davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-03
Asks for Public Meeting.

II am in favor of renting the new
skating rink for a public meeting next
Saturday night" said well-known poll
tican. $50 as to give the candidates for
municipal office an opportunity of tell
ing the people their views upon certain
questions and also to hear the views of
the people on these questions.
Il have been told that in England it is
the custom for the candidates to meet
the voters and discuss the situation.
During these discussions the people put
questions to the candidates to ascertain
how they regard the issues that are of
public interest and upon the answers
they make their election depends. | have
several questions to ask the candidates
ana cannot see any other way of getting
an answer except at a public meeting.
Another matter | would like to men,
ton Is this: The people of every ward In
the city should be interested in the can
didates from every other ward. When
these men are elected as aldermen they
do not merely represent the particular
ward which elected them; they speak and
act for the city of Birmingham, and that
is why the city of Birmingham should
interest itself in their election.
Our city council should be made up
of our most representative men: men of
character and ability. When Indians
choose a chief they select the best and
bravest warrior in the. tribe. but when
citizens select an alderman to represent
them in the matter of spending public
money, granting franchises and looking
after the city's welfare and progress,
they seem to forget the requirements
necessary in the candidate and vote for
any one who puts himself forward.
Il think good many of our citizens
would like to attend the public meeting
at the rink, and they would be willing
to pay % cents admission for the privi-
lege. If there should be any money over
and above the expenses let it be divided
among the charities in the city"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-03
Two Views of Life

1t is said that we are living in a
sordid age, when the dollar is exalted
and the spiritual life is stiffled; that
the desire for the rapid accumulation
of riches is all-absorbing, and that,
consequently, gross materialism is fast
supplanting the simple but animating
religious faith of our fathers. That
many men are unduly eager to possess
worldly fortunes, may be true. A long
period of material prosperity naturally
stimulates commercial activities and
quickens individual endeavor to make
money" One sees his neighbor pros
pering, and the man who fails to better
his own condition when the opportunity
offers is a drone. But to say that all
the world has caught the "get-rich
quick craze is to speak without rea-
son.
The people who talk about sordid
ambition dominating society are either
cynics or failures in life. While cor
ruption in high places is often in evil
dence and while the world at large
may not be as good as it should be,
never was there time when SO much
thought was given to the amelioration
of the so-called neglected classes, when
so much was done to promote the
cause of peace and universal brother
hood, when domestic and civic virtues
were so much appreciated, when so
many odfearng people were banded
together for uplifting work and when
so much wholesome religion was
preached and practiced. 1t is great
mistake TO think the pulpit is losing its
power In every city and every village
in the land today churches will be
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-03
Court hlouse Is Moved.

AT an election held in Washing ton
county last Monday, the people voted to
move the county seat from St. Charles
to Chatom on the Tombigbee Valley rail-
| road, said Henry II. Martin, secretary
to John T. Coehrane president of the
Alabama, Tennessee and Northern Rail
road company. and the Tomblgbee Val
ley Railroad company.
"St. Stephens. which has always here
tofore been the county seat of Washing
ton, and was at one time, years ago,
capitol of the state. is situated about
nine miles from the Southern railway.
But Chatom, the place to which the
voters have decided to move the court
house. is situated on the new Tombigbee
Valley railroad, a line of road passing
| through Mobile and Washington counties
and extending into Choctaw county, which
is now nearly sixty miles i'm length and
is opening up on its north end in Choctaw,
the only county which has not here
tofore had any railroad.
This road is being constructed and
is owned by its president John 7. Coch-
rane and his associates. He. it will be re-
membered, Is also president of the Ala
bama, Tennessee and Northern railroad
in Pickens county,
THE moving of the county seat to the
Tombigbee Valley line is a demonstra-
ton of the appreciation Of the voters of
Washington county of the railroad as
! well as it shows the enterprise of the
citizens of the county in moving the
county seat to a point where they can
have railroad facilities and can build up
a good town. There seems to be no
doubt that Chatom Will be the largest
town in Washington county. 1t is said
| that new and handsome court house
aid Jail will be built Immediately at
| Cha tom -
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-03
Our Warmest January


The weather bureau records cover
ing thirty years do not bear out the
statement that the January just ended
was the warmest one on which tab had
been kept 1t would have been the
warmest if it had not INDUCED in a
freak cold spell from the Dist to the
oath days of the month. Its record on
the four days mentioned lowered its
average temperature to such an ex-
tent that it lost first place in warmth,
and the January of 1890 continues to
hold the record. The difference in av-
erage temperature between the two
rival months for first place was but a
single degree, but that degree runs in
favor of the January of the year 1890.
But our recent January was a re-
markedly fine month, because it was a
dry" month The lack of moisture
rendered il a delightful winter month.
There were but few days in it in which
the sun did not shine on the earth I'M
vexed by clouds. There would intact
have been heavy deficiency of mois
ture in the month had it not been for
its exit in a succession of heavy thun
der showers. A January that brings
peach blossoms and that goes out amid
flashes of lightning and reverberations
of thunder is indeed exceptional, even
If a January seven years before holds
D trifie higher record in average tenn
perature.
The winter as a whole promises to
re exceptionally mild. True. the win
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-03
ELECTRIC STEEL.

From Harpers Weekly.
The advantage of the electric steel over
the steel manufactured by the old system
is Its superior purity, and permits the in
PRODUCTION of from 20 to 80 per cent more
carbon than in the crucible steel 1t can
be more easily forged, is not easily affect
ed, like the crucible Steel by the dam
aging influence OF overheating; it Is
stronger and more firm, and offers a
much greater resistance to wear and tear.
The new system also gives added indie
pendence on account of the very ordinary
material used for producing the steel.
Such advantages have never been reached
by any other system. and it has only
recently been given to the public This Is
accounted for by the fact that the inven-
tor, DR. Engineer Paul Heroult. a
Frenchman, has kept the success a secret
until he was able to demonstrate to the
public a complete, successful working
plant.
The electric process is based on scien-
tihc metallurgical principles. which are.
of course, the secret of the invention.
while the old, cruclble method was re-
smelling system, and dependent upon the
use of only the most expensive ores. This
new process should be of great interest
to the American steel industry.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-03
med BRACE TALKS ABOUT POLITICS in
WASHINGTONAND OTHER INTERESTING THINGS

The House, all of the power and authority
of that body IS within the hands of the
Speaker, and Speaker Cannon is car
himself He is however. so fully pos
sessed of humor that men cannot re-
main mad with him.
Speaking of affairs in washington. this
fight against W ]. oliver getting the
contract for building the Panama canal
is a very vigorous one. Oliver made the
lowest bid and he has shown his hnan-
ciar as well as his business ability to
carry out the contract Yet the Ma
Arthur-Gillespie New York contracting
firm is bringing tremendous influence to
bear against Oliver and in favor of OPEN
ing up the bids again
As matter of fact. divers bid was
less than half of the cost to the govern
ment of that made by the Macarthur
Gillespie syndicate. Oliver agreed to ~
dertake the work for bit more than 6
per cent of the total cost The MacAr-
thur people wanted something more than
p per cent.
Inc government specifications provide
that the canal shall be built and paid for
by the government as a house is built
under the direction and superintendent
Of an architect. who as a rule in Alabama
gets per cent of the total cost of the
mousse. The architect and the man build
ing the house agree upon a figure of
cost, and the architect gives bend to build
the house within this cost and within a
certain limit of time. The case of build
ing the Panama canal is similar except
that the government appoints two repre-
sentatiNes and the contractor two repre-
sentatives and If these four cannot agree
a fifth one is called in by mutual consent
and the agreement is made as to the cost
and time of completion of the work
There is reward if the work is com
pleted in advance and a penalty If it is
not completed within the specified time.
Oliver says he made the lowest bid be-
ca use he Gid not have to divide I'D with
his financial hackers. He says he has the
money TO do the work himself and is pre-
pared to make the specified bond of s5,OOO,-
900. 1t seems that several New York banks
and trust companies are interested in the
Macarthur bid, and are bringing much
political influence to bear to prevent the
southern man from getting the contract.
y .
BY the way, W. ]. Oliver. though he
halls from Knoxville, practically started
his career in the Birmingham district. He
was the contractor who built the Ensley
Southern railroad, and has done much
railroad construction work in this dis
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-03
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
City and District.

There seems to be some confusion in
the public mind as to the bounding Of the
Birmingham district said an old citi-
zen. There are in fact at least two Bir-
mngham districts known technically to
the map makers According to the map
the district proper extends from East
Lake to Bessemer, and according to the
same map the Birmingham mineral dis
trict comprises everything within a radius
of seventy-fYe miles: while IN the north
and east and In Europe the Birmingham
district is taken to mean simply all Of
mineral Alabama.
THE city of Birmingham. like the city
of London, has small limits and compars
auvely small population, where the real
Birmingham or the Greater Birmingham
district. of which the city will always be
the hub has a large population. The city
OF London, by the way, contains now
population of less than $4,000 The real
London. known as the London town, or
the metropolitan district, has a popula-
ton of close on to s 100000
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-03

ter is not ended until the last days of
March, and the coolest weather ever
experienced in the south came on Feb
ruary 10, 1899, when East Lake was
frozen over, and two hundred ice
skaters came out, bringing to the sur
prise of all their cherished skates, and
the rust on them was soon eradicated.
Those ice skaters were born in many
states and countries. Some of them
had slated in the depths of Russia.
and, strangest of all, they had chung to
their skates against continuous wealth
er misfits.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-03
THE HEATH THIS NIGHT MUST BE
MY BED.

By Sir Walter.
(Song of the young highlander sum-
moned from the side of his bride by the
fiery cross of Roderick Dhu)
The heath this night must be my bed,
The braollen curtain for my head,
My lullaby the warders tread,
Far. far from love and thee. Mary:
Tomorrow eve, more Silly laid
My couch may be my bloody plaid,
My vesper song, the wall, sweet maid:
1t will not waken me, Mary,
/ may not. dare not, fancy now
The brief that clouds thy lovely brow.
] dare not think upon thy vow,
And all it promised me. Mary.
No fond regret must Norman know;
When bursts Clan-Alpine on the foe,
His heart must be like Bonded bow.
His foot like arrow free, Mary.
time will come with feeling fraughtY
For. If | fall in battle fought,
Thv hapless lovers dying thought
Shall be a thought on thee Mary.
And If returned from conquered foea
How blithely will the evening close.
How sweet the linnet sing repose,
To my young bride and me, Maryf
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-03

GREAT UNDERTAKING,

From the Chicago News.
The modern Sherlock was observed to
be perusing long list of figures.
And what are you up to now?" asked
the brusque reporter.
am about to buy up the worlds
soap supply" replied Sherlock.
Great Scotland Yard! Are you going
to form a soap trust?"
mo, I have Just received an order
to scour Pittsburg."
Disgusting himself as a millionaire. the
great sleuth lit stogie and started for
the town of smoke ana scandals.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-03
PRESS POINTS

Nashville American: Mr. Carnegie says
he would give $200,O0000O for ten years
more of life. Many persons have gotten
ten years for trying to accumulate a much
smaller sum.
Washington Star: Governor Swetten-
ham is lucky. The writer of a foolish
letter very seldom gets off by merely re-
tracing its contents.
Dallas News: When Senator Carmack
and other senators got through with Sen
ator Tillman, about a week ago, he gave
notice that he would reply later on. From
all appearances he is going to make it
still later on.
Columbus Ledger: Birmingham has not
landed the sub-treasury. but she keeps
hoping. Birmingham is sort of never
say-de" kind of city.
Chattanooga Star: They say that Senior
Mallet, the new Spanish ambassador, is
not a knocker.
Pensacola Journal: The Alabama legis-
lature is wrestling with the bucket shop
problem. They can get some mighty good
points on this question from their friends
across the line in Georgia.
Washington Post: 1t Is estimated that
10,0oo0o0 women In the United States do
their own homework, while the remain
der attend afternoon teas and talk about
the trouble they are having with their
hired girls.
Pittsburg Dispatch: Herr Conried's pro-
gress from Caruso TO "Salome" awakens
deep apprehension as to his finale.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-03

| trict. Several hanks and other concerns
here We're among his hackers when he was
c6mparatiy ely poor man. These people
are still standing by hfm-are still with
him, so to speak: and in the event he gets
the Panama contract it is probable that
several of his old time friends in Biz
mingham will be interested with him IN
the work.
Speaking about affairs in Washington.
the Sub-Treasury situation is in statu quo.
50 to speak. The bill is up before the
Ways and Means committee Atlanta in
her fight, delayed until few days ago
sending in her data to be printed in the
rerort of the hearing before the commit
tee thus delaying action for nearly two
weeks.
As the matter now stands, 1t is believed
that when the proposition is brought to a
vote in the Ways and Means committee
considerable majority of that committee
VIII vote for Birmingham. But this COM
mittee in made up of men representing all
sections of the country, and several of the
republican leaders seem to be opposed to
me establishment of any Sub-Treasury
al ywhere. at this session of Congress.
AS a matter of fact, this Congress- is
eXrending so much money that the lead
ers, at this stage of the game. are en-
deav2ring to cut down every possible APP
preparation. Though the establishment of
a sub-Treasury in Birmingham means but
little, yet they would cut that little Off II
possible. However, If any Sub-Treasurv
bill is reported from the Ways and Means
committee it will be for Birmingham, and
If one is reported at all 1t will pass the
House and most likely pass the Senate.
The chances are even that Birmingham
will get it. Yet 1t may go over until the
December session of Congress.
Like In Congress- the present session OF
the Alabama legislature started off with
an enthusiasm to make all manner of re-
forms-some good and some bad It seems,
however, that Governor Conner has be-
come more conservative than It appeared
he would during the campaign; and I
really do not believe the corporate and In
dividual interests in the state have any
thing to fear from the acts of the present
Alabama legislature. Governor Conner ia
business man himself; he understands
the affairs of the state and has too much
good horse sense to be party to destruc.
tive methods and measures. That he will
yet surprise the people In his conservae
tism is the belief of
hrs 1,s1~
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-03
Cosmopolitan Blrminqham.

81 have often said that the best evidence
OF the cosmopolitan character of Birming-
ham was the fact that none of us knows
anything about the past of anyone else
in Birmingham said a prominent man
yesterday. IF one lives in Charleston or
Richmond Montgomery or Mobile, every
one else in the city knows his family his
tory for several decades but in Birming-
ham most of the friendships and bust
ness relations are of only few years
standing
81 know men that | meet every day,
and with whom l am fairly intimate, but
I know nothing of their family history. In
other words, they make their way in Biz
mingham on the present and not on the
past, as in many cities. No better eri-
denee of the Cosmopolitan character Of
Birmingham could be shown"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-03

thronged and honest and faithful pas
tors will have earnest attention.
The per capita wealth Of this nation
increases and with it human happiness
attains a higher level. The world is
growing better, not worse.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-03
ALABAMA PRESS

Jasper Mountain Eagle: From the in
dications, the state is not going to be
burdened with any surplus funds to
speak of when the present legislature
completes its labors
Eufaula Times Railroads are develop
ers and justice should be given them as
well as to the people -
Oneonta Southern Democrat: How
would the legislature get along without
John Lusk of Marshall and Captain
White of Birmingham? Captain White
has to be in the conferences of the legis-
lature frequently, to tell them what to
do you know and Lusk is very busy.
Wonder when all his bills are enacted into
laws, if they will be as famous as his re-
distrlcting bill?
Ozark Southern Star: Now that the sal
aries of congressman have been raised,
we may expect to hear of less of them
falling victims to the Standard Oil com
pany.
CoMmbiana Sentinel war to the knife,
and knife to the hilt." a declaration made
by Birmingham man against democrats
in the late democratic convention, APP
pears to be the rule at Montgomery now,
If one may judge by some of the stories
that come from down there.
Collinsville Courier: Since the pure food
law went into effect we all imagine We
| know what we are eating anyhow-and
that helps some.
| Mobile Item: Some congressman earn
$500 a year, and some do not earn 70
cents" says the Birmingham Age-Herald.
The Birmingham paper should be well
informed on Washington affairs, and for
the benefit of the country should be spe-
cfc so that no Alabama congressman
should fall under the 10 cents ban. Yet,
the 70 cents statesman may occasionally
| be a very valuable citizen by proving
himself a stumbling block in the way of
bad legislation. He has vote.
| Marion Standard: When the legislature
shall have appropriated some s250,OOO to
build Governor Conner a palace, raised
the salaries of all the state officers, fur
nished a $75-per-month typewriter for
all the minor clerks and robbed the treas
ury for the state schools and colleges,
while the little towheads in the public
schools are allowed to pick blackberries
and drive the calves, it should spend a
week discussing the game law and adj
journ.
| Gadsden Times-News: Now that the edi-
tors pass has been taken from him a
considerate legislator wants the railroad
tracks graveled and eherted between
rails.
Alabama Herald: The uneasy feeling
that prevailed in some quarters lest a
legislature be elected not entirely in SYM
patty with Mr.. Corners ideas of gov
eminent. has now abated.
| Canebrake Herald: There seems to be a
feeling of unrest in the state as to con-
gressonal matters. and we would not
be surprised if several of Alabama's
hands two years hence.
Atmore Spectrum: Governor Conner has
the legislature under the LASH and
when he takes snuff the boys sneeze,
regardless of their opinion.
Brewton Standard If you want to know
all you have ever done, and many things
you never thought, of doing, just run for
office and you'll get your character aired
in good shape.
!
Eufaula Times. The Arkansas legisla-
tors went the Alabama boys one-half
cent better-they cut passenger fare to
2 cents per mile.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-03
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New York Press.
The trouble with cooks is that the
family can't eat references.
We give advice so as TO be able to de-
tect liar when he says he is going 10
follow It.
An automobile is a sign that if the man
who owns it didn't he would be able to
pay his bills.
\ woman would rather have you bring
her home a bunch of flowers than make
good living for her.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-03

The Louisville Courier Journal
thinks that craps are worse than
bridge. The Courier-Journal is, how
ever, more widely quoted on poker
when Mars Henry is at home.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-03

The department of agriculture pro-
poses to bring to this country zeb-
horses from Africa. They are half
horse and half zebra.