davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-30
Reduction of City Expenses

Mayor Exum and the council deserve credit from every thoughtful citizen on account of their determination to bring the citys expenditures at once down. to or at least near to its revenue The police force is to be cut down to 167 men. It now consists of PIT. The sanitary work is to be conducted by 10 inspectors instead of 16, and so it is to be all along the line Of municipal work.
 These reductions involve changes that no supervising official desires to make, but all see that the Greater City cannot go on spending more than 1t receives. It is a plain matter of dol lars and cents, and the city is to be congratulated upon having a man In the mayors chair and men in the coun- cil who have business sense, and who
 
 also have the courage of their busi- ness sense.
 Let the cutting of expenses go on until the enlarged city is placed upon a sound business footing. This can be readily accomplished, now that good start has been made. The chances are that close supervision will keep the citys service up and that the aver age man will not know that the mu- nicipal force has been reduced. Eff ciency will still be possibly if the supervising officers work a little long CT Rnd harder.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-30
IN HOTEL LOBBIES
Important RaiIroad Project

George H. Clark, one of Birmingham s best-known and most experienced civil engineers, has just completed the work of locating a railroad from Selma to this city, or rather to Bessemer, under tho charter of the old Selma and Cahaba Valley road
 We started our field work in October and completed 1t only few days ago." said MT. Clark in speaking of this line yesterday. "The distance from Besse- mer to Selma is only between 75 and 80 miles. The work 1 have been doing is really relocation of the Selma and Ca- haba Valley, for I located this very line in 1887. The Alabama river at Selma Is navigable for balTes drawing nine feet of water, and freight road from the Birmingham district to Selma will be most attractive proposition.
 T am not at liberty to say who Is be- hind the Selma and Cahaba Valley rail- road, but, all going we'll, the road will be built in due time. There will be large traffic between Cuba and the Bir- mlngham district before many years, and that traffic will be handled by the way of Selma"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-30

the part of the government to hasten
 the oI....-.., of the river from the sea
 to the head of Squaw Shoals within
 easy reach of the junction of Null berry and Locust forks abreast of this city and not more than 10 miles as a bird files from the western end of it.
 But the contractors are not alert and Major Flagler' is endeavoring to prod them to speedier execution of their re- spective tasks. The best information seems to be that both 1911 and 1912 will be required in which to finish all locks. Those two years will however. pass rapidly and the river will be opened sooner than the people will be ready to utilize it. Water transporta- ton is perhaps an acquired taste in this interior district, but some bold coal operator or furnace manager will lead the way and then all heavy prod ucts will be barged pell-meli down the river to tidewater and to a world wide market.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-30
4 good mans fortune may grow out at heels. king Lear.
Features of Commission Government

There are 9s towns in this country that have abolished aldermen and many oth- CT municipal officers. These towns range from 20,ooo population up to Oakland, Cal, which holds 16o.000 people. The plan seems as well adapted to large towns as to small ones, and both Pittsburg and Buffalo are striving against the terms of state consti- municipal government.
 So far as we know all of the 9s towns which have adopted the method have al so adopted the initiative, referendum and recall. These so-called reforms are re- earded as the balance wheel of commits sion government, keeping it in close touch with the people and giving the people di- rect control at all times and under all circumstances over their own affairs. Nc little czars could last long where the re- call has been established, and it would be unwise to set up a ring where the initiative and referendum are in opera ton
 The initiative referendum and recall are spreading over the country, but in Ala bama they will be practically introduced by the commission governments, and all will soon come to see whatever of good or i'll they may present AS all make for direct government by the people it is reflection upon the people to suggest that there can be any permanent harm in them. But the proof of the pudding is in the eating, and the commission pudding will soon be ready for digestion and as- similation.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-30
Locks In the 'Bigbee and Warrior

Two big locks in the Tombigbee river remain to be completed. Lock No. Is 1S2 miles from Mobile and Lock No. is 205 miles from that city Lock No. 1 at McGrew's Shoals stands complete but Nos 2 and 3, north of the shoals, but south of Demopolis, are in course of construction. Lock 1 at Demopolis and all other locks up to Squaw Shoals have been finished. The unfinished locks are, in other words, Nos and and those in Squaw Shoals and No. 19 above it.
 The government has appropriated money for all these locks-a sum en- tire exceeding s7,oo0.000. There is no lack of money, no lack of desire on
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-30
COLD AS A HAIR TONIC

From the New York Sun.
 The latest Universal hair grower dis covered is a trip to the Arctic regions, or failing time and inclination for that, employment in cold storage company. According to Sir Ernest Shackleton, the Anarctic explorer. extreme cold is one of the best means of strengthening the hair In the course of an interview re- gently Sir Ernest said:
 "All of the men who went with me on the south pole expedition with one or two exceptions possessed stronger crops of hair on their return to civilization.
 Extreme cold undoubtedly strengthens ones hair. As our party approached nearer the south pole our hair grew more slowly, but became thicker and stronger"
 An official of a London cold storage company, interviewed on the same sub ject, stated that there was not a bald headed man in the employ of the com pany. He said that the men worked all day in a temperature of 20 degrees of frost and the cold undoubtedly made their hair thicker.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-30
Four Hot Senatorial Contests

Senatorial elections galore are in sight. Within three weeks 27 states will start to vote for United States senators. Eff teen of these states have republican leg islatures and 12 are controlled by the democrats. The elections in Maine, Rhode Island and Iowa will attract national at- tention-in Maine because the state has long been controlled by the republicans, in Rhode Island because there is strong desire to see Aldrich displaced, and in Iowa because the insurgents will proceed to turn out Editor Lafe Young. who is standpatter.
 But the four elections of deepest in- terest will occur in Massachusetts, New York. New Jersey and Ohio.
 In Massachusetts the republicans have A paper majority of 14 on joint ballot, and yet many observers say that, Senator Lodge, standpatter, cannot be re-elect- ed. He has many enemies aside from | Governor-eIect Foss His machine is one | of the most tyrannical in the country, and l it will not be a bit strange If he finds he lacks a few votes when the contest is begun.
 In New York the question seems to relate to Tammany control. Charles F. Murphy prefers the election of William F. Sheehan, while the anti-Tammany men favor the election of Edward M. Shepard. The selection of the latter would place | in the Senate another great lawyer along | side Elihu Root It is difficult to say | whether the choice will be Sheehan or Shepard.
 In New Jersey the machine is endeav- bring to set aside the plurality choice of a democratic primary. Gov. .-elect woodrow Wilson stands by the primary He says James D. Maritime should be elected senator, and not James Smith, Jr., who did not receive a vote in the democratic primary. In no state has a | primary vote been cast aside as worth less and it will not be in New Jersey.
 Besides Mir Maritime is a far better man in every respect than James Smith.
 In Ohio a desperate contest has arisen
 between Edward W. Hanley and Atlee | Pomerene Both stand well in the demo-
 cratic party. Mir Pomerene is the lieu tenant governor-elect of the state, and
 MT Hanley is chairman of the demo-
 cratic state committee. MT. Hanley bids Al fair to secure MT. Dicks seat
 I The four elections will be hotly con-
 tested and interest in them will be in-
 creased right down to the final vote in
 each instance.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-30
HOME LIFE OF COAL MINERS

in any community, in any social statum. 1t is not usually the conditions and oual- ities peculiar to that stratum, but those common to all our people, that count for most. There are times of iron stress when the need is one which affects only certain class, and affects all the mem- bers of that class; and there are very gross fnjustices and inequalities affecting whole classes which should be remedied at once. But frank recognition of this fact should be- accompanied by equally frank recognition of the fact that in most cases It is not what is vaguely called the social system,' but individual virtues and shortcoming, that count most; nor mally, the hard-working. sober, fore-hand- ed, intelligent father or son does well by himself and his family; normally, the chief burden of sorrow and misfortune comes because the father is selfish or shiftless or idle, the son takes to drink, the wife or daughter sights her duties because she is weak and cares too much for vapid excitement. Surely, all this can be said of the family of a millionaire just as of the family of miner. There is much that is wrong in our social system, much that needs action by the people in their collective capacity, either through the government or through private asso- citation. But such collective action, abso- lutely necessary though it may be, Is never all important, is never a substitute for individual action, and Is usually very much less important than the sum of the individuals own qualities and characterls- tics. Individual self help, and help moral, spiritual or material-given by one individual to other individuals, will always remain at the base of good and successful citizenship
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-30
A GOLDEN DAY

Emery Pottle, in the Metropolitan. Iris strange that we who have prepared
 our hearts For winter and have seen the pageantry Of autumn swept by the great winds and
 rains Down to the sodden lanes and brown,
 dead fields, Should wake today to find an amber air, All mellow with a reminiscent spring, Blithe in the piteous. half-denuded trees, Such tarnished gold and rusty red as
 cling In sheltered corners of the ravished
 wood, Flaunt in the tempered sun like tattered
 flags Borne back from battle. South-turned
 birds delay Their flight and finger with full-throated
 song, As one might sing for love old-fashioned
 tunes. The cottage doors stand open to the day; Men meet and speak with something
 kindlier In face and voice, some inner gentleness, A sign of summer in their half-shut
 hearts.
 Strange golden. ghost, Come back to walk the waste November Remembering the tomorrow's winter
 world will never seem so desolate!
 An. hear! A phoebe-bird is singing to the sun!
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-30
Vote Buyers Go Free In Ohio

The Associated Press reports that Gov ernor Harmon is satisfied that the investi- gation of vote-buying in Adams county will be thorough, and that he would not, therefore, ask the legislature to start new investigation of election frauds in that county.
 Thus far it has not been explained to the outside states what party and what politicians did the vote buying Already it has been proven that ssS votes were purchased, and it is believed the indict- ments and the voluntarily pleas of guilty will carry the number to 15O0-all in one not over-popuious isolated agricultural county.
 Unless the crime is fastened upon the men. who furnished the money and bought the votes, the situation will remain cor that will be unsatisfactory. The men who planned the buying of 15OO votes should be sent to the penitentiary, and so should the men who furnished the money One farm CT confessed that he had been paid SIP. 50 for promise to vote the straight re- publican ticket; s10 on a contract to vote the straight democratic ticket. and s3 for agreeing to vote for "a certain demo- cratic candidate. The men who paid these sums should be hunted down and punished provided Ohio really desires to stop the sale of votes.
 Not single vote-buyer has been in- dicted. Not a single one has entered a plea of guilty, and yet Governor Harmon says he is satisfied the investigation made by the local authorities will be thorough So it may become Up to this time it is not thorough. It is wholly onesided. Il practically overlooks and pardons the vote buyers. who are the guiltier of the two sets of offenders.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-30
Thoughts on Prohibition

Much has been said and written on the abstruse subject of prohibition and many opinions have been advanced there on,' said a prominent manufacturer. 'It seems that most persons believe prohibit ton Is e failure, wherever 1t has been tried, because it appears to be impossible to enforce the laws. This is because the sentiment of a majority of the people is against it. They seem to think that it is an abridgement of their liberties; a diotation as to their mode of life. Then why not enact law allowing the voters of every city, town and county to vote on the proposition as to whether or not they shall have saloons, under proper re- strictions, upon paying given license in each instance? Or, 1t might be well to let the power to issue license be vested In the mayor and aldermen of cities and towns and in the boards of revenue or the judges of probate in the counties; but no license to be granted except on a petition, signed by a given number of resident freeholders, recommending the applicant as a man of good character and respon- sibility. This would do away with the expenses of elections.
 My opinion Is that high license should be charged in every instance, by the cities, towns and counties and the state. This would reduce the number of saloons to a minimum, render them easy to be policed and controlled, and 1t would keep irresponsible people out of the bus mess. Besides, very stringent laws should be thrown around these places in order to safeguard the people. Among others, a severe penalty should be enacted for selling spirits to anyone already intoxi- cated, or to minors. Most persons have some compunctions of conscience, and 1t would be a sorry fellow who would att tempt to run blind tiger when his neigh bor was paying a large license to carry on the business. In case such an at- tempt was made the licensed saloon men would soon find out the fraudulent fel- low. put him out of business and probably land him in prison. By this means the cities, towns, counties and the state would save an enormous amount of money which is now being paid out by them, and vast ed in their futile attempts to enforce the present prohibition laws.
 'Under the license system all the cities, towns counties and the state would re- ceive very large amounts of additional revenue, which, being added to the enor- nous expense incurred, as above stated in trying to enforce the prohibition laws, would enable the legislature to make a material reduction in our present heavy rate of taxation. Let us hope that our lawmakers will take hold of this vexatious question and handle It in a business-like way for the best interests of all the peo- pie in our state.''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-30
THE WAY OUT
From Human Life.

From Human Life.
 A well known Boston physician was on his way to his office one winter morn ing when the sidewalks were glare of ice While going down the streets he met a lady coming in the opposite di- rection The lady was a stranger to him, although he was not unknown to her.
 In trying to avoid each other on the icy pavement they both slipped and came to the sidewalk facing each other. with their pedal extremities considerably en- tangled. While the polite doctor was debating in his mind what was the proper thing to do under the trying cir cumstances the problem was solved by the quick-witted lady, who quietly re- marked:
 "Doctor, if you will be good enough to rise and pick out your legs. I will take what remains
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-30
WHAT HE THOUGHT HE SAW

From the Boston Globe.
 When Dr. Cook declares, as he does in his latest batch of confessions. that he is not the colossal liar of the age, is he telling the truth?
 It seems that the twist of a dogs tall often fascinated him for hours on his journey into the frozen silence of the white north.
 Peaks of snow were transformed into volcanoes, belching smoke; out of the pearly mist rose marvellous cities with fairy castles; huge creatures, misshapen and grotesque, writhed along the hori- zon.
 The sun at midnight resembled a vase of blue fire, from which rose luminous flowers.
 Sometimes distorted faces laughed or scowled at him.
 The low beating of the wind assumed the throb of martial music.
 The Globe man, in the abundance of his good nature and in the largeness of his desire to see everybody squared with the world, is now inclined to believe that perhaps the doctor may have really thought that he reached the pole
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-30
srouT woMrN,s MusTs

From the Milwaukee Evening Wiscon- sin.
 She must
 Keep an erect carriage. Keep trim and neat. Be Dainty in her table manners. Keep her elbows off the table. Be dainty in her table manners. Appear dignified.
 Keep away from excitement. Control her temper. Wear cool appearing colors. Buy no over-ornamental headgear. Not hesitate to laugh. Eat sparingly.
 Wear long corsets. Buy shoes of stout leather, dull pre- ferred. Comb her hair slightly loose at sides. Above all, not waddle. z
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-30

district, which I know will be made here in the next few years.
 T recently visited Long Island and made a minute study of the. real estate developments in progress there, and I want to say that Coreysis better than the best. The plans are on a broader, more comprehensive plan, the work is or a better and more permanent class, the landscape architecture is of superior kind and the entire work shows more class than does that of Long Island. l have never seen, in many years or ex- perience in the construction departments of several large architectural firms, work that compares with that being done at Corey
 "The Jemison company's work includes large number of buildings at Corey and extensive building in the business section of Birmingham as well as Mountain Ter race. The extent of these building oper- ations has not been fully decided on as yet, but I feel confident that they Will be pretty extensive; greater, in fact, than the company has ever undertaken before.
 Those who know MT. Larkin say that Birmingham is to be congratulated on his return.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-30
ADRIFT WITH THE TIMES

gress In one of the Bronx districts, was romping along the road in his aute- mobile in hurry to fill speaking engagement. There was a thud and squeal, and MT. Ayres dismounted. You got me goat" wept small boy. In the street lay the body of a horned animal. Mir. Ayres cheered the little fellow up and slipped him S10 bill "Go and buy another goat, sonnie." said he. The boy departed with glad outcries. It was midnight when MT Ayres's auto returned over the same route. It rounded a corner hurried ly, and then MT. Ayres seized the chauf- feur by the arm. Run dead slow" he hissed. As far as the eye could reach small boys might be seen snealxing out of the roadside shadows, leading sac- rifcial goats by strings. MT. Ayres's chauffeur zigzagged the machine to safety. broad grin stretched his mouth until they had finally cut into well lighted Broadway and could send the speed lever forward a notch. By and by Mr. Ayres noticed the smile upon his drivers face and inquired about it. I'm laughing said the driver. "at that first goat. He was dead three days ago. The kids dad made the first payment on his lot out of the proceeds of that goat"
 Cincinnati Times-Star.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-30
OF GASOLINE MOTOR CAL

INVENTOR OF GASOLINE MOTOR CAR John D. Murphy in the January Colum-, bian.
 George H. Selden is one of the inven- tors who has become wealthy as a re- suit of his own inventions. Too often has the story been told of how so-and-so, the inventor, on the eve of success, either lost his drawings or they were accidentally destroyed, or the invention was stolen and some heartless scoundrel who left the poor inventor to die in poverty while others lived to reap the golden harvest. Not so with George B. Selden. Though he was compelled to endure many hardships during the 25 years he worked and schemed to produce the gasoline automobile, time and again
 in this period being taunted as to his sam ity, at times, too, without funds to at tract attention, yet Selden displayed busi- ness acumen by protecting himself and arranging for his future welfare. At the time, when the gasoline engine as applied to the automobile was working to his sat isfaction, when it was beginning to at tract attention, when a revolution in road locomotion was imminent and when funds were so low that a few thousand dollars looked big to him, Selden still had foresight enough to look ahead, wealthy and receives royalties paid by nearly 90 of the leading automobile man. ufacturers for use of the Selden patent.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-30

From the London Saturday Review
 When the last representative of an old institution dies the sentiment of the past touches us, though we may not re- gret the passing of the institution itself. Jem Mace was the last of the old cham pions of England, and for several hun dred years Englishmen vaunted them selves on their unique prize ring and honored It's champions. The prize fight CTS qualities were valued and symbol ized the British valor that had won the victories of Marlborough and Wellington and Nelson.
 We have lost that sentiment, and Pal merston declared that If that happened and there was no honor for the ring England would lose her ancient virtue. Judged so, the time has come. Since Mace we have raised no champion who could not be knocked silly by the first comer-an American. white or negro.
 Our fathers did not despise the fighter; we do. And yet such men as Mace, Gully and Cribb and other champions had the business and practical talents of Englishmen in high degree.
 Perhaps the educated classes are mis- taken in looking coldly on boxing. It is still the best English game to teach youths for it's skill, manliness and use fulness. Mace was a man whom 1t is quite seemly to honor as a supreme mas ter of craft once, if not now, esteemed by Engishmen. He lived honorably a life of many interests. and if he died poor it was not through stupidity or dis sipation. About a year ago we were pleased to see that a magistrate in whose court Mace was giving evidence treated the old man as a worthy survivor of a notable English tradition.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-30

Automobile owners in Denver turned over their machines to the letter carriers for the distribution of the Christmas mall. It is cold day when that town does not devise something new and com mendabe.