davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-21
WEALTH AND RICHES.

i rom the Boston NJlODe.
Harry Payne Whitney has recently
spent $4,000 on an English grouse moor
preserve and hired 100 beaters to start
the game for him and his fellow
hunters. Computers reckon that every
grouse shot in the preverses will cost
him S. Already the economists are
discussing the value to the public of
of economists who commend rich men
for spending their money, no matter
how they spent it. ut is, much bet
ter says they, ito spend money on
diamond-headed canes and rosewood
coffins for pet poodles than to hoard
It in a bank
Another school, on the contrary
think that the purpose of an expendi-
ture is of the utmost Importance
while your poodle" says they, lis cof-
fined in an elegant rosewood and silver
casket, a live child may be providing
farefooted and hunger-stunted in the gut
ter
The Fabian would say that, and add
"Luxuries are not social wealth: the ma
chnery for producing them is not social
wealth: labor skilled only to manufacture
them is not socially useful labor; the men,
women and children who make living
by producing them are no more self-sup-
porting than the idle rich for whose
amusement they are kept at work. 1t is
the habit of counting as wealth the ex-
change values involved in these transac-
tions that makes us fancy that some per-
sons starve in the midst of plenty of
starve in the midst of plenty of jewels,
sons starve in the midst of plenty. They
velvets, laces, equipages and race horses,
but not in the midst Of plenty of food"
Economists not at all in sympathy with
the Fabians would uphold their conten-
| ton to this extent, that it is best for a
rich man to spend his money on some
enterprise which will create something
and set people to work at some useful oe-
cupation. Beating the bushes to start
| grouse for hunters to shoot may not be
the best use to put a man to, although 1t
is better than loaf1ng. But let no one
think that money put in the bank is idle.
Most of it is used by those engaged in
building railways, mills and dwellings.
Bank money is busy money.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-21
The Interurban Line.

with a revival of business everywhere
and an era of unparalleled prosperity ex-
pected in the Birmingham district, there
should be little difficulty in the Tide
water Development company being able
to construct its projected interurban troll
ley system in the near future" said a
citizen. st have no pecuniary interest in
the line, and am not familiar with the
financial status or plans of the company,
but as 1t owns valuable franchises. and
as the cities 1t will serve-Birmingham
Tuscaloosa and Gadsden-are growing
fast, to say nothing of the development
of territory in between, the needed cap
ital will doubtless be forthcoming within
the newt six or eight months.
1.-THE Tidewater company's survey en-
braces about 100 miles of main line and
with branches and loops the whole will
make a trolley system of about 100
miles. The company already operates a
packet line on the Warrior and railroad
of seven or eight miles called the Tusca-
loosa Belt
1.-THE Tidewater Development company
from Gadsden is to enter Birmingham at
East Lake and come through Avondale
and thence to the center of the city. 1t
will run along Fifth avenue and thence
to Ensley the objective point Of the troll
ley line being Tuscaloosa"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-21
ALI Should Pull T0eether

This is the time in Jones valley
when every person in it should bring
his local patriotism speedily up to max
imum. This is the time when person
alism and neighborhood politics should
be subordinated to the general good
of the valley.
This, too, is why the mayor and al
dermen Of North Birmingham did not
act in a proper spirit when they at
tempted to make a snap sale of that
city's water and light plants. 1t is
not necessary to discuss the law fea-
lures of the effort. 1t is enough to
know that the North Birmingham coun-
Gil acted in haste and in opposition
to the spirit of union and cooperation
that should animate the breasts of all
citizens in Jones valley.
A great and powerful city is now
possible in this district and to make
it great and powerful the help of
every citizen from East Lake to Wy
lam is needed. All attempts now to
defeat and embarrass consolidation are
unwise, for consolidation means the
protection of all, the promotion of
every upbuilding enterprise in every
part of the new city, the enhancement
Of real estate values from one end
of it to the other, and improved health,
sanitation, police and fire protection,
and better schools through its bounds.
No one should stand in the way of
the general good. No one should at
tempt to forestall reorganization on
broad lines. Mayor F'riel and the five
aldermen who assisted him in the at
tempted sale of water and light plants
have, for these reasons, acted in a
spirit that does not place first the
prosperity of all. They have sadly
misjudged Mayor O'Brien and his CO.
workers on the headwaters Of Valley
creek
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-21
ANTS FIGHT SHAM BATTLES.

From the Chicago Tribune.
The pugnacity of ants leads them to
amuse themselves during long intervals
of peace by sham battles. They rise
upon their back feet, wrestle, seize each
other by the jaws, antennae, or legs,
mount on each others backs, roll over
and over, and engage in other antics.
No injury is ever inflicted in these COM
bats. Neighboring communities of ants
are prone to engage in wars which con-
tinue through weeks and months, and
usually end with the humiliation of the
weaker community. Mixed colonies are
rare As a rule declares Prof. K. Esche-
rich. no outsider, even of the same spe-
cies. is permitted to enter the nest. The
founding of colony is tremendous
task, and many queens evade 1t by en-
tering small colonies of other species,
where they either become adopted or kill
the natives and take possession of the
workers pupae.
The mixed colony thus produced be-
comes a pure colony Of the queens spe-
cies after the workers have died off, I'M
less the supply of slaves is maintained
by stealing pupae from neighboring COM
munities This Is done by number OF
| species which maintain permanently
mixed colonies. The slave drivers adopt
various tactics in their raids, some spe-
cies marching in compact armies, others
| in scattering attachments.
The most notorious slave raider Is the
big red Amazon ant, born soldier, with
| sword-like mandibles which are murder
| eff IN mo ffa
for other purposes. So the Amazons are
compelled to rely on their slaves for all
household labor and building, the care OF
the young, and so on. They cannot ever
| feed themselves.
In some species the degeneration pro
duced by slave holding goes SO far thai
the masters are helpless parasites or
| their slaves. Though these masters arc
all males and perfect females, the worker
class being no longer produced. they are
wingless, grub-like creatures scarcely
| capable of locomotion.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-21
THE "sLEEPINe BEAUTY" AWAKE,

From Tennyson's DAY Dream"
And on her lovers arm she leant,
And round her waist she felt it fold,
And far across the hills they went
In that new world which Is the old,
Across the hills and far away
Beyond their utmost purple rim,
And deep into the dying day
The happy princess followed him.
'Td sleep another hundred years,
o love, for such another kissl"
"Ch, wake forever, lover she hears.
20 love, twas such as this and this!'
And DER them many a sliding star
And many a merry wind was borne,
And, streamed through many a golden
bar,
The twilight melted into morn.
20 eyes long laid in happy sleep!
20 happy sleep that lightly fied!'
20 happy kiss that woke thy sleep!
40 love. thy kiss would wake the
dead!'
And DER them many a flowing range
OF vapor buoyed the crescent bark,
And, rapt through many rosy change,
The twilight died into the dark.
IA hundred summers Can it be?
And whittier goest thou? Tell me
where"
"Oh, seek my fathers court with me,
For there are greater wonders there"
And DER the hills and far away
Beyond their utmost purple rim,
Beyond the night, across the day,
Through all the world sire followed him.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-21
Big Crops and the Revival Of Business

The hot wave has abated and the
great corn fields in the surplus states
stand unhurt. The hot weather has
increased, in fact, the yield of sound
corn, and 1t has FASTENED the spring
wheat to harvest.
The corner is turned and prosperity
Is now assured for we have good rea-
son now to look for 60000,000 BUSH
els more of wheat than we grew last
year, 275 100000 bushels more of corn,
and 191 100000 bushels more of oats.
The total yield of grain this year is
estimated at 4,SS1 100000 bushels. or
100000 bushels more than the rec
ord crop of 1906 And these great crops
are to bring good prices because OF
shortages in European countries.
The size of the crops is all the as
surance we need that the depression
is ended and that normal activity in
general business is in full course OF
bushels of wheat and probably 1900,
100000 bushels of corn every factory
will be filled with orders, every rail
road will be pushed to its capacity
and business activity will speedily
Danish all memories of hard times ant
lack of employment. Get ready tc
share in the general uplift.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-21
Mr.. Hasslnaers Suggestion.

With the removal of the rod and wire
mill from Ensley to Gadsden the South
ern Iron aad Steel company will own
no plant within the boundaries of Biz
mingham and that being so the president
of the company, Mr.. Hassinger, discusses
the Greater Birmingham from disinter-
ested point of view. Few men have been
identified with the Birmingham district so
long as Mr.. Hassinger and not one, per-
haps, appreciates its potentialities more
than he. In the light of these facts,
therefore, what he says in this connection
will have thoughtful consideration.
Birmingham is to be congratulated on
the passage of the Greater Birmingham
bill in its present shape, as 1t gives OPP
portunity to deal with a number of ques-
lions to better advantage" says Mr.. Has
singer. Its citizens are, however, called
upon to consider seriously and In broad
spirit the injustice being done those manu-
featuring concerns that are forced by
its passage to pay city taxes on large
assessment. The plants SO affected To-
Gated originally far from the city
limits as was consistent with economical
manufacture and never expected to have
to pay tribute to the city. Is 1t fair be-
cause they have helped build up great
city through their pay rolls that they
should be taxed without their consent?
Aren't they contributing daily to the well
fare of our city? What can the city give
them in return? Certainly not police and
fire protection, for they already have
this themselves.
'It has always occurred to the writer
that we have adopted the wrong policy
toward our great industries. Instead or
fostering them we have driven them away
from our city, We have forced them far
out in the suburbs Located there they
are not interested in the welfare of the
city as much as they should be. Why not
invite closer cooperation by exempting
large industries of a fixed investment,
who get no benefits from city taxes alto
gether, or at least for term of years.
Large manufacturing concerns would
then locate in the city, make demand
for real estate, would let others build
houses for their worlmen and would con-
tribute in many ways to the increased
valuation of property.
LAS 1t is, this great force for the up
building of the town Is divided and scat
tered over a number of communities miles
away from the citys center. 1t should
be united and made to contribute to the
city's welfare. Your school question, your
water question and your sanitation would
each receive consideration and assistance.
would not the benefits to be derived
from such policy far outweigh the ac-
tual tax collector"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-21
: seen In the following table:

The year 1907 was one of unpre-
eedented activity in the coal trade,
while production in 1908 was limited
by the depression that followed the
October panic and by the suspension
of operations in connection with the
adjustment of the wage scale.
Out of 80 states and territories that
produced coal last year only three
California, Oregon and Texas-mined
more coal in 1908 than in 1907. Indi-
ana's decrease was less than Alabama's
and the result is that Alabama was
exceeded in rank last year by Penn
sylvania, Illinois, West Virginia, Ohio
and Indiana, making this the sixth
state instead of the fifth state. The
rank of the state in 1907 bids fair to
be regained, for Indianas production
in 1908 was but 12,314,S9O tons, where
as Alabama's in 1907 was 14,250,454
TONS
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-21
January Is iha Day

The postponement of the Greater
City from October 1 to January 1 af-
fords none too much time in the cases
of some of the outlying towns in which
to formulate and make ready changes
in the work of the new and enlarged
municipality. The streets, the schools.
the police, the firemen will all have
to be put on broad basis, to say
nothing of the new board of alder
men and the financing of a far-hung
area. There are legal, financial and
engineering problems to be solved, and
only four months to do the work Of
reorganization in. 1t is none too much
time. Every day of it can be and will
be utilized.
And while the city officials are bus
lily engaged in consolidating the munic-
qualities of Jones Valley, every good
citizen should do his best to promote
the prosperity of the extended city.
The Chamber of Commerce will lead
the way, and it can make memorable
start by attracting this way great
enterprise to take the place of the
rod mill at Ensley that is about to
be removed to Gadsden. This would
be an achievement that would fill the
new city with hope and even en-
thusiasm.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-21
The Iron Market.

Every day brings the iron market near
err the s14 schedule. The price today for
the last quarter is 1880 on a No. 2
basis, but no one seems to doubt but that
business for the new year will start at
not less than $14, and it begins to look
as il it would do even better than that.
Matthew Addy & Co.'S Cincinnati report
says:
This week has very decidedly increased
the better feeling in the iron trade The
actual business that Is being done is on
broad and general lines. Some time back
the Improvement in the business was
mainly because of the general hope, and
the prevalent optimism concerning the
future. Hope and optimism are very fine,
but they are not the real thing. and 1t
is the real thing now that is in evidence.
1t is actual business today that is In evil
dence Consumers are busy, and their
prospects for being much buster are ex-
cellent. There are many concerns run
ming so full that they are having diff
Guilty in taking care Of their orders. There
is even complaint that orders are not
being filled on time.
pig iron is exceedingly active. Sales
have been heavy and inquiries continue
to pour in so that the end of the present
buying movement is not by any means IN
sight The present business is mainly IN
northern iron. Southern iron was SOLD
in large volume last month, and there is
today but little of It to be obtained az
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-21
IN TRAINING AT BEVERLY.
rom the New york world,

From the New York World.
At Beverly this summer is one who Is
a. good man and weighs at least SO4
bounds ANY one who gets him on his
back in wrestling bout" says his physi-
cal instructor, lis going some" Any
one who gets underneath in the fall Will
be gone some
The rest of the news from the summer
capital is equally satisfying. There is the
item of a temporary gymnasium in the
garage. General and generous morning
exercises are followed by boxing, the
medicine ball and various stunts. Is it
mere routine work that is done with the
gloves? Listen again to the instructor:
when we get through there is never
any doubt in my mind that he has been
pounding me-"
Besides being printed in the paper, the
story of the benefcent training at Bever-
ly is told In bright eyes. an elastic step
and weight that, anyway does not in
crease.
"The President is very strong indeed"
says the instructor. 1t is fine to have a
giants strength. Would it be right ever
to use 1t on a poor reactionary Con-
Eress?
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-21

trusts and combines. Much depends
upon Mr.. Taft's action in the next
three years. If he does nothing to
control and regulate the trusts and
combines it is reasonably certain that
Mr.. Clark's prediction will be fulfilled.
There would then be a demand for
Roosevelt from the insurgent camps,
and from radicals all along the line.
This means that an outspol1en progress
sive will be needed to lead the dem
ocracy in 1912.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-21
Take him and use him WE'LL he's
worthy of It. king Henry VIII.
Coal Mining In 1908

The decrease in coal mining in the
last calendar year was 1915 per cent
in the south and 1873 per cent in the
rest of the country Texas mined
more coal, but all the other south
ern coal-mining states mined less. Ala
bama's output last year was II, 604. 593
tons, as against 1880, 454 tons in the
booming year of 1907. The tonnage
of the two years in the south is read
ilv seen In the following table:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-21
Manv People Out of Town.

Most people whose vacations are lin
tied to two or three weeks select August
as the month for taking their trips"
said a passenger official, land the cheap
rates in effect last Saturday resulted in
an exceptionally big rush from this city.
IF the census-takers were at work now
they would find our population less than
normal by several thousand. By Septem-
Der the city will be filling up again, and
in four weeks from now nearly everybody
will be at home and business will be
wonderfully brisk"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-21
THE BEACH BARBER.

From the Philadelphia Bulletin.
The tent on the white beach had
BARRIERS pole before it. and in and out
passed men in bathing suits, rubbing
their cheeks with their palms thought
fully.
Eyes. sir" the barber said, "a beach
tent to shave bathers in seems to be
popular idea. I have more than can
do all day.
ut is pleasanter you know, to be
shaved in undress-to be shaved in your
bathing sut-than to be shaved in a
stiff shirt, coat and so on; and 1t Is
pleasanter to be shaved in a breezy
tent than in a roasting shop far back
from the sea.
IT got the idea from England, sir.
On all the beaches over there you'll find
bathing tents"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-21
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR

From the New York Press.
The way to make anything doubtful is
to bet on it for sure thing.
The people who most hate to begin an
argument most hate to end it when they
get into It,
It's lucky for the dressmakers and hat
makers who fix styles up the way they
do that women have no sense of humor
One reason a girl likes sitting in ham,
mock with a man under the moon Ia
maybe it will go behind a cloud and make
1t darker.
Whether a man tells his wife the truth
or not has nothing to do with whether
she believes him; it's whether she
wants to.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-21
NOBLE WOMAN!

From the Chicago Post.
81 declared says the new acquaint-
ance. shaking out her skirts and settling
down for a good gossip on the front
piazza of the summer hotel. you simply
cannot trust men! I've never seen man
I would put any confidence in. They all
drink and flirt and carry on awfully.
Why, l knew a"
"You must live In rather bad neigh
borhood at home" says the other lady,
slowly And the chat is ended.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-21
MEDIUMS OVERLOOK A CHANCE.

Beatrix Demarest Lloyd in the September
Smart Set.
And here is the curious side of It. The
most matter-of-fact and practical nation
in the world, we have never made use
of the control" Why not ask it to
throw thousand shares of Standard Oil,
or O dividend on Pennsylvania? Not at
all. In the tremor of the moment we
ask 1t to bring the latch key or the rub
bers under the divan in the hall. And
we are tiokled to death when 1t does!
Good heavens, Bridget would get them for
you without clouting you on the head
first-unless she belonged to the union.
But there is no need hoping that people
will ask sensible service from boggards,
when they don't of traction companies
and telephone lines. have heard lots
of people complain that spirits can't be
of any value because they do such trivial
things But aren't they asked to. Did
you ever hear of person requesting at
q seance to have the streets cleaned or the
tariff revised? No, they ask him what
brother Jim died Of and the poor etheric
force wastes its whole energy in saying
'sMince pie"-seventy-four raps by count
and goes back into the pellucid blue. They
knew all the time and the family doctor
who told them charger IS a visit Thus
Is commercialism rampant
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-08-21
IN HOTEL LOBBlES
Viruinia Prosperino.

Virginia suffered very little from the
industrial depression of last year and L
have rarely seen business in Richmond
as fiourishing as it is this summer" said
R. S. Gardner of Washington, D. c. Nor
folk also is showing evidences of SOLID
thrift. That city has seemed unusually
dull since the jamestown celebration. 1t
was booming in 1906 and 1907, but the
financial failure of the exposition was
quite blow. Norfolk has splendid COM
mercial resources in its exceptional trans
portation facilities and its rich truck
farms surrounding.
Many Virginians whom I met last
week were rejoicing in the fact that they
were not to have statewide prohibition.
The local principle seems to be pretty
we'll established now"