davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-24

wonderful fire. of course, you would have to stage the burnng of the city before some exponent of freproof build ings prepares d new code of building laws. calling for a safe construction of buildings But. gentlemen gentlemen. what a wonderful chance you have for most glorious bon fire. Yours for amusement NERO. ITO the City Commissioners of Birming-
 ham:
 My suggestion Is that you should per- sonaIIv Investigate every suicide com mitted within the city limits for the purpose of ascertaining what element of Birmingham atmosphere Is eonducive to self destruction that our city stands near the, head of the list for the, entire countryside in this regard. There k no riverside, which is supposed to be the first aid of the Respondent, no deep val levs with narrow, rocky sides that will answer the purpose of Lovers Leap. and nos elevated railways to tempt a sensational jump for eternity
 There is something here that is re- sponsible for this and. like Diogenes, tic city commissioners should search tifs out with the lantern of intelligence, which they can in all probability se- cure from tue writer.
 CARRIE NATION
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-24
Incorporation

Articles of incorporation were filed with the probate judge as follows yesterday:
 The Szabo Tailoring company, incor- porated, M. Szabo, William Lindsay anf G. c. Lindsay, stockholders. The new firm starts business with capital stock of s3500 and M. Szabo is president and manager. with William Lindsay secretary and treasurer.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-24
MORE SUGGESTIONS
 FOR COMMISSIONERS
From Persons Whose Experience and Attachments E
 Them to Respectful Hearing In Any Company

In view of the fact that Commissioner Lane says he fifty letters day offering suggestions how to the e afairs The Herald this morning presents sugges addressed to all three of the Commissioners from persons entitled to be heard They reproduced just rece without seasoning
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-24
Park for West End

No sooner had these park land deals been consummated than d delegation of the' citizens of West End petitioned that the city buy 40 acres of land for s6O,00 of- fered for sale by Russell c. Booth x Co.,, to be used for a park. Roger Snyder was the delegatIon's spokesman. He was ably assisted by half dozen other orators, and by vote, the commissioners agreed to consider the proposition. Action will probably be taken next Tuesday morning. The delegation represented that the peo- pie of West End are as much entitled to a park as the people of any other com munity. Terms of $lO,0OO cash and s50OO a year at per cent were offered.
 Following this business, the commis- sioners took occasion public to declare themselves on the matter of park land purchases President Exum said: "Tu admit I have the park fever. In ten years from this time the people will de- clare that we have made good bargains
 Commissioner Weathery said "I be- leve the great majority of the people of Birmingham are in favor of the pur- chase of parks and playgrounds. 1 believe that it will be as result of parks, play grounds, police and sanitation, extended to the suburbs that Greater Birmingham will be really realized
 Judge Lane said: T am in favor of parks But l am not in favor of acqpir ing more land than the city can pay for. I do not consider 1t wise for the city to incidentally swamp itself in debt when the city has no money and no prospects of getting money'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-24
Routine Business

In addition to the above, the commits sioners transacted considerable routine business. Judge Lapes resolution that the Birmingham Railway Light and Pow CT company be compelled to issue | transfer good on any of its several lines leading in a general direction, was passed over for future consideration.
 A refund of s10o for license paid by Johnston Brothers company was ordered.
 petition from the Ad Mems club that 'the size Of signs on business houses be limited to depth of four feet was car I'ied over for future consideration. . pr. W. C. Gewin agreed that the trus- tees of the Carnegie library of West End would turn that property over to the employees of the city If the city would assume an indebtedness of s260O and agree to pay s1ocO per annum for operating ex- penses.
 Dr. Nelsons dog ordinance,' provid- ing for the instruction of policemen to shoot stray dogs, was passed over to a future meeting.
 Adjournment was ordered, the next meeting of the commission to occur Sat urday morning at il o'clock.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-24
Building Permit

Building Inspector W. O. Mathews is- sued the following permit yesterday morning:
 s36G0-To J. s. Haggard for two one story frame buildings at 1i22 Cotton ave hue, West End.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-24
To the Commission;

To the Commission;
 The city commissioners should be eager to do that which would tend to improvement in conditions-sanitary, moral and material. Many streets are poorly lighted at night. Many high ways need mending, and some of the all leys need cleaning up. An alley should be kept as clean as business street or an elegant residence avenue If the commissioners would see for themselves | there would be less room for complaint. Birmingham now covers 50 square
 miles, but I think 1t would be well for
 the commissioners to inspect every street and alley at least once month. They could use horses belonging to the city, This would enable them to make their inspection tours without any ex- pense to the municipal government. ALFRED THE GREAT.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-24

"ALABAMA GROCERY COMPANY PURE FOOD SHOW,- JANUARY 24, 25 AND 20, 1912, FROM .B0 F. M. TO 10,3O r. M. PUBLIC INVITED. LADIES' PRESENCE ESPECIALLY DESIRED. NO ORDEBs WILL BE SOLICITED.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-24
All Steel Cars

Why not take Seaboard 50 a. m. arrive Atlanta 1:o5 D. m, Washington 10:35 a. m. New York 4:fo D. m. Phone Bell 23S2 for. reservations. ff
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-24
ATTENTION DAIRYMEN

FOR ONE WEEK WE WILL SELL SOUND LOOSE (. :. HuLLS AT $500 PER TON AT OUR MILL, IN ANY lQIANTITY. TnE nuckEiE COTTON OIL co.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-24
COMMISSION COMMISSION BUYS
 CITY PARK LANDS Total Expenditure Amounts
 to $121, zoo JUDGE LANE DISSENTS
Delegation From West End Asks for New Park-Lane's Transfer Mo- tion Passed Over-The Dog
 Ordinance Carried Over

At the regular meeting of the city com mission yesterday morning the city closed deals for park lands which will result in an expenditure of s1H,7oO. The cash outlay will amount to $16N0.
 c. Exum. president of the commission will execute the city's notes to the Ems lay Land company, under date of Janu- arv e4. 1912, bearing interest at $ per cent and made payable at the Hanover National bank of New York. as follows; Eight for Si00O each payable in one year, eight for s1000 each payable in two years' eight for s10OJ each payable in three years, eight for 5000 each payable in four years. and eight for 5000 each payable in years.
 He will execute 45 notes of $lOoO each Ill favor of the Investment Real Estate com pany of Alabama, under date of January 24, bearing interest of per cent ana made payable at the Hanover National bank Of New York to be paid in lots or five in each of the next 10 years.
 lie will pay the Highland Park Land company S76S0 cash, and will execute ~ notes in favor of the same company, each Of which will bear per cent interest and will be due in two years.
 Forty-Two Acres in Ensley
 The purchase from the Ensley Land company and the Investment Real Estate Company of Alabama consists of 42 acres of land lying within Ensley. This prop
 for. IF and it is agreed that for every acre of which the mineral rights cannot be secured and turned over to the city, 9 per cent or the purchase price of such acre or acres will be refunded to the city.
 The property acquired from the High land Park Land company lies near Green Springs and will be used for park pur- poses.
 Judgs Lane strenuously objected to the consunIaation of each of the deals. They were put into effect by the votes of Pres ident Exum and Commissioner Weatherly.
 One of the contentious of Judge Lane concerned the rate of interest to be paid by the city. He contended that the orig inal agreement was that the rate should be , per cent T consider 1t is a pure gift" said he, Ito increase the rate to per cent l. is unwise to give notes for per cent when we are borrowing money at per cent"
 Walker Percy, representing the Ensey Land company, stated to the commission CTS that the title to the mineral rights oe the property would be in hand within a limit of two weeks The other com panes from which territory was acquired were represonted by Lee Bradley.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-24
To the city Commissioners:


 Gentlemen: To paraphrase an old aphorism. Cleanliness is next to God liness," we might say, Cleanliness is next to-impossible-' in Birmingham if we judged it by the condition of the streets-partieularly in the "byways and hedges"
 The thoroughfares and oftfrequented parts of the city are fairly presenta- ble. but the others are awful!
 If the honorable commissioners would get busy and use their dust pans and brooms and do a little light house. keeping" such as cleaning up these un- tidy, unkempt parts of the town. they would bring about an improvement that would give them a place second only in the history of the Magic City to Hon. George E. Ward Birmingham's City Beautiful father-who made himself fa- nous for his good work in this cause. Tape the tip" Mir. Commissioners.
 MRS PANK HURST
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-24
Daily and Warren on Case


 Detectives Daly and Warren at present will give out nothing in regard to the evil denee they have secured on the case It is known, however that Belt was seen driving five passenger dark maroon eol- ored touring car on the night of the kill ing and was seen to pass Five Points coming dcwn Twentieth street toward town just few moments before the kill ing occurred. It Is on this evidence that 1t Is supposed the detectives based their Investigations.
 Belt was at the time of the killing chauffeur for T. J. Watson. local eapl- talist, who has an office in the Brown Marx building. MT. Watson lives at Ter race Court at Twelfth avenue and Twen- tieth street south Since the first rumor of Belts possible connection with the killing Watson has discharged him. Belt admits being at the billiard fire on High land avenue on the night of the acci- dent, but maintains that he had not left the fro until after the killing occurred
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-24
DANIEL WEBSTER

To the Commissioners, Birmingham, Ala. : ! Dear Sirs: The policemen might be al- lowed to build homes in the new city parks to keep the hoboes from sleeping there in the night and day time this sum mer. I suppose that what few policemen there are left on the force will be put to police the parks. and 1t would be a humane idea to let them live there, work ing 24 hours a day. This will be in line with the general retrenehment policy. Yours for economy,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-24

Dear Cullie, Jeemes and Jedge: There is a large hump in the center of an avenue passing my house Which I would respectfully ask be unhumped It occurs to me that the alleviation of harrassing humps Is of more shelpful tendency than the repudiation of the democratic proposition to the broad general effect that the majority rules. Yours without a struggle.
 ALEXANDER DUMAS, FILS
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-24
RICHARD swTvELLER.

The City Commissioners: Preserve the lives of the school children attending the Lakeview public school by granting the board of education permission to erect aerial fairgrounds or basketball roof gar dens above this school as they are now
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-24

Messrs. Exum, Lane and Weatherly, Board of Commissioners. City:
 Gentlemen: Let the city secure the right of sale of the entire next months s output of the Survey. These have been going Ike hot cakes lately and a few dimes could be made without any doubt This money could be applied toward clearing up the parks the city recently bought. Yours in urbe,
 DANIEL WEBSTER
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-24

time Chief Bodeker could not see where there was sufficient evidence to hold him and he was released. day or two later Coroner B. l.. Rraeher called Belt to his office fer an informal Investigation and the result of this was the same as the one before Chief Bodeker.
 However, He5eetives Daly and Warren kept at tue case. Last night they report ed in person to Chief BodeSer and sub mitted their evidence. Tie chief immedi- ately ogdered Belts arrest and commit ment to jail This was effected about an hour leter, Belt entering the city jail at I:25 o'clock last night He stoutly main tains his innocence.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-24
The Honorable Commissioners, Birming-

Ine fiOnOfdDle lOmmiSSlOnefS, BlfmlnS-
 ham. Ala, City.
 Gentlemen: Is it not a rather diffi- cult task to explain how you can buy parks at s100,00 per and plead poverty when it comes to getting more police men to adequately protect the homes of the community given over to your keep ing? If you have such d huge expendi- lures for parks that are without a cents value as such, why not the traf- fic squad as of yore and other forms of police protection for the women and children? Yours regretfully.
 JULIUS CAESAR.
 Dear Gents: I have just learned, much to my horror and anazement, that there exists 10G0a GO. coo 00Go00 red corpuscles within the veins of one of the city em- poyes Would it not be well to retire him via the big axe route and consoli- date his duties with some other depart ment officials? Thus further public ser vice. Hurriedly, BENEDICT ARNOLD My Dear Mir. Lane: I am told that you believe, justly I am sure, that there Is at this time a. certain road between this city and East Lake which takes away from Sloss crossing a certain amount of danger. Will you be so good as to humor one of your discontented subjects to the extent of causing to be prepared by MT Weatherly of the street. department, a blueprint of that aforementioned road where it starts and where 1t ends and answer only one question: Is it not true that only one person, firm or corporal tion uses that road to wit The Warrant Warehouse company? Yours.
 BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.
 Dear MT. Commissioners: There IS a juicy mud hole In front of mys house which Mir Walter Moore promised me six years ago he would have repaired. I iln- derstand. however. that Mir Moore nc longer has such matters in charge. Viii you please refer this to the right per. son. because am persevering soul and will never rest content until the wiggle- tails which flourish there are buried un- der a load of chert. MARC ANTHONY. .f
 Dear MT. Commissioners: Believing that the season of spring fever is rapidly beginning to turn the winter of our dis consent into glorious summer and that stout parties are more susceptible to the germjni lazibus. we huInbly petition that tho office of comptroller of public policy
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-24

Commissioners. City Hall, City
 Srs: Pass an ordinance requiring the fee paid county officers to pay a certain percentage of their remuneration to the city as license for doing business in the city. Quite considerable sum can be derived in this way. Yours,
 JOHN JACOB ASTOR.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-24

Messrs. Exum and Commissioners. City: Dear Sirs: Put the chief of police, the chief of the fire department and the heads of the other departments on the same salary as their subordinates and you will have more money to buy parks with. sGiye this a trial. Sincerely yours,
 ZENOBIA.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-24
without seasoning

To the Commissioners:
 Gentlemen-There Is a pile of rubbish on Nineteenth street, north. that the peo- pie of that locality would love to to see removed. This is the wreck of a huch- ster's wagon which stands in the gutter just in front of the new Y. s,.. c. A. building. It has stood there for a month, having been demolished by a collision with a street car The wagon was a complete wreck after this unfortunate incident, though the driver was not, and the wretehed pile of splintered wreckage remains a quaint reminder of the. com missions graceful S"Alphonse and Gas ton" methods.
 Don't you think that instead of wearing out your eyelids looking up to somthing higher, Most High Triumvrate. you might sometimes look about you and find the simple, homely need of more tidiness in the city of Birmingham-Judge Lane has passed this sad bit of wreckage every day for month en route to his office. Respectfully yours.
 MADAME DE STAEE.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-24

City Commission. Birmingham, Ala: Gentlemen: Can't the city gain control of the theatres and derive their revenue? This will be an excellent way of raising money and quite easy. You can best figure out the way to get this control. Respectfully yours,
 JOHN HANCOCK.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-24
BELT IS ARRESTED !. FOR KILLING ADAMS Automobile Mystery Be lieved to Be Solved
  OLICE ARE PLATED
ktiyes Warren and Daily Charge Ing Chauffeur With Killing of ln Who Was Hit by an
 kltomobile January Il

a local chauffeur, aged about las been arrested and placed lail charged with murder. The
 Affected last night by Detec-
 md Warren and was the re-
 investigation into the death
 hams at Morris avenue' and
 |reet, Sunday morning, Jan led by being struck by an au- It the same time John B.,
 s thought to be fatally in- Notified a few days ago to ap- I Chief of Police George H. [ an investigation, but at the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-24

be created to see to it that nothing
 said, done or enacted by the city co@ missioners that will interfere with thu
 future political aspirations The necessj for the Honorable trio to decide to whi
 issue of a question that concerns H
 mingham they shall attach their inff ence will be entirely eliminated as tf suggested official will be the dictaphone thlnkery memory and guiding star of this group. BUCKINGHAM. C. Exum, President. City Commissions
 My Dear Sir; I trust that you will con si6er me as one who complains as brook which brawls along the woods, or as one who abuses the eyes of. all others, like Cupid, because his own are out. am a wretched soul bruised with diversity, and an advocate of the wise saw that there never was philosopher who could endure the bangs Of toothache. trust that you will not consider my noise as impotent as that of a chestnut which pops in a far nier's fire. nor me as one who loves to descant on his own deformity, nor as one who says an infinite deal of nothing.
 I am only an humble member of your august kingdom. None is so poor as to do me reverence. But at the same time I have certain inalienable rights guaran- teed by John Hancock and Gov. B. B. Conner. Therefore 1 demand protection from grizzly blond next door. who, with voice which could drive the gods from Parnassus and scare Pegasus to death sings sans melody sans tune, sans tone sans pity and consideration, ad infinitum (which in our language means morning noon. afternoon, evening, night and morning) to the argument of a disem- boweled piano which must have graced the lamented Rabbits Foot saloon.
 would not complain without cause but a reference to which by the way, never read-will prove that were the nightingale to sing both night and day. she would be no better musician than the wren. Yours truly
 ANDREW JACKSON.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-24

To the City Commissioners of Birming- ham: Gentlemen-I suppose between banquets | and brickbats most any one would choose the former, .and in view of the fact that you gentlemen have received. both I | merely desire to say that so far as l am concerned, I think you are deserving more flowers than rocks.
 Tt was a Herculean task you three gen. tlemen assumed when you took hold of the city government in its then chaotic condition, and while you have doubtless made mistakes, I firmly believe you have done as much as any three men in the state could have done, placed in similar conditions
 The easiest thing in the world Is to throw brick bats at the efforts of others. and to criticise people and their methods. without suggesting remedy, or giving a fellow show to see what he can do, borders on the cowardly.
 Of course everybody knows that a great deal of the crisicism is political in It's nature, hence is not seriously consd- cred. To build up city requires con certed effort, and those who sheer and snarl and kick and growl at everything done to advance the city, and decry and condemn and hold up to scorn the com munlty in which they live, remind me of the Scotch proverb about the bird fouling it's own nest. With best regards, l remain, Yours very respectfully. WILKINS MICAWBER.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-24

To the City Commissioners:
 Gentlemen-Nill you kindly tell the pub lie of there is any law by which your honorable body can give away any part of our street to private parties? If SO.
 please tell the public where such law can be found. SHYLOCk.
The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1912-03-06
South WELLINGTON.

Adler Potter js again confined tc
the house by a, renewed attack of hit
old trouble. We are glad to hear
that he is improving, however.
The republicans of the town should
read the notice in another column OF
q caucus to be held in the ball In
this village Friday evening, March
Is.
The annual free-will Offering meet
ing of the W. O. T. u. held in Social
hall last Friday evening was a banner
meeting The speaker was fully as
interesting as had been claimed for
her, and she members of the Union
may well congratulate themselves on
the showing made in the Offering.
which just reached the $50 marx AS
an evidences of good will and desire
to cooperate in the work this can
hardly fail Of being highly gratifying.
A leap year party was held in the
boarding house last Saturday night,
with q present to emily the barq1et
provided and the games that made
things interesting for all hands We
are unable to say what may develop
as result of the gathering, but two
or three of the young men appear more
thoughtful and preoccupied than usual
and some of the young women wear
an expeotant air. 1t might be in
order to remind the young men that
they are not allowed to say go, this
is SO sudden" or promise to be a
brother to any wouldbe wiley.
81. > East Wilmington.
Mr. Liska lost his black horse last
week
Mrs Church was in Hartford over
Sunday to attend the funeral of rela.
tive.
Miss Edith Oushman of the Russell
millinery store is home, sick with
tonsilitis.
The Horton house, occupied by Mr.,
Jensen, caught fire in the ell last Fri
day afternoon, and only for the prompt
action Of the Amidon brothers the
house would have burned
A great deal of pleasure has been
afforded the teacher and pupils of our
school by the installing of a fine new
desk The desk is oak, with two
chairs to match. VIM. H. Hall and
L Y Garrison are worthy of much
praise in the improvement of our
school
The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1912-03-06
ROCKVILLE.

The death occurred yesterday OF
Mrs Jeanette Squires Odds at the
home of her SOD, Frank s Olds of
Florence street She was rs years
old, Death was due to a paraly tic
shock. She was a native of Sta ford,
but lived for a number of years in
Warren, Mass. where she was married.
She lost her husband several years
ago and for the past ten years she had
made her home with her sons, Frank
s.. of this city and George P. of Man.
chester, She is also survived by a
sister, Mrs. Julia S Ellis of Palmer,
Mass, and a half-brother and two
half sisters, Fu1eral services will
be held this afternoon at o'clock at
the home of Frank s. Olds. The
body will be taken to Warren, Mass :,
for interment.