davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-06
EleGtricitY On the Railroads

At the present time not over 1000 miles
of railroad out of 225ooO miles in the
country are operated by the use of cleo
trio motors. The New York Central is
preparing, however, 10 use electric power
on 100 additional miles, and the Illinois
Central is preparing SO miles of its track
for like operation. It is reasonably safe
TO say that all strong railroads will be
operated by electricity in the next 25
years.
Even when electric power is produced
by steam power, tests show that is more
economical and more efficient than the
steam locomotive. In the south there are
numerous water powers, and 1t is believed
that nearly every mile Of southern rail-
roads can be supplied with electricity pro-
duced by water power. This means
great saving in the cost of transportation,
and this saving will soon or late be felt
by shippers.
Thus far railroads seeking electric pow
er seem to prefer steam to water in the
production of electricity, but surely in the
south when unused water powers exist on
every hand water will be utilized 1t is,
In fact, time that the railroads in the
south began to secure needful water pow
ers. It goes without the saying that the
electric power generated by falling water
would cost less than an equal amount of
electric power brought out by steam.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-06

bition the republicans may win to their
standard the minority that espoused in
sanity and tyranny as a promoter of
total abstinence. There are hardly
enough lunatics and republicans in Ala
pama for coalition of the iniquitous
and the incompetent to constitute a ma
jority. The question of what course The
Alabama republicans adopt is there
fore, negligible from a partisan point of
view. But as showing the transparen-
cy of the fraud perpetrated where pol
ticians attempt TO use prohibition as
political issue, the incident might be
Illuminating to unsophisticated prohibit
tionists whose mental opaqueness does
not prevent then from learning any
thing from observation.
Persons who approve prohibition are
often sincere advocates of temperance,
although experience and expert
ments show mistaken as to the value
of the remedy they would apply. But
political parties do not espouse prohi-
bition in the hope of eliminating intem-
perance. The personally incorporate
and wholly cynical prohibition candi-
date is certainly as common figure
in politics as a candidate who is a to-
tai abstainer and an honest advocate
of the abolition of drink.
Prohibitionists have been repudiated
by Alabama democrats. OF course
they would be glad to ally themselves
with Alabama republicans. Their hope
cannot be less forlorn when they are
adopted by minority than 1t is when
they have been kicked out by majori-
ty. They have nothing to lose where
they have lost everything. The rumor-
ed development probably amuses more
Alabama democrats than it alarms.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-06
Broom Corn In Alabama

Ahout 10 acres have been planted in
CuIlman county this year to broom corn
and there is no reason why this crop
should not become as the boil weevil ad-
vances feature of Alabama agriculture.
The raw product is now worth $40 ton
and an acre of Alabama soil well
proughed and cultivated will produce ton
of It.
The price Of brooms has been advanced
200 per cent, and broom that formerly
could be purchased at 10 cents is now val
ned at 40 cents. II is high time that the
crop of broom straw should be increased
and Alabama farmers should take hold of
this matter.
The product in Cullman county will no
doubt be largely increased next year if
this years crop on $50 acres turns out
well. The state will need greater diver
sihcation of crops when the boil weevil
crosses the western line of the state, and
1t is expected to do this next fall.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-06
THE "LAND OF WINE AND SONGo

an office building, a bank or depart
which makes you guess for a second and
then brings a smile. Attached to the wall
is a bit of wood or metal several inches
long or maybe two or three such pieces
one above the other, with the tops CORFU
gated into a series of small receptacles
each designed to hold a partly smoked
cigar
You are not expected to smoke in the
building. neither are you expected to be
wasteful. At the principal department
store an attendant stands beside his deli
cate device gravely watching the men
deposit their cigars as they go in and take
them up when they go out 1t is even al
legged that he remembers each man and
the place in which he leaves his stump
and estops the thrifty who would benefit
by an exchange. This reminds me that
one evening l walked from the hotel to
the opera house smoking the kind of
cigar that logically follows an uncom-
monty good dinner. More than half of it
remained to be thrown with regret out
beyond the curb. In a second or two
from the passersby emerged neatly
dressed middle-aged really comfortable
looking man, who picked up that frag-
ment deliberately cut off a part of the
end that had been in my mouth, then put
it In his own and walked away, smoking
with evident satisfaction.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-06
WOMAN IN ANCIENT ROME

Emily James Putnam in the June At
lantic
There was at no time In Rome any
thing that could be called feministic
movement. No solidarity existed in
sex split by caste into classes that had
no motive in common. The ladies, from
lation in their interests, but as far as
we know such legislation dealt only with
pecuniary questions. We have no record
of any attempt on their part to inn
prove the lot of women In general. Wom-
en- In general were, in fact, submerged
An inspection of the literature and the
inscriptions of the late republic and the
early empire gives the old impression
that the Roman women of the lower
classes had pretty nearly ceased to exist.
The professional woman, If we may SO
call her. the doctor. the accoucheuse, tho
masseuse, the actress, the dancer. the
courtesan, the dressmaker. was almost
always Greek. In trade and Industry
the same was true; according to the in
scriptions Greek women were the fish,
mongers the barmaids and the laundress-
es of Rome. No one can doubt that hum
dreds of thousands of Woodworking, Cod
fearing Roman women lived silent. un-
recorded lives, and bore children to carry
on the state. But the lady had nothing
to do with them. Her struggles were de
reeted to the strengthening of her own
position, 1t was to this end that Hor-
ktensia and her ladies came down to the.
Forum to argue that taxation without
representation Is tyranny.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-06
Free Concert Tomorrov Ntrbt

In order to stir up interest in the move
ment which the Music Study club is push
ing to provide open air concerts for the
people this summer the band players of
the Musicians union will give their serv
ices for a grand concert in Capital park
tomorrow night. A choice programme has
been arranged, and it is hoped that music
lovers will show their appreciation by
attending. An immense crowd is ex-
pected.
LAS the ladies of the Music Study club
have secured about 1880 for the park
concerts, there should be little difficulty
in raising the balance of the money
needed, said a citizen. For three con-
certs week by a large band for a term
of nine or ten weeks the cost will be
about $4,000. I notice that the amounts
pledged thus far are large and that they
come from only few subscribers. Now
while these large donations are, of course,
thankfully received there should be hun
dreds of small subscriptions and scores of
IS subscribers The way to make an en-
terprise of this sort popular success is
for everybody to give something"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-06

Il am glad to see that the Chamber
of Commerce is starting the farm
movement in the right way" said a
business man.
THE committee in charge of this
work has taken up the matter in a
business-like way and has employed
man of enthusiasm and practical ex-
perience in immigra ton enterprise as
its agent. There are thousands of fer
tile acres in Jefferson county untitled
and with systematic effort thousands
of families can be located on small
farms hereabouts, not this year but
within the next three or four years.
After the first hundred it will be easy
to run the number up into the thou
sands Practically everything that Is
consumed in Birmingham can be raised
profitably in Jefferson county. In the
matter of poultry alone there is good
money!"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-06
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
A Rniuy Sunday

Verify it never rains hut that II poufs
on June days. said the groundhog
weather prophet.
The signs of the first l. days OF the
year showed that June would have ex-
tremely hot spells. and the almanaes
said thunderstorms. Saturday night
brought a Maebethian night of wind.
rain, flashing lightning with deep, re-
verberating thunders Vt one time the
rainfall was so heavy that 1t looked
like a cloudburst
All day Sunday ii was either sprink-
ling fitfully or pouring like the auto
matte fire extinguisher IA a big build
ing. Ordinarily at this season the rule
holds that if 1t rains before I 1t will
cease before II o'clock 1t didn't today.
1t rained early, in tho middle of the
day, and almost steadily for several
hours in the afternoon.
BASED on grounding signs and the
thermometer and the barometer,
predicted Friday and Saturday a great
storm before Monday. Well, 1t occur
red. Whenever a very sudden and very
hot spell follows a cool one, look out
for high winds, electric storms and
heavy rainfall"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-06
SIXTEENTH CENTURY INNS

10, s. Bates IN the June Atldntlc,
Supervision over the inns was far
stricter than at present, especially in
Italy, At Lucca and at Florence all the
inns were in single street. and In many
towns the new arrival was taken before
the authorities by the guard at the gates
before he was allowed to choose his inn.
to which he would be conducted by
soldier, At Lucca, too, was department.
of the judiciary. which was specially con-
cerned with strangers, and to this the In
keepers had to send daily report OF
each guest, Yet to Judge by the tourists
accounts, the supervision might well have
been carried further. and reports upon
the innkeepers required from the tourists.
Such system of double reports would
have been a check on the numbering
innkeeper. to whom there are occasional
references, landlord of Poitiers was
detected. in the middle Of the seventeenth
century, and at stralesund. SO runs an
other tale, 800 Cd persons had disappeared
at one inn. They had reappeared, 1t Is
true-but picked.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-06
Gasoline for Motors

Gasoline is by-product of crude Pc
troleum and in Europe it is called petrol.
IT varies in quality, some grades being
lighter than other grades Some crude
oils Weld much more gasoline than 9TH
ers. and many will be surprised no doubt
to hear that this country is not producing
the gasoline it consumes, so rapidly has
the motor industry been expanded in this
country.
The New York Journal of Commerce
mertions the fact that the Standard Oil has
recently purchased from the Shell COM
pany in England petrol to the extent of
100000 gallons at a price of 25 per
cent above the best American gasoline.
There are no oil fields in England, but
the Shell company has immense fields in
sarawal, North Borneo which belongs
to Great Britain. The English people
are very proud of the fact that they
have or soon will have an ample supply
of liouid fuel drawn from their own ter
ritory. This would strengthen the posi-
ton of the British navy not little. 1t is
not however fully established that the
oil of North Borneo will prove as pro-
ductive OF petrol as that of East Borneo
or Sunatra =. The Shell company has
secured the sole right to sink wells in
Sayawak province In North Borneo.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-06
POLITICAL PROHIBITION

From the Louisville Confessional.
TyHE essential difference between the
chameleon and the politician who
4 Is a prohibitionist for revenue
only is that the chameleon changes col
or as a protection from his enemies
and that he may quietly and urostenta~
tiously get his living by honestly toll
ing in search of those things which
Providence has provided as his right. or
to express elemental and honest emo
lions The political prohibitionist
changes color as the gambler switches
from black to red or green seeking a
change of luck and hoping to get liv-
ing without the disagreeable effort of
honest labor in legitimate industry. The
chameleon is inoffensive and respecta
ble The political adventurer who has
prohibition wave into office is offensive
and disreputable.
This comparison between reptiles is
provoked by consideration of the situa-
tion in Alabama, where the republicans
are said to be considering the advisa-
bility of linking their fortunes with
prohibition in an effors to take advan-
tage of the dissatisfaction of certain
former democrats who, riven from the
party by the thunderbolt that struck
state wide and constitutional" prohibit
ton, are dissatisfied with the candidates
nominated and the platform adopted
by the democratic party in Alabama.
Very probably persons fanatical
enough to advocate the abolition of
constitutions for the exercise of an in
quisitorial supervision of sideboards are
sufficiently unbalanced to desert the
faith of their faith ers and become Ala
bama republicans. BY adopting PROFIT
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-06
ACCOMMODATING PAwNBROKER

From tho Kew York Sun.
The woman showed a fat finger in
whose folds of flesh was Embedded a
plain gold ring.
How much will you let me have
on this ring?" she said to the pawn
broker.
'I can't tell until you take it off SO
can weigh It," he said.
She tugged at the ring; 1t wouldn't
come off.
Cant you get 1t off for me?'' she
asked
The pawnbroker threaded a needle with
strong linen thread. soaped the needle
and slipped 1t head first under the ring
toward the hand Then he wound the
long end of the thread tightly and even
ly around the finger almost to the nail
That done, he took the needle and I'M
wound the thread from the base of the
finger out, and as he unwound the ring
slipped off. He weighed the ring.
two dollars" he said.
"That won't do me any good said
the woman. II can get 50 any place
else"
lie returned the ring.
"She didn't really want to pawn it,
he said "She just wanted somebody to
take the ring off. A teweler would have
done it the same way but he would
have charged something
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-06

guards by which the service should be
surrounded Also to determine equitable
rates of postage, so that in the forsaa-
tor of a bill and its enactment into law.
authorizing the establishment of local
rural parcels post on permanent basis.
Congress may act advisedly and with
fun knowledge of the actual working
conditions which are to be encountered
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-06

"The business men of Nashville are
touring Alabama in a special train with
a band of music. and they are not con-
fning themselves to towns. but are stop
ping at important trading points on
the railroads" said business man.
"They were agreeably surprised with
their reception at Sylacauga, where the
town met them with a local display of
products of the soil. the undeveloped
wealth lying therea bouts. as we'll as
many manufactures. Now, the Boost
err stopped at the prosperous village
of Wilsonvile, where their reception
had a touch of country life. A young
lady visiting tn ere writes that when the
train stopped the band filled all the
wide stretches between the village and
the Coosa river with music. Then a
young man was put forward to speak
for Nashville No sooner had he launch
ed forth in hambuoyant style than Il
dog fight began right in the very
midst of things. One of the Boosters
tried to stop tns Dbrutes. Bad ethics
this. 1t might do in Nashville. The
owner of one dog made n personal mat
ter of the interference of the Booster
with my dog, and he in fight. too
and to avoid further complications the
Nashville Boosters entrained quickly
and, putting on steam, were soon re-
moved from the arbitration of coun-
try dog fight mixed with boosting. My
correspondent says that the whole affair
from start to finish wa highly anus
ing and quite ridiculous in some de-
tails as vaudeville SIX etch with a mix
up not on the bill"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-06
PRACTICAL MAN
From June TIarper's.

From June Harper's.
An English friend, who contends that
we Americans have no true sense OF his
toric value or artistic verify, cites the
following. to prove her point. She was
at Holyrood last spring. and tho GUS
todian was showing her. together with
several American tourists. the old rooms
of tie famous castle. Darnley's dressing
room especially charmed her--the rare
mellow panels. marvclously rich with In
tricpte carving. and the exquisite narrow
windows Of quaint design.
One o. the Americans, evidently mid
dle-agcd man Of business. poked his nose
in the room and out again.
Whose did you say? Darnley's Dress
Ing room: Humphl Very poor light foi
shaving"
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-06
The BuesIness situation

Henry clews, In his Saturday review.
says in part:
The railroads are evidently deter
mined to secure better rates and arc
now filing notices of advances individ-
from this the general outlook, though
somewhat mixed, is In many respects
favorable. Recognition of over-specu-
lation in western land has forced re-
trench ment by interior banks; and the
steady curtailment of credit is gradually
curing some of the financial Ills from
which that section Is suffering. 1t IS
recognized, however, that tho interior
banks will not be able to finance the
crop as easily as usual, owing to ex-
pansion of loans connected with land
speculation in the west Eastern banks
will undoubtedly be obliged to assist in
the autumn crop movement, and have
been preparing themselves accordingly.
AS a result of these monetary condi-
lions our bankers have been forced to
| look to Europe for the financing of pro-
posed new security issues. While money
is abundantly easy in both London and
Paris, the placing Of American securi-
ties has unquestionably been delayed
by pronounced foreign distrust of the
situation here On the other side thera
has been a growing feeling that sharp
liquidation must take place here and
lower level for commodities as we'll
as securities be established before Eu-
ropean confidence in the United States
can be restored. Such liquidation Is
now in progress, in fact has already
run to very considerable extent.
Wheat and cotton have shown mark ed
declines, and the tendency is for stlll
lower prices. Commodities generally arc
declining Unsatisfactory as this may
be to those operating for the rise. tho
country will ultimately be benefited and
the cost of living Will decline. Both
wheat and cotton will go outward more
freely and save US from the alternative
OF further depletion in our gold sup
ply The situation has already been
materially relieved by this unpleasant
but curative process.
"Our crop situation is fairly salts
factory The outlook u for full oroB
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-06
ANOTHER WAY

BY Ambrose Bierce.
law in silence, dead. A woman came
And laid rose upon my head and said,
..May God be mericful.' She spoke my
name
And added. ut is strange to think him
dead.
He loved me well enough, but twas hts
way
To speal. it lightly" Then. beneath ner
breath,
"Besioes''-1 knew what further she would
say.
But then football broke my dream of
death.
To-Day the words are mine. l lay the robe
Upon her breast and speak her name and
deem
II strange, indeed. that she is dead. Co
knows .0|
had more pleasure in the other d,t
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-06

of cotton and wheat promises well. The
prospect is also for d big hay crop.
The growing season Is from two to
three weeks late, which somewhat in
creases the perils from early frosts
still there is ample time for recovery
of lost ground, and 1t would be prema-
ture to take dlscouraging views of the
present crop situation. o other favo-a-
BILE influences are the successful plac-
ing of st. Paul bonds and city warrants
in Paris. the decline in the Bank of
England rate, a good cotton report and
sharp decline in imports, which, with
lower prices for wheat and cotton and
foreign takings of our securities, will
interfere with further gold exports.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-06
GUILTY

From Life.
A negro was arrested In Atlanta on a
charge Of vagrancy and brought before
Judge Broyles.
"why, Sam, 10 this your What have
they arrested you forf
"Nothin'. Judge. 'ceptip' fragrancy."
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-06
REFLECTIONS OF A BACHELOR

F'rou the New York Press.
What we call temperament In our
friends we call cussedness in other people,
Happiness is a spiritual gift from
heaven; pleasure is an earthly commodity
you buy.
A manSwho can keep on making love to
his wife can starve her to death and
she'll never realize 1t.
There are thousands of ways in the
world to make money unless you happen
to try one of them
What a woman can't understand about
hank Is why It's SO much fussier about
her owing 1t than a millinery shop IL.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-06

From the Washington Herald,
eThe poet faureate's salary Is cask
of wine annually" says The Btrmfng-
ham Age-Herald. Maybe he tanks up on
his salary just before writing one Of
those awful odes.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-06

One more high-grade pitcher would rem
der the Coal Barons simply invincible,
bat team that wins all the time is al
most as undesirable as one that loses all
the time.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-06

The best patronage getter in Congress,
Sydney Emanuel Mudd of the Fifth
Maryland district, has declined re-elec-
ton. and is to retire from public life.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-06

Filty-three democrats. however. desert
ed their own candidate for senator to
vote for Billy Lorimer, and each and all
are under suspicion
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-06

The Columbia States boasts that South
Carolina has PCT plug-hatted aspirant
for public office this year. 1t is a year
of sweeping reform in the Palmetto state.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-06

Alaska may need Guggenheim, but it
should be careful not to take an over
dose OF the medicine
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-06

Glenn Curtiss is trying to abolish the
deadly grade crossings.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-06

Eleven Harvard students died in the
Spanish war Of 1898, and a bronze tablet
has beea erected to their memory at the
university.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-06

1910 may after all be trying to Guido 1916,
that year without a summer.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-06

The President will not meet the colonel
on June Is, and it is difficult to say
just when and how they will get to-
gether
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-06

Some think Patten has gone to join
Letter, Old Hutch and the other plungers
who plunged once too often.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-06

Statesmen who desire to confess in IL
linois are requested to stand in line and
not crowd