The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-01
HOW COL, SAVAGE RESTS IN EUROPE Theatrical Manager Kept Busy
 By Phone HE CALLS IT A VACATION Talks Plays and Other Thinss-visit to Empresario Gives Hint of
 Work He Is Doing
 in London.
HE CALLS IT A VACATION

London, october N.-'IhlS is my first trip to Europe in ten years that isn't one of business," said Col. H. w. Savage, Bostonian and theatrical impresario to the American at the Savoy The presi- dential campaign is exercising its usual depressing effect on theatrical business. thought the time suitable to take a thorough rest, particularly as I have been playing The Devir all summer. It's mighty good to be here, 5000 miles away from business cares and worries, and to be in a measure absolutely 0 free man."
 Prolonged ringing of the telephone in terrupted the interview. The Colonel hur- rledly excused himself, took up the re- ceiver and this conversation ensued:
 "Is that you, Mayer? All right. Have those people at Beckstein Hall at 2 o'clock sharp. Whats that? Some of them are Tetrazzinis. All right, I'll judge for myself. No. l don't want that fellow, I've heard him before. 1 don't think he will suit. No use wasting his time. Two o'clock sharp
 Replacing the receiver the Colonel con- tinued Usually when l come to Eu- rope l am either looking for something for America or trying to produce some thing here. This time it is rest alone I am seeking. With four Merry Widows and three Devils on my hands I can af- ford to put business aside for awhile.'
 The telephone rang again.
 "Helo is that your said Savage. "I' m mighty glad to hear your voice again. No, I'm here for rest. It's big thing you say-sure to be a success. Well, come over here and tell me about it. I'll be in all afternoon. Goodby."
 Telephoning ceases-interview resumed:
 What is the tendency of American theatrlcals? The public have shown a. preference for strong pieces with human interest and dealing with the problems of immediate American life. The Amer ican dramatist is having his inning, and while I will not say that the day of plays bearing the London hall mark has passed in American, if l recall the sta- tistics correctly the last season showed that American authors scored the ma jority of successes. Excuse me a mo- ment until read this telegram"
 Reads 1t and then says:
 Here's another Viennese author with a musical play that is sure, he thinks, to duplicate the success of The Merry Widow. l can't count the telegrams of similar import that I have received from Vienna since my arrival There are IA new musical plays announced for pro- duction in Vienna between November and January. There are only two or three theatres there-so it is obvious that these productions are intended not for homo consumption, but for European and Amer ican buyers. Excuse me, there goes that telephone again"
 At the telephone:
 'Hello-Yes, I know about that opera. I am going to see 1t in Italy-Yes, I'm going to Italy. Shall probably sail from Italy just after Thanksgiving. Thanks for telling me. It would be a shame to miss it if it Is so good. Goodby."
 Just as Colonel Savage was again telling of his delight in taking real vacation his Paris representative arrived with bun dle of documents.
 ''They require immediate attention,' he said.
 As the American correspondent left Colo nel Savage was dividing his oral efforts between a group of playwrights and inn presarios and the telephone and at the same time casting a hurried eye through the mass of documents on his table.
 "Goodby, old man. the Colonel found time to interject, I'm sorry I haven't any news, but l am only here for a rest" sss...s.s........ss.....s.s cut-over lands. The lumber companies have evnced keen interest in all these movements, realizing that with the com- ing of immigration will also come the enhancement of their land values. Some of the companies have employed immi- grafton agents on their own accounts, others have conducted experimental farming operations on their, own lands with view 10 demonstrating the agri- cultural richness of the soil, and all of them have shown a disposition to market their holdings or large part of them. at figures that should make them attrac- tive to settlers. Several immigration companies are in process of formation, all designed to handle the extensive tracts that the lumber companies will provide.
 A great deal of the activity among the lumber mills these days is being applied specially to the down timber, timber that was felled by the big winds earlier in the year. This stuff has been deteriorat- ing rapidly during the hot summer, and in some cases where owners of tracts of land have not been operating their own mills to cut up this wastage they have entered into contracts with neighboring mills that were in operation to get the timber cut This is notably the case with the J. c. North Lumber company receivers whose plant at Bond has been idle all through the summer and has not yet been put into commission.
 Mulford Parker, owner of the Ellisville plant that was burned to the ground last week, entailing a loss Of some s200, 900, was in Hattiesburg this week, and stated that the mill would be rebuilt, larger and better than ever before. The plant was very well insured and as soon as the policies are adjusted the plans for the new mill will be drawn up. The mill was considered large one even in this country of sawmilB, and gave em- ployment to several hundred men. MT. Parker is just having new mill com- pleted at Kola, north of here, taking the place of one that was burned out earlier in the year. It will be in operation by l the middle of November.
 The Newman Lumber company this week started up it's blaming mill in Hat | tiesburg after an idlenes sof several | weeks. The purpose is only to make | ready for market the stock in the sheds l in this city. The company Is having diff 1 ficuty in getting labor for it's mill at l Sumra, and finds it necessary at times l to operate the Hattlesburg planer in or | der to fill it's orders. Work on the new | mill for this company is expected to 1 commence during the coming week. | When this mill gets in operation it is | probable that the company will place 1 less reliance on the Sumrall plant where | there has been more or less trouble over | labor ever since the mill has been in op-
 eration. Prest F. l.. Peck, who visited
 the plant here and at Sumrall for week | returned to his home in Pennsylvania on
 Thursday.
 One Of the largest logs that have been
 cut out of this timber country in recent