trial Judge
IIargs and his counsel, however profess 10 be
very well pleased with the new venue; next to
being tried among his friends and neighbors he
would like to be tried In this inaccessible noun
tain village. Kentucky, taking into cOnsidera-
ton the famous feudist's OutSpOlien satisfaction
hints broadly that political influence had some
thing to do with the choice Of this remote seat
of justice. 1t is pointed out that the Hargisps
have powerful relatives in Elliott County. ana
family feeling in the Kentucky mountains has
something of the Corsican intensity Moreover
Judge Redwine, of Elliott is brother of Judge
Redwine, OF Breathitt, elected by the Iiargis
tribe.
But we here in New York have nothing 10 do
with this idle gossip about these suspicious
condolences We are interested solely in Sandy
Hook plastered on its lonely momtainside
twenty-eight miles by muleback from the near
est railway, as the ideal home of justice Special
Judge Carnes. sitting amid soldery at Jackson
in Bloody Breathitt,' had invited the counsel
for the state and the defence TO agree upon 4
new venue. The state offered any one of ninety
counties, the defence clung To two and there
was no agreement: 50 the special Judge named
Elliott lie wanted county in the mountains
where the feud2l conditions that obtain here
lin Breathitt guarantee a fair hearing" In
the blue grass region of Kentucky there might
be n prejudice against the feuds of Breathitt
There would be scant sympathy here in New
York, for instance. with the "feudal" idea that
you may shoot in the dark any one belonging to
n rival family, clan faction The interests
Of justice require trial in the most sympathetic
atmosphere!
Then. too, as the special judge said. Elliott
County is inaccessible to newspapers The
people Of that county don't read much" There,
of course, IS the ideal condition. We all know
how difficult It is IN New York to obtain fury
in the trial Of a celebrated case who have not
'read anything about it in the newspapers; to
find the ideal degree of ignorance it must be all
vantageous to have at hand some Sandy HOol
twenty-eight miles by muleback, at an angle Of
45 degrees TO the horizon, inaccessible to the
newspapers, where the people don't read much
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-11
PROBLEus or DOuICILE.

There is an interesting reminder in a letter
from Berlin which appears elsewhere in this
mornings Tribune of the difficulties which be-
set the way of regulating conditions OF urban
domclle through arbitrary ordinances. In New
York and other cities there has been a tendency
to build high into the air, so as 10 provide as
many stories as possible for residence purposes
on a given ground area. Bnt there are those
who regard very tail buildings as an evil, on
sanitary as well other grounds, and who
would, therefore restrict the height Of all edi-
fees, and especially Of dwellings. This view
was long ago officially adopted il Berlin, and
IN ordinance was made and strictly enforced
limiting the height OF tenements To five stories
above the street level. 1t is not clear whether
under this law it impossible 10 get q sat
isfactory return upon ground values without
raising rents 10 an eXtOrtionate degree or there
was merely a sordid desire 10 get more than
q normal return But, at any rate, landlords
were quick 10 evade the purport of the law in
an Objectionable manner. They observed that
it was only the height OF the building above
the street level that was restricted Nothing
was said about its depth below. SO they took
10 fitting up tenements in cellars and sub-cel-
lars, until scores OF thousands of persOns-in-
deed, we are told One-tenth OF the city-were
living under ground, while congestion IN the
above ground rooms became enormous, TO
FEWER llHn Sky 1--WE AHOuSdu0 families OcCU-
plying only single room each.
II would rot be unjust 10 say that in this
respect Berlin leaped from the frying pan into
the fire. Surely it is wouse for people to live
in underground cellars than in skyscrapers. or
10 be deasely crowded in five stories than 10
have more room ia ten OF course, It may be
said that they should live in not more than
ilye stories without going under ground or prac-
Using excessive crowding but it is easier to
say that taan 10 put it into practice. In the
hearts Of large cities land values are so high
that II may be impossible to get satisfactory
returns from property unless either a great
many tenants can he put upon q single lot o.
rents are put up TO figure which ordinary
workingmen would find It hard to meet. The
problem Is not, therefore 10 be solved by n
single enactment, however praiseworthy it may
be IN itself. The Berlin ordinance was effective
Tor the prohibition Of skyscraperg, but It DID
not prevent burrowlng under ground There
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-11

"the Guard, end under the direct command Of
"the major general"
The officers who favor the division plan say
that Generals George Moore Smith and James
McTeer should not be deprived Of the command
Of two companies of signal corps, all the cavalry,
a regiment Of engineers, a regiment Of coast
artillery and the field batteries. The fact that
these important arms of the service are under
the direct command Of General Roe has been
frequently criticised. Features Of organization
such as these. the methods by which officers are
chosen. how recruits are clothed and innumer-
able code points will come UP before the board,
giving that body an opportunity to bring the
citizen soldiery of the state, which is composed
u a superior body Of men, 10 2 higher level Of
efficiency than il has ever occupied.