davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-16
Improvement of Mobile Bay

Elsewhere the Age-Herald publishes the views of Admiral H. c. Davis of the and harbor of Mobile. The letter was written in 1903, but it is even more appli- cable today that it was seven years ago. Through the courtesy of Senator Johnston, who is deeply interested in the subject, Admiral Davis letter appears again in print
 Briefly speaking, Admiral Davis says that when a large fleet must be kept in the Gulf and the Caribbean sea in connection with the Panama canal, the Mobile bay within the protection of the guns of Fort Morgan. He pleads there fore for a deepening of the bar. for the bay by the fleet of the near future. He anticipates great coaling station at Dauphin harbor within the bay.
 Fortunately for the entire state, and particularly for this district, Representa- tive G. W. Taylor has secured large item for the improvement of the bay in the pending rivers and harbors bill, and we may be sure Senators Johnston and Bank head will see that this item is retained ? in the Senate. It is an important matter to the entire state. Senator Bankhead's s promotion to the committee on commerce came in the nick O time.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-16
THE VALENTINE.
n the Philadelphia Press,

From the Philadelphia Press
 Next to our rejection of Santa Claus the worst thing that the sophistication of time does for us is to destroy our inter- est in the other best dates in the caIen- dar. If some of us strove to keep that interest alive we might know life better and live longer. One of these days is St. Valentines, now near at hand There was time in the life of most men and women of middle age today when the ap- proach of February 14 meant thrill. It was a day of sentiment and humor To the very young it was an occasion for the exhibition of irresponsible and fre- quently cruel play in the dispatch of the "comic''-and mostly coarse-valentine. Old maids and bachelors and other grown-ups of well known weaknesses and tender sensibilities suffered most, but even these could afford to forgive and ig- nore the thoughtless effrontery of chill dren. The other and elaborate valentines, however, if sent anonymously, bore a mysterious, even celestial, message. There are many thousands of women still liv- ing today who have some of these lacy colorful creations preserved in lavender. And why not? There is all too little of tender and innocent expression of a dis be noted among men just now, and all together too much of bolder and degrad- ing admiration.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-16

From the Mobile Register.
 The friends of Senator Bankhead must be active in his support for he will not have much time from ais duties in the senate to conduct personally his canvass for reelection. He is opposed by, Cap tain Frank S. White, of Birmingham, an aggressive campaigner; and whereas sen ator Bankhead's prospects are favorable, there is no need to take any chances in matter of this sort. The senator Will devote as much time as he can to ms canvass, but he does not intend to neg lect his office in order to promote his own political fortunes.
 Senator Bankhead is a most valuable man for use in congress. His long as sociation with improvement work as member of the rivers and harbors com mittee of the house and his present posi- tion as a member of the commerce com, mittee of the senate-to say nothing of ms other holdings on the agriculture, post offices and post roads, conservation of national resources, and education and la bor committees of the senate-enable him to be of greatest use to Alabama, and particularly Of value 10 MoDle.
 The senator has always shown lively concern in the development of this sea9' port and the waterways tributary thereto; and we know how to count upon ms friendship when the next project comes to the senate as part of this years rivers and harbors bill If there is anything In gratitude. we owe our support to Senator o,,l ia cr,irif of satire we say that gratitude is a lively sense of favors to come, we still owe him sup port, for we may confidently expect the senator's help in future as we have en- joyed it in. the past.
 Captain White is a man of talent and energy, but we can see no profit to the people in electing him to take the place of a man who holds such an advantageous position as Senator BanAnead does, and who has shown so exclusively his abil- ity to represent Alabama intelligently and faithfully. It Is not good idea anyway to make frequent changes in representa- tion. Success in congress depends very largely upon knowledge of men and af- fairs gained by experience; and man who is well known and respected, who is well established in the customs of con- gress. and who knows by long and con- tinued study what can be done and what cannot be done In line of legislation; and also knows what is best to be done, should be continued in office. Nothing but the proved loss of power to properly per form the duties of the office should justify action on our part to put out one man and take up another
 The Register suggests the formation of a Bankhead club in this county, to as- sume care of Senator Bankhead's inter- est-not that we believe that an opponent can make much of an impression upon the democrats of this county. but to set the good example to the other parts of the state, and to show that Mobile recognizes the senator's merit and wants him re- turned to office with such approval as will encourage him to his best efforts in behalf of his state and the country.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-16
Income Tax Progress

It is generally conceded that Illinois will be the third state to ratify the income tax amendment to the federal constitu- tion. Alabama heads the list, followed by Kentucky, and Illinois will be a well come third state.
 Now that Senators Root and Borah have come out in favor of the amendment it is more than probable that New York will also ratify the amendment. for the repub- licans of New York have all they can tote next fall without adding opposition to the income tax.
 amendment on Tuesday before the South Carolina legislature He was warmly re- ceived, and the Mississippi friends of an income tax should invite him to visit Jackson before their legislature adjourns. The hesitation of the Mississippi legisla- ture both in the respect of an income tax and of the selection of senators by direct vote is an unexplained and unexplainable mystery.
 The chances are that Mississippi is elinging to some old views of the fathers which are no more adapted to present conditions than Noahs ark would be. The issues of forbears were excellent in the environments of their times, but times change and men must change with them.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-16

 fear that some friction and perhaps leg islation will grow out of the present boy colt movement, and they are beginning to organize against either. particularly the latter. They see, too, a democratic House of Representatives ahead, and this they do not like.
 The New York Sun shows that there are 29 seats in the present House of Rep resentatives held by members with less than 1000 maioritoy,. and 26 more with less than 2OOO majority. None of these seats will be securely held by the repub- lieans in times like these when the ulti- mate consumer feels the pinch of food prices. Says the Sun; Ut would appear, therefore, from the statistics of the less than one-thousand class that % republic ans are in danger of defeat next fall by a change of 800 votes, and nine demo- crats The table of the other members of the present House who received less than 2oeo majority and are therefore in danger of defeat by chance of a thou sand votes is more even; that is, while there are b democrats there are Il re- publieans. Here are, the 25 republican districts needed by the eonquering demo- erats and six to spare.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-16
THE SUPERSEDED

By Thomas Hardy. As newer conner crowds the fore We drop behind. We who have labored long and sore Times out of mind And keen are yet. must not regret To drop behind. Yet there are of us some who srieve To go behind, stanch. strenuous souls who scarce be-
 lieve
 Their fires declined. And knows none cares, remembers, sparel Who goes behind. Iris not that we have unforetold
 The drop behind. We feel the new must oust the old In every kind, But yet. we think, must ws, must wA.
 Too, drop behind1
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-16
\ Close Call

Monday night lady who rooms in the Cox building, Fifth avenue and Twenty fifth street had a very narrow escape dently fired some distance away, probably a mile,' said a citizen. "She was stand ing near a window bathing her face when she was startled by breaking glass and a dull thud. Investigation revealed a A bullet with it's nose cut full off lying inside the venetian blinds on the inside of the window A round hole about the size of big ball of thread was cut in the window pane"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-16
cIRCUMsTANTIAL EVIDENCE

From Everybody's Magazine.
 A witness in railroad case at Fort Worth, asked to tell in his own way how the accident happened. said:
 ''Well, Ole and I was walking down the track, and heard whistle, and I got off the track, and the train went by, and I got back on the track. and didn't see Ole; but I walked along, and pretty soon I seen OIe's hat. and I walked on, and seen one of Oles legs, and then I seen one of Oles arms. and then another leg, and then over one side Ole's head, and I says My God! Something muster hap pen to Ole,"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-16
Remarked Great Change

One would hardly recognize the Greater Birmingham of today compared with the Birmingham of few years ago." said Matt Smith, on old-time newspaper man. and incidentally the advance agent for the Strongheart company, the attraction which cones to the Bijou next week. When : first came to Birmingham the theatre was managed by Capt. Frank P. OBrien, the present mayor. And he was a good snowman. Believe me, he would have made a success as a road agent. vance agent on the road. in advance of travelling theatrical organizations.
 Compared with other cities of the south, Birmingham has all the best of the progressive i6ea. When I dropped off at the new Terminal station, one of the finest in the country, north or south, was quite bewildered. 1 expected to see the old train shed staring me in the face as of yore. When I got over my astonishment at the wonderful change and emerged into the street. hardly knew which way to kurn for the hotels. And when I finally landed on the corner of First avenue and Twentieth street l almost got a shock at the spectacle which presented itself. l actually forgot all about the hotel while walking About the town viewing the great big skyscrapers in evidence on the sew eral corners. I must have appeared like ( ruralite to the passers-by, and wondered why several people gave me the quiet laugh. I was honestly rubbering--sur- prsed at Birmingham.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-16
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES

DREAMS. I'll never be a pirate And sail the Spanish Main; I'll never drive stage-coach, Or rob a treasure train. I'll never be a fireman And rescue maidens fair, | Il never join the minstrels, Who seem so debonair. I'll never own a palace
 where jeweled stairways wind, I'll never wed a princess Who's beautiful and kind. I'll never count my money And heap golden store; I'll never tread a measure Upon fairy shorel
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-16
REFLECTIoNs OF A BACHELOR

From the New York Press. .
 Most of the good things of life wouldn't seem to be if we got them free.
 The excuse for breaking good resolu- tions is it served them right for being moral.
 woman can have splendid time get ting ready to go on a trip she knows sAe isn't going. gos skating with a man as sleigh riding, because she doesn't have to drive.
 There's hardly anybody who won't lie about, the chance he once had to make all the money that some big millionaire made instead.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-16
Discussed Gocthe's Philosophy

"It would be well if Rabbi Newfield could be induced to repeat his lecture on The Philosophy of Goethe, which he read before the teachers of the city schools at the High school last Satur- day. said Charles Clifton Terrell. "As the teachers are studying Faust they were. of course, deeply interested in Dr. Newfield's discussion. It was a great treat to me. The subject itself was difficult one and promised to be dry, yet Dr. Newfield treated it in such a con- crete way that it bristled with interest and was altogether charming. His paper was beautifully phrased and was very scholarly and every person of taste and mental endowment would have felt the power of it's illumination"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-16
A Jasper Industry |

Felix NJ. Drennen, general manager of the Palos Coal company, said yester- day that the 300 coke ovens at Jasper, which his company recently acquired from the Sheffield Coal and Iron com pany, were being repaired and would soon be in operation.
 '"rhe Palos company will be one of the few concerns making commercial coke" said MT. Drennen, and it will be the only company operating on anything like 300 oven scale. As our coal mines are on the Frisco that com pany is to build a mile of track to the coke plant at Jasper so as to put us in direct connection with our raw material The plans for this track have been ap- proved and construction work will begin at once' a..t
 In speaking of business conditions Mr. Drennen said that they were looking very good for this district, but that the coun- try would be enjoying d greater degree of prosperity if It were not for capitals ner- vous feeling growing out of national politics.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-16
signs With the Giants

Sanford, N. C., February 15.-Will Tenn pie, formerly of the N C. A. & M. col lege, and last season a member of the Norfolk Virginia league team, has signed a contract with the New York Nationals and will leave here tomorrow to join the practice squad at Marlin, Texas.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-16
Hi9h Prices of FOOdStuiS

The meat trust is marking up the price beef. It will no doubt mark up the lat ter. This will be done to show consu- mers that they are mere ciphers, boycott er no boycott.
 And yet prices had already been marked up amazingly, as the following oompara tive table shows:
 Bacon, 1897. 10c; 1910. 22c.
 Tat back. 1897, Sc; 1910, 14c.
 Navy beans. 1897. 5c quart; 1910, ats. tor 25c
 Elgin butter, 1Se7, 25c h.; 1910, .3sc h.
 Creamery cheese, 1897, lac h.. 1910, 24c
 Eggs (strictly fresh), 1897, 1sc doz; 1910, Dc dozen. z
 Lard, 1897, 61zc h.; 1910, 16e h.. Pork chops. 1897. 7kc lb; 1910 A4kc ID. Pork ham, 1897, 3lac ID; 1910. 1sc lb. lib roast, 1884, 10c lb.; 1910, 10c to 15c h. Ioeffler sausage. 1897. 1oc lb. {; 1910, 1sc ID. Round steak. 1887, 9c lb.; 1910, 10c to PC Tenderioin, 1897. 1oc lb; 1910. 15c to 20c. i Flour, per bbl.. 1897, sS.5o; 19lO sS5o
 Potatoes, per bu., 1897. 45c; 1910, 65c. Creamery butter, 1897, 22c; 1910 35c.
 Are these food prices to be maintained? This is the largest political as well as economic question of the times. If they sra to be maintained then indeed must wages be fitted to them. aSd this will af- Get every industry, including the rail- ssads;.
 rhe txporters and masnates in general
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-16
Wants Early City Primary

"The city democratic executive com- mittee should hold meeting immediate ly, set an early date for the primary and let us get oyer the matter of city politics for while," said Sol Caheen last night
 "A poll of the merchants in Birming- ham believe will find every one of them anxious to have the matter over with, while nearly every business man will express the same opinion. For myself I can't see any reason why the committee should not hold meeting right now, and think the primary date should be set as early as possible. say some. time in the latter part of March, This will give every candidate the opportunity to mako afgood race and would undoubtedly be much cheaper than long-drawn-out fight.
 ''If there is any petty politics to be rlayed, either one way or the other, l don't think the members of the executive committee should allow it to interfere with general business conditions. and business is really being affected by the grip which politics has upon Birmingham and Jefferson coun- ty. I really do not believe there tss a committeeman who would want to delay
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-16

Jarvis Pennington in Harper's Weekly NO they serve meals better in Euro pean dining cars than in the din- 0 ing cars on American railroads? :? Ever since an editorial in Harper's Weekly criticised the American method and declared that" "they do it much better abroad" a controversy has ragged on the subject. The preponderance of evidence thus far has been to the detriment of the European service.
 A prominent American railroad man who prefers not to have his name pub lished, although he readily vouches for the accuracy of the facts recited, gives the following account of his experience in a table d'hote dining car in Europe some two years ago:
 "On the corridor train leaving Paris for Bologna, we learned from the stew ard passing through coaches distributing numbered slips designating seats for those who wished to dine, that there was a dining car attached to the train. This car was divided into two compartments, separated by a glass partition, each con taining six tables and opera chair seats, four at each table.
 tThe tables were much narrower than those in our cars and the chairs were also much smaller than similar ones used in Pullman cars over here. The linen napkins and table cloths-was of very poor quality, while the china consisted of three thick earthenware plates. heavy tumblers, and common cutlery at each place. In front of each transom there hung a framed advertisement, at an angle that would enable it to be more easily read Even the glass door in the parti- ton between the compartments was sim ilarly decorated.
 t'When we entered the car the first compartment was already full and in common with two other parties We found seats, unassisted by the steward, in a compartment which was set aside for those who desired to smoke at the table. but there appeared to be some objection made by the steward to further places being taken in that compartment, as the other tables were used in connection with the service. being filtered with soiled linen, plates. bottles, etc.
 s.Dinner was served table dhote by two walters, in blue cutaway coats, covered with large brass buttons, and whether because of the presence of an unusual number of diners, or for some other rea-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-16
COTTON TOM

COTTON TOM
 From the New York Sun.
 Gu burnished and fervid day like yes- terday what could be more grateful to the parched spirit than to hear the mur- mur-of the brooks of songs, to see with the minds eye earth's teeming millions clad in cotton goods, to wander with the Hon. J. Thomas Heflin,' M. C., of Ala bama. along the dewy paths1 He read his poem in the House on January T, but we saved it for yesterday:
 Ut was behind cotton bales at New Orleans that Jackson won the victory over the British. whereverthe American soldier goes the white fibre of the cot ton field goes with him, and wherever he strikes camp the field is dotted with white tents made of cotton.
 'The flying sails of the ships at sea come from the snowy cotton fields of the south The cord that rings the bell on the train and puts on the emergency brake in time of danger is made of cot ton. In the springtime when the agri- cultural army is in motion cotton enters into the paraphernalia of the mule, a cotton backband gauges the depth that the plough shall go, whether shallow or deep, and cotton ploushlines consti- tute the strong cords that guide and control the stubborn mule.
 "In traveiing through the cotton belt on warm day there is nothing more re- freshing than deep draught of water from the old oaken bucket that hangs in the well,' and here the cotton rope is the kindly agent that brings it from the cool, dark depths below.
 eff while strolling through the cotton belt you should find a swarm of mos quitoes conspiring to disturb your rest at night, there is the mosquito bar made of cotton spreading it's white wings above your head, lowering about you while you sleep" (Applause on the democratic side.) l good deal of so-called wool seems to be cotton in these wicked days, but cot tons the only wear r~anyway. And now the winged steel leaves the air. True Thomas, clad in cotton that touches noth- ing less white than itself, comes to the tailor shop door and pipes:
 "Mr. Chairman, dressmakers and tall lors have at last learned how to make lup' cotton goods in the most fascinatina
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-16
DECEIT.

DECEIT. I held her little hand in mine And it was little. too; She smiled tootbless smile at me Andsssoftly murmured, Coo Her mother nodded fond assent My wisdom seemed to strike her When I declared-O lying tongue.- The baby looked just like her. To tell the truth I'll now begin: The kid looked more like Billikin.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-16

A pay-as-you-enter hotel has been pro- jected in New York which would get the first money of the sojourner leaving Wall street to pick up what is left.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-16

The meat trust rises to remark that Eff you have a/chuck- steak salary don't try to live in porterhouse style" It is trying to put the blame on the consumer.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-16
IN HOTEL LOBBIES.
Bond. That Have High Credit

Within the past few years have bought something like s1,OoO,ooO worth or bonds issued by Alabama counties Tor road building said Otto Marx. "oniy recently I bought Autaugua county s good roads bond issue of Sl5oop. 2.
 "Our counties have high credit, and in fact, few securities stand higher than these road bonds l buy them on my own account and then sell them asaln. have placed some of them in Europe Without looking at my books l can call off these items of county road bonds which I have purchased: Morgan, s26o,- eco; St. Clair ss5, GOO; Limestone, $135,ooo; Macon, $50, eco: Conecuh, $1O0,Oo0, and Au- taugua (already mentionedD, $l5O,Ooo These bonds bear per cent interest.
 Now. while am talking about coun- ties and their good credit, l would like to say this: Jefferson needs a new court house and needs it bad. This county IS we'll able to erect a sl.Ooo,0OO courthouse, and l stand ready to buy a s1,OooOoo bond issue bearing 41s per cent interest. l will pay as much as par and would be even willing to pay small premium.
 Our present Courthouse is of beautiful design, but it is entirely inadequate. It is too handsome and too well built to pull down, but it could be converted into public library, art gallery school or something of the sort. Five hundred thousand would build a big skyscraper courthouse. with jail on top; but we have had enough experience in not reckoning with our rapid growth. Therefore, In planning for a new courthouse nothing less than a s100o,000 proposition should be considered. While a skyscraper comments itself from a commercial point of view, would much prefer to see the money expended in a work of architectural art. A s1, ,OOO, GOO courthouse designed by an ar tist-architeet would be in high degree educative for the masses and would make a splendid impression on visitors. l in sist on it that this county can afford the outlay.
 "A S25o,oO0 annex can be financed with out a bond issue by using warrants, which the board of revenue has the right to issue. These warrants run for snort terms and bear per cent interest. We might even manage to build a $500, 900 court structure by the warrant system, but after all where the warrants run into large totals there would have to be a refunding in the course of few years, and that would mean bond issue eventually. What investors want is a good bond with long time to run. So while we have the annex question in allowance, let us pitch in and start a campaign for s1,ooO,OCO courthouse"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-16

The cold storage investogation vindi- cates the American hen while it con demns the American trust.