davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-30
IN HOTEL LOBBlES
DepreSsinu Fact.


 Business conditions in Birmingham are Tar better than they were when l was here three months ago said Henry F. Reardon of Chicago. Tn the north every thing is booming and if trade in Alabama is not altogether normal it is fast ap- preaching that state.
 'fhe one depressing fact in Brming- ham, l would say, is drastic prohibition. Temperance legislation is all right, but there is such a thing as overdoing it. I am inclined, however to take a hopeful view of the situation. I think it safe guess that the constitutional amendment to be submitted to the people will be voted down and that the more intolerable features of the prohibition laws will be set aside by the supreme court of the state As l understand it the bills just enacted are the severest ever heard of in this country. If such laws are suit able for rural communities they will undoubtedly retard the progress of cities like Birmingham
 Atlanta is already making capital out of the fact that its most formidable rival is being put to the bad by reason of extreme prohibition, while the legal ized sale of beer, called near-beer, has practically lifted the Georgia metropolis out of the prohibition class. Georgia's S next legislature is almost sure to repeal it's prohibition laws. Tn my part of the country business men were not surprised to find southern states like Mississippi and North Carolina, containing no large cities, going dry but when Georgia and Alabama cities were hSmpered by state- wide prohibition we marveled"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-30

brought about by the disappointing condition of Mir. Harriman's health aft-
 CT a trip abroad, the special purpose of which was its restoration. The re- action began in Union Pacific and quickly extended to the remainder of the market. Stocks which suffered most were those that previously led the ad- vance. It was evident that the mar ket was ripe for a reaction, ard this fact had as much to do with the de- cline as MT. Harrimans health, con corning which there was really nothing new to the well informed. Nevertheless the importance of MT. Hartman as a factor in the stock market cannot be disputed. For a long time he has been the dominating element in the specula- tive arena, but his operations in this field are now undoubtedly closed, and it is in this quarter that his withdrawal from active affairs will be most notice able in the public eye. As to the poli- cies regarding his great railroad sys- tems these are already well established, and will probably be continued with but slight notifications by thoroughly competent successors. Some of these plans may be incomplete, or they may require readjustment to changed cir cums tances; and the fact that his iudg- ment and attention cannot be available at such time must affect the value of his securities, particularly where they have been inflated to ridiculous figures by exaggerated expectations as to what MT. Harrimans speculative op- pIish,p
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-30
LARGE AMAGE
 FROM MINE CAVE

Scranton, Pa, August 29.-Fully $200,000 damage was done to West Scranton property today By a mine cave, the worst the city has ever ex- perienced. Abandoned workings of the old Cork and Bottle colliery of the Fairlawn Coal company, which ceased to be operated 20 years ago, gave way under a side hill and an area equal to two city blocks sank from two to eight feet, throwing houses from their foun- dations, cracking walls and otherwise damaging buildings.
 Public School No. 16, a 75,00O brick structure, was so badly damaged that it will have to be torn down. The other properties damaged are mostly frame residences on Fairview and Chestnut avenues and Robinson street, with few small store buildings.
 One of the biggest items of loss is the land which, on account of being steep hillside, is probably made un- marketa ble.
 The disturbance is estimated to be about 150 feet below the surface. Fis- sures extending to the surface and three feet across at the top show themselves in a number of places.
 A new three-story tenement on the brow of the hill slid down the decliv- ity six or seven feet and threatens to topple with further settling.
 Gas and water pipes are giving in in all sections of the disturbed area.
 Rats by the thousands ran through the Assures and scampered over the streets.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-30
Uniform State Food Laws

The national convention of state food and dairy departments that sat in Denver last week gave great atten- tion to the need of a model and uni form state pure food law independent of the federal law but as nearly as possible in harmony with it. Where requirements differ it results in con- fusion and in injuries to business. "If a manufacturer or wholesale dealer" says the New York Journal of Com merce, "has occasion to send the same goods into many different states for sale, where the prohibitions and re- quirements in regard to adulteration, preservatives and labelling are differ. ent, it is necessary to divide up the stock to conform to the provisions of law in each state, or run the risk of penalties, and these provisions may all differ in some particular from those of the state in which the goods are first put up and shipped"
 A manufacturer must comply with the federal law and with the law of each state in which his goods are sold. This of itself should induce the states to get together in the adoption of an uniform state pure food law.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-30
CHAMBERED NAUTILUS.

By Oliver Wendell Holmes. This Is the ship of pearl which poets
 feign. Sails the unshadowed main- The venturous bark that filings On the sweet summer wind It's purple
 wings In gulfs enchanted, where the Siren sings. And coral reefs lie bare Where the cold sea-maids rise to sun
 their streaming hair. Its webs of living gauge no more unfurl. Wrecked is the ship of pearl! And every chambered cell Where its dim. dreaming life was won't
 to dwell As the frail tenant shaped his growing
 shell Before thee lies revealed It's irised ceiling rent It's sunless crpt un-
 sealed! Thanks for the Heavenly message
 brought by thee, Child of the wandering sea Cast from her lap, forlorn! From thy dead lips a clearer note is Than ever Triton blew from wreathed
 horn While on mine ear it rings Through the deep caves of thought I hear
 voice that sings Build thee more stately mansions, o my
 soul, As the swift seasons roll! Leave thy low-vaulted Past Let each new temple, nobler than the
 last, Shut thee from Heaven with a dome
 more vast, Till thou at length art free, Leaving thine outgrown shell by Lifs'e
 unrasting sea.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-30
San Antonio To HeIp.
Sweep a Favorite,

New York, August 29-The rich futurity. the classic race between 2-year-olds nomi- mated before they are foaled, will be run tomorrow at Sheepshead bay Uncertain ty envelopes the outcome of this strug- gle of 16 young bloods of the American turf for the richest purse that has been hung up this season, about s27,O0O. James u. keene has two representatives en- tered-Sweep, brown colt by Ben Brush Pink Domino, and Grasmere, a chestnut colt by Meddler-Rotha H.
 Sweep appears today to be a slight favorite. Grasmere was bred by Clar- anoe Mackay and sold to MT. Keene as a. yearling for $3500. MT. Keene has declared to win with Sweep. Candleberry, owned by R. H. Wilson, Jr., young smart horse which has worked out in the sensa- tional time of 1:1S 2-5, will also start. Others in the race are Barleythrope, re- gently purchased by James Gaffney for $lb,OO. and James McManus' Rocky O'Brien.
 Weather indications for tomorrow are very favorable and the course is fast. /
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-30
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR.

From the New York Press.
 The richer a man can be the still richer he always wants to be.
 It's very bad luck to an heiress because she'll get married for 1t.
 A sure way to get a good opinion of yourself is to wear side whiskers.
 A girl can like to go walking with a man, no matter how much she hates 1t.
 What woman always wants to do for a man is to let him tell her how much he loves her.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-30
COLU MBUS HAS
 ELECTRIC STORM

Columbus, Miss, August 29.-(Spe- cial. .)-Columbus was visited by a rather severe electrical storm this aft ernoon. The electric light plant was slightly damaged and there was no street car service for more than an hour The damage was finally re- paired and the lights are burning to- night
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-30
Harriman's Illness.

"The correspondents of metropolitan newspapers arc camped round about the Hartman retreat and some of them are overriding it. in sending out matter as to the ssck mans malady," said a we'll known physician.
 "One paper has published such foolish and erroneous stuff as that Mir Harri- man has cancer of the stomach, taken in through eating. Now cancer may be de- veloped in a mans system by various causes; excessive smoking, irritating the skin with any continuous friction, such as a collar button, and SO on. A sharp tooth scratching the inner mouth can develop 1t. Many persons have cancer germs in their blood that do not develop into outbreaks. The question of a be- nign soil Favorable spoD which may be said to have been brought to the de- veloping point by an irritating cause.
 And if MT. Hartman has cancer of the intestines it is the result of 'benigni- ty' from irritation bringing the germs to a point of favorable outbreak and multi plcation, consuming the tissue and sound members, steadily progressing. It is to be hoped that the great railroader has not developed cancer, for if he has the end is not far off,"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-30
Rirminuham in 1920.

''The prospective development of large suburban population in Shades valley will be realized within few years, and just before the census of 1920 Birminghams s boundary lines will be extended so as to take in the towns across Red mountain as we'll as the city of Bessemer," said a pioneer.
 T never expected to live to see the day when Ensley would become a part of the city of Birmingham; but Birming ham has reached out even faster than I had predicted and l rejoice now to see the Greater Birmingham. Today one can readily imagine that 10 years hence, if not sooner, Bessemer will be included in Birmingham. In view of the situation 1 think it reasonable to predict that by 1920 Birmingham will have a population of between 3OO0OO and 100000.
 ''We used to poke fun at Chicago for annexing stretches of open country. But today all of Chicago is compactly built up. So 1t will be with Birmingham. In two or three years our outlying unincor- porated territory will look like the rest of the city.
 After what is now known as Greater Birmingham becomes by law the city of Birmingham, we should drop the word greater except when speaking of a pros. pective extension of the boundary lines. In other words, when MT. King or some other member of the legislature gets up a Greater Birmingham bill as 1920 ap- breaches it should be understood to take in all the communities in Jefferson coun- ty reached by Birmingham street cars.'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-30

The Duke of Newcastle had an ocean in front of him when he said in this country that the hand that rocks the cradle cannot also guide the ship of state.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-30
The Stock Market.

Henry Clews whose forecasts or the commercial and monetary world and the stock market in particular have shown during 20 years or more re- markable insight and have. come out as a rule just about as he said. He remarks in his review of last Saturday that the market is still in a very feverish state. At the same time he says the "big men have the situation well under controi.' The volume of business is steadily ex- banding. With regard to the effect on the stock market of MT. Harriman's health, which by the way is improving, MT. Clews says:
 "A marked change has taken place in speculative sentiment. This was
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-30

After killing all the bull elephants that he comes to in Africa, Theodore will be ready to attack the trust ele- plants at home-even the g. 0. D., if it gets in his way.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-30
FULLER PROHIBITION.

From the Louisville Courier-Journal.
 If any member of the Alabama senate who voted for the Fuller prohibition bill shauld have occasion to kill a neighbor he need only produce that measure in court to prove his mental incompetency.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-30

Electing vice president in Mexico next year promises to be more inter- esting than a bull fight, for the vice president is expected to slip into the shoes of MT. Diaz.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-30
ARE ALL CATS LOAFERS i?

been known to gather in young chickens, geese and ducks. He lives by the Robin Hood rule that "he shall take who has the power and he shall keep who can" He knows little of gratitude or affec- ton. Centuries of domestication have not eliminated from his blood and being the fierce traits of his remote ancestry or deafened his ears to the persuasive "call of the wild" He is given to thieving and trespass. He is blood thirsty and cruel and finds pleasure in the torture of his unfortunate prey. He is addicted to nocturnal prowlings and is noisy and contentious with his kind
 All these and many other feline foi- bles and vices undeniably are his, and all of them have been condoned and en- dured by suffering humanity because of the house cats recognized ability as a rat destroyer Some there are who would tolerate him for his personal ap- pearance which under favorable circum- stances, is pleasing. The vast major ity of humanity, however, would rise in rebellion against him and wipe him off the face of the earth, but for the saving grace of his eternal antipathy for rats.
 After all, the scientific men don't know everything and 1t may be that the case of the house cat is not so bad as the theorist of the agricultural depart ment would have us believe. It Is se- riously to be doubted if his usefulness as a rat exterminater is waning The departments expert may have an in- born prejudice against the feline tribe, or he may be a trife bilious or "grouchy" on general principles. What Is more likely still he may have writ ten his condemnatory brochure on the morning after a night made sleepless by serenade of tomcats on the back fence.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-30
About Persons.

Dr. J. H. Owen of Dallas is spending a few days with Dr. J. H. Hughes. Dr. Owen Is en route home after a visit to Boston and other eastern points.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-30

Gas bills will not alarm Johndee while his income is $40 minute. All he has to do is to ask the collector to wait a minute or two, and the needed sum will be at hand.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-30
MONTEREY IS SCENE
 OF DEATH, DESOLA1I0N,
 DARKNESS AND TEARS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ID

had from outside points. Clothing, food and money are needed, and needed at once.
 Monterey remains cut off by rail from the outside world, no trains having en- tered or left the city since Friday night. Every bridge north of the city Is reported to have been washed out. The Tampico branch of the Mexican Central is in an impossible condition with washouts in several places and 1t will be days be- fore the line Is repaired South of the city, on the National washouts at Rim condada and Garza Garcia are reported. The Paredon branch of the Central is buried by landsides in several places and the International between this city and Reata is out of commission, and noth- ing can be learned of this line, as wire connection is broken. The Matamoros branch Is practically wiped out, large sections being reported as being washed away.
 Railroad officials here stated this morn- ing that it would be a week probably before a train could be gotten into this city over any of the lines. The situation is the worst that has stricken this sec ton and as a large amount of track work on these lines Is new, owing to the floods of July and the early part of this month, 1t was easily washed out. Friday and Saturday Monterey was cut OH IFO1H the WoIlu Dy teleSidphio Soii- munication.
 No statement sent out can exaggerate the situation as it exists here at the present time With thousands of home- less people wandering the streets dur ing the day and sleeping in the public buildings and churches at night. being fed by the charitable people and the city authorities, the conditions are ap- palling. water famine threatens and the food supply is very low.
 No fresh meats can be obtained of any kind vegetables are out of the ques- tion; no eggs are to be had ano the restaurants and hotels and private fam files are using a large quantity of canned goods No one has raised the price on anything at the present time but there is a shortage of all necessities of life In Monterey and if railroad communication Is cut off for week, as predicted, the conditions here will assume serious pro- porttonS
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-30

The Wright brothers are going into court to claim that they invented fly ing. The eagle, however, got there first
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-30

If the nation insists on squandering it's natural resources it will have to do so over the dead political body of Chief Forester Pinchot,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-30

The farmer takes care of the crops, and then the crops take care of him. Turn about is fair play.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-30

The hippos and lions do not inter- fere with the manipulation of the Roosevelt typewriter.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-30

In aviation tournaments no tires are burst, but sometimes airships turn turtle as readily as autos do.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-30
From the Louisville courier-Journal.

From the Louisville Courier-Journal.
 "a NE of the experts of the depart kVI ment of Agriculture shies a O metaphorical brick at the com mon house cat by declaring that the virtues of that predatory animal as an- nihiator of rats and mice are greatly exaggerated The expert adds that mil- lions of wild birds are destroyed an- nually by cats.
 Really, if the cat is to lose his reputa- tion as a rat catcher he is likely to be left without any very good excuse for his existence. Feature articels in the newspapers have told at intervals for many years of numbers of cats carried on the government payroll, their duties being to rid federal buildings of rats and mice: It Is something of a revela- tion to be informed that Thomas and Maria have been loafing on the job and putting in the time slaughtering wild birds when they should have been searching diligently for rats. The peoples money" most assuredly can be put to better use than in buying food and raiment for rascally cats that neglect their duties to ramble through highways, byways and hedges in pursuit of birds. wild or other wise. Uncle Sam will be ito hasten ing ills a prev if through such shirk- ing of duty rats shall increase in the fed eral cellars and rear large families to feed on official paste, messages and doc- uments and public property in general
 The cat has been accused of a good many things. All of us who know him are aware that he has his faults. All birds look alike to him and, except they be of the proportions of eagle or con- dor, are regarded by him as lawful prey. He will eat the family canary with as little remorse as he will pick up an English sparrow on the lawn. He has
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-30

is a surer sign of autumn than the To- cust's song.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-30

Speaker Cannon's leadership and language are in a fair way to be ex- purgated.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-30
A Splendid Picture.

'The Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company issued some months ago a fine birdseye view of Birmingham and its environs which 1t Is now most in- teresting to study if one wishes to con- template the real Greater Birmingham said a prominent citizen.
 Looking at the picture one sees all the splendid prospects of the great city lined in pleasing view. The perspec- tive sweeps from North Birmingham, taking in Ensley and Wylam. and swings just to leave out Powderly, and thence easterly to include Gate City and thence to North Birmingham's eextreme boundary line.
 And so looking on this picture, which shows furnaces, roofing mills, office buildings, Terrace Court, St. Vincent's, the splendid Highlaid avenue boulevard, the car line and the thousands of houses in almost photographic correctness the eye gets conception of the Greater City that no other means affords"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-30

ground, where an improvised morgue has
 been constructed, and there await identi- hcation.
 Bodies Are Guarded.
 The scenes attendant upon these trips to the morgue by those in search of miss ing loved ones Is pathetic 1.-the extreme.
 The bodies arc guarded by soldiers
 It Is thought some arrangement will be made tomorrow to inter the dead Those who have been identified will be buried by friends and relatives while the uniden- tfied, after every endeavor shall have ,, bean made to establish their identity, will be taken in hand by the city authorities and given a decent interment The severe torrents of rain which had been falling all morning ceased shortly after l o'clock today, and the fear that the river would again rise to even greater heights was dssipated, thus in a measure relieving the prevalent anxiety.
 It Is estimated that the river has risen to height of 50 to 60 feet, and until it's waters recede, there is little hope of find ing the cadavers Of the drowned.
 It is understood that an appeal for aid has gone out from the city of Monterey. One statement is to the effect that Consul General Hanna has appealed to the au- thorities at Washington, requesting that a general appeal be made by the federal government, through the medium of the press, requesting monetary assistance for the thousands of needy poor who have lost home and chattels in the disastrous flood
 According to this information the con sul har made this appeal in the name of the American colony of Monterey. Monterey Is one of the most progressive cities in the republic, and is often referred to as "the Chicago of Mexico" Large amounts of merchandise, ma chinery and food products are imported to this city from the United States, 1t I being estimated that S5 per cent of the population of the city are consumers to a greater or less extent of American goods. In view of this fact it is thought that the contributions for the relief of the stricken poor in the city will come in promptly and literally.
 San Antonio To Help. San Antonio, Tex, August 29-Wfn- chester Kelso, president of the San An tonic International club, this morning tell egraphed instructions to Ernesto Madero, banker of Monterey to draw on the club for $500 for flood victims of that cityS Telegrams were received from P F. Maritime. president municipal of Monterey, expressing thanks for the aid and the expression of sympathy from San An tonio
 An appeal to the public was issued by the International club today, and San An tonio will make an effort to the greatest extent possible In this cooperation of the large Mexican colony of this city is expected
 Many Mexican residents of San An tonic yesterday wired relief to friends and relatives residing in Monterey,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-30

The lawyers are getting ready to gather in all the net profits of flying In the air.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-08-30
Should Have Summer Music.

"As the summer is fast coming to an end 1t Is matter of rejoicing that the public heath has been comparatively good not been especially oppressive" said a citizen. ''We have had really a very pleasant summer. One thing we miss in Birmingham. however-band concerts in public parks.
 NO Advertisement Is so enlivening as the music of fine band. And no city of Birmingham's pretensions should be without summer concerts on high-class scale If the aldermen do not feel that the city can afford to pay for large band, pubic-spirited citizens might raise the necessary money by private subscrip- tion",