davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-31

books are full of cases Illustrating that private ownership has proven unsatisfac- tory.
 Step Is Inevitable
 Perhaps it is unnecessary for me to say that 1 have neither interest nor prejudice for or against the company sup plying the city of Birmingham with water; nor am I familiar with any griev- ance that the city or it's inhabitants may have against the company. My views, above expressed, are based upon general observation, and have no direct reference to your particular situation. I may be permitted to say, however, that municipal ownership for great city like Brming- ham is inevitable. Atlanta would not for a moment tolerate any other system, nor do l think that any other progressive city would surrender public for private ownership.
 .In my opinion. the city of Columbus pursued the proper course by first vindi- eating it's right to construct municipal system and then by purchase enabling the existing private company to retire without serious loss. Very truly yours
 WILLIAM A. WIMBISH."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-31
Samples Free by Mall

Although Cuticura Soap (25c.) end Cuti- cura Ointment (5Oc) arc sold by druGgists and dealers throughout the world. . ample of each with 32-p. Skin Book will bs rent free upon request. Address post-caras "Cuticura. Dept. T. Boston,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-31
Real Estate Transfers

The following real estate transfers were yesterday recorded in the office of tho probate judge:
 Sl530--l. q. W. Yancey and wife to Lena Broom. lot 2s in block 64 survey of West End Improvement company.
 $25, ,00o--R. r. Smith, w. J. Long, w. H. Lewis and Louis Mclan to Bessemer Realty company lots 9. 1. !, and in block o60 city of Bessemer.
 $1090-Wiliam Laycock to the House Building company part of lots 12. E and II in block 7S. survey of Birmingham- EGsley Land and Improvement company.
 s2600--C. Witty and wife to ]. D. Stew art and wife. lot l9 in block 6, Woodlawn Realty company's addition to Woodlawn.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-31
REFUSE POINT BLANK
 ID DEFER INCREASE OF INSURANCE RATES
Secretary of Southeastern Underwriters Says Insur- ance Men Do Not Care to
 Have Conference Either

In a letter received yesterday by President George Ward of the city com mission from Secretary J. s. Raines of the executive committee of tpe South eastern Underwriters' association, the request of the Board of Trade and the city commission that the committee sus- pend the operation of the 15 per cent increase in fire insurance rates. was flatly refused.
 Mir. Raines suggests, however, that a committee of experts come to Birming- ham to confer with city officials and civic organizations to see if anything can be done to remedy conditions here. which the underwriters say compelled them to make the rate increase. It is probable this conference with experts will be held soon.
 What we are kicking about" said President W. R. Ewing of the Board of Trade, yesterday, lis that the insur- ance men are not toting fair with us. We do not assume an arbitrary position in the matter and attempt to say you do this or don't do that. All we want Is justice and when they raise our rates we want to know why
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-31
Have Violated Agreement


 Last year the underwriters made an agreement with us that if we did cer- tain things the rate would not be raised We have done those things. the city has passed shingle ordinance, and a clean-up ordinance, and has improved the fire department up to the top notch, but before these improvements are In force long enough to show their ef feet, the underwriters, apparently with out investigation, violates their agree ment and raises our rates anyhow That's what makes us sore.
 Their suggestion that a committee of experts confer with us shows that they raised our rates without confer ring with a committee of experts, or in other words raised them when they didn't know what they were doing. IT they did, what's the use in experts coming here now?
 ''The shingle ordinance has been in force but few months the clean-up ordinance Is being inforced by the city government to the limit, at least 1t is at my place. it looks as If We were doing everything in our power to re- duce the fire hazard, every thing the un- derwriters asked us to do. and now by way of thanks we get Ia per cent in crease.
 Chairman A w. B. Johnson and his committee are working hard on the proposition and we don't propose to give up until We accomplish some- thing
 The commissioners and the Board of Trade officials declined to give out the entire letter from MT. Raines set ting forth the reasons of the increase in rates, the latter part of the letter was made public as follows
 Part of Raine's Letter
 These are the reasons why the com panies have insisted upon an advance in rates at Birmingham, and We re- gret that we cannot meet your request and suspend this advance. even tempor- arily, nor do we feel that anything would be accomplished through an im- mediate conference, as the facts as stated in this letter are correct and could not be changed through any con- ference at this time, nor would such conference avail anything unless 1t were in possession of data compiled by competent experts, showing in what direction improvements and changes in your fire department. waterworks and general physical conditions would be necessary to give promise of better re- suits in future.
 We would therefore suggest that such conference be deferred and in lieu of same, that you appoint committee of experts who shall meet representa- tives from our engineering depart ment to investigate the entire situation, completing their work as rapidly as possible and when they are prepared, we will then be pleased to have our committee meet your board to consider their report and to take up the general situation on its merits.
 Assuring you that We have every desire to cooperate with you in p1ac- ing your great city on profitable basis. and hoping that you will concur in the suggestion set forth in this let ter, we remain, yours very truly, JOSEPH $. RAINES, Secretary"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-31
WEATHERLY GIVES OUT LETTER FROM ATLANTA LAWYER Wimbish Tells of Columbus, Gas Successful Water
 works Fight
HANDICAPPED RIGHT
 THEN BOUGHT PLANT
lndorses Municipal Ownership Highly and Advises Birmingham to Imi- tate Columbus-We Known
 to Birmingham People

In answer to The Age-Herald attack Ing his plan for a municipal waterworks' City Commissioner James Weatherly yes terday made public letter from William 4. Wimbish of Atlanta, enc of the most prominent attorneys in the south.
 MT. Wmbish acted as special attorney for city of Columbus. Ga, in it's recent fight for municipal waterworks plant His name attracted attention in Birming- ham, but recently as the attorney for the Ala bama pig iron makers who won the ease before the interstate commerce oc mmisson reducing pig iron rates be- tween Birmingham and points in the north and east.
 The city of Columbus only several days az bought the property of the Colum- bus Water Supply company, a private corporation, for s325. 900. John B. Weak ley of Birmingham was president of the company and with other Birmingham if nanciers held the larger part of the stock, it is understood Before consummating the purchase of the waterworks eom- pany, however, the city of Columbus went u rough a controversy something like the one now current in Birmingham. This is what MT. Wimbish writes about, incidentally giving some of his beliefs regarding municipal waterworks. The let ter follows:
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-01-14
Mercado Is Grateful.

The refugees, as officially counted by
Major McNamee. shows there are 800
soldiers, 1867 women and about 500 chill
dren and infants, who are TO be housed
and fed by this country,
AS he watched the vanguard or ms
army depart all OF them ll-fcd. half
clad. footsore and disarmed. General Sal
yador Mercado. Huerta's former military
chief I'm the north. and himself refugee
stood apuart by the roadside. His own
biue faded coat was dusty. the insisnias
Of his rank were gone. and on his face
was an expression otc incredible suffer
ing. x,. ,,,,, ,,,,,,
IN which I feel more grateful than tho
United states" he said, and walked
away, in l.,
on route 10 Maria for three or four days
ana II probably Will be next week before
they arc put on trains for FL Paso.
Along the route TO Maria. four camps
each marking the end of a day $ march
are 10 be provisioned. From Presidic
IN Maria there Is no railroad and tho
procedure of the refugees Will be neces'
sarily slow. =.
The detachment Of four coInpa MICS o
infantry 10 take the refugees to III Pasc
US ordered by Brigadier General Bliss
I'm charge of the border patrol, Al II
Paso all the soldiers and civilians vii
he kept under guard constantly. II hal
beon suggested that ultimately they may
he removed to Fort Rosecrans, Cal,
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-01-14
RECENT DISASTERS
LIKE JAPAN HORROR

one Of the most disastrous fatalities in
the worlds history. taking The form vi
a volcanic eruption, occurred at ST.
Pierre. Martinique May S. 1902, when
Mont Pelec overflowed With strea III
OF lava that ignited the whole town at
It's base within two minutes after the
burning stuff had reached the houses,
killing 50, 400 people.
For several days before that Pelcc had
been emitting omipous rumhlings. and
several thousand people had taken ship
to other ports on the island. alarmed by
the conduct OF the volcano. but the vast
majority oc the inhabitants were lulled
to a fancied security by the editor OF
Les Colonies. who. after an interview
with Professor I-andes, an eminent scien-
tist OF the Lycee, stated that the savant
had said that the people of ST. Pierre
were I'm no more danger than those iD the
neIghborhood OF Nesuvius, near Naples.
Like many other catastrophcs OF this
sort this took place in the morning. but
not as early as those In San francisco
and McsslnB. Italy, the hour being 100
a. m Many people were at church. how
ever. because OF the days be'ns re-
lgious holiday.
4 cloud OF vapory blackncss suffused
the entire sky as Peee vomitcd forth
the molten lava destined 10 wipe out d
city and It's people. and deafcninS detona
tions followed the appearance OF the fiery
current throwing everyone into panic al
once The conflagration lasted several
dgys and was ended by torrcntial rain.
What has graphically been called the
worlds cruclest earthquake took place
In Mcssina. Sicily. and the surrounding
cities OH the morning OF December 2S.
1908. al 5:2S q. M. being within a lew
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-01-14
.CURLEY is CHOSEN
MAYOR OF BOSTON

BOSTON, Jan, 13.-CongressmaD
James NJ. Curley was chosen mayor to-
day by majority Of 5720 votes over
Thomas J.. Kenny, president of the
city council Of total of 10000 votes
polled on the coolest day OF the win.
ter, the victorious candidate received
l3,262 and President Kenny 37,542.
The congressman S election TO a
four-year term as mayor Is the latest
step in continuous political career
which began az city councilman IN
1900, He is serving his second term
in congress In 1905 Mr.. Curley was
convicted by jury in the federal
court of conspiring 10 defraud the gov
crnmcpt by impersonating another man
at n civil service examination. He
served two months in the Charles street
jail. without interruption to his politi-
cal fortunes,
Both Mr.. Kenny and Mr.. Curlev are
Democrats in national politics. al
though they ran without political
designation
The city made its usual pronounced
declaration in favor of license. the vote
being: Yes, 4S,34l; no. 26,9oS.
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-01-14
Bankers Interested.

Concerns credited with advising Presi-
dent Huerta to take this step are the
Bank OF Paris and The Netherlands Credit
Lyonnaise. Compton National d Escompte
and the Societe Generate In France. Nor
gan. Grentcl & Co. Speyer Brothers and
Glyn. Mills. Currie 6. Co. OF London and
Deutscbe bank, the Dresdner bank and
the bank OF 5. Blcichroder of Germany
The houses OF j p. Morgan & Co. Kuhn.
Loeb e Co. and Speyer Brothers OF New
York arc said not 10 have taken any part
MeNico's total bond Issue Is approxi-
ma tely 800. 000. 900 pesos (S250, 900. 000j one
hundred and twenty-five million pesos arc
interior silver bonds and 375. 900, 600 are
foreign gold bonds.
The most recent addition TO the debt
was 200 DOC, 900 peso issue by the present
administration, approxims tely half OF
which has been floa ted. The remand Ell
OF the national debt was placed during
the DlaZ administration. and was guar
antced In 1889 By 81 per cent of the port
revenues. The loan last year was guaran-
tced by the remaining 3S per cent. All the
bonds bear an average interest of per
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-01-14

minutes OF the hour of the San Fran
cisco earthquake a few years before, and,
like that event at time when more
than three -fourths OF the people were In
their beds asleep.
Like the catastrophe of like character
In Lisbon several centuries ago, and like
others In Japan since. the damage OF the
quake was aggra waited by tidal waves cre-
tied by the disturbances. Along the coast
llne of Sicily the sea receded for about
fifty yards after the shocks which lasted
thirty-five seconds. and then came back
with terrific rush In the form OF a
wave from eight to ten feet high. which
destroyed much property and many lives
along the water front.
OF a population of 10000 In Messina.
100. 900 were estimated as killed; OF f5.-
900 In Reggie just across the straits OF
Messina. 10000 died. while 10000 in the
surrounding towns perished, making the
total 10000.
The submarine cable was broken by
the shock and though a torpedo boat
rushed madiy up the Calabrian coast 10
the nearest cable and telegraph station,
II was nlghtfall before Rome knew OF
the horror that had overtaken her neigh
boring city.
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-01-14
REFUGEES MARCHING
TOWARD FORT BLISS

PRESIDE. Tex. Jan: 13.-Turning
their backs on Mexico, the ragged sol
diers and generals of the Mexican red
eral army. routed by tho rebels from
Ojnaga. Mexico. opposite here. today be-
gan their strange march toward Fort
Bliss at Ell Paso, Tex, where they are
to be kept indefinitely as wards OF the
United States government.
Only portion OF the refugees started
but the tatterdemalion line OF soldiers
women and children. followed by horses,
burros and dogs, as they struggled over
the mountain road in clouds OF dust. was
a sufficient picture of an army In re-
treat The refugees on foot VIII be
guarded by United States cavalrymen un-
until they reach Maria, siXty-seVen
miles from the border
AT Maria ten trains OF ten coaches each
are TO carry the MeXicans 10 El Paso'
under escort of four companies OF tho
Twentieth United States infantry and at
the army post at Bl Paso something IKE
a village is to spring up until the for
eIgn soldiers and their generals, who
sought asylum in this country, arc taken
elsewhere or are finally returned TO
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-01-14
INTEREST MANIFESTED
AT NATIONAL CAPITAL

WASHINGTON. Jan. 13.-Announce-
,neht by the Hucrta government of It's
intention to default In the payment of
tne semi annual interest on the bonds
OF the Mexican national debt created
much interest In diplomatic circles here
tonigat and brought out much specula-
tlon. While state department officials
were understood to accept this step as
a natural development in the policy OF
waiting for the collapse OF the liuerta
regime, no comment was forthcoming.
The discussion OF European diploma =
lists turned TO the security which their
nations will have for the enormous sums
| which go to make up the aggregate OF
| the Mexican debt. external and internal
1t was pointed out that in the question
OF Mexican finance the concerted Euro
| pean powers, on account Of the great
| sums at stake, had a kcener interest
| even than the United States,
European diplomatists. therefore. have
not been disposed to take seriously pro-
nouncemen,s emanating from constitu-
tionalists as TO their proposed rcpudia-
tion OF loans advanced to Huerta- They
finally prevails in Mexico City, all obli-
cations incurred In time Of peace VIII
have to be fulfilled, although 1t Is admit
ted that war loans advanced during the
past year may not be so easy OF llquida-
tion.
BrIgadier General Bliss comma nding
the border forces In Texas. reported TO
the war department that count or the
Mexican federal fugitives from Ojinaga.
at Presidio. Texas. showed 3652 officers
and soldiers and 1867 women in bis Gus
tody, besides 703 horses, 3o7 mules and
3o4 burros.
The state department was today In
formed that permission had been grant
cd by the consututionalists to all Span
ish residents In the state of Chihuahua
to remain there If they have not partici-
pated in politics. Certificates Of protec-
tIon for both Spanish life and property
have been issued by the military author1-
ties
Reports that Didier Mason, the avia-
tor who attracted attention by his spec
tacular opera tions around Guaymas, had
been captured and executed at Empalme
were silenced by message from Consul
uostetter at Hermosillo. saying Mason
was living there.
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-01-14
Right in the Matter.

Under the agreement made in 1889, the
foreign bondhoders. with the consent of
their governments, have the right to col
lect this interest, should the government
OF Mexico at any time default in the
payment. The January payments have
been made, and the next semi i-annual pay
ment will not be overdue until after June
80. but under the agreement, periodical re-
mittanccs from the port revenues must be
made To the national bank and forwa ri ed
Immediately by this concern to be ap-
piled in advance upon the interest OF the
debt.
Since tho decree operates To stop all
such advances and since there Is no other
authorized way TO obtain this interest
money. II is equivalent to procai inning
that on June 80 the nations obligati
Will he In arrears
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-01-14
NEW YORK BANKERS
PUZZLED OVER NEWS

NEW YORK; Jan, 13.-None OF the To-
cal banking houses with Mexican con-
nections had received any direct advices
Today regarding the reported decree OF
tho government suspcnding financial OBJ
ligatlons for one year. The National
Railways of Mexico also was without In
Formation OIL the subject. The news was
pUzzllng TO bankers in this city. for the
reason that they have informa ton To the
effect that the interest due on Mexica n
governmental obligations December 81.
1916. and January /. 1914. had been paid.
The next interest payments are not due
for one year.
MeXjcos external obligations are esti-
mated at between s500000.0o0 and $3.50
OO0.000, interest PAYABLE In foreign cur
rency. The internal debts probably APP
proximate slj0.000. 900 The foreign debt
Includes the G22, 100000 loan negotiated
m London in 1899 and the $40. 000, 900 gold
bond loan contracted through Speyer &
Co. In 1904.
There arc also many other direct and
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-01-14
Generals Make Escape.

with about TOO soldiers ON horses,
Orozco. Salazsr. Caravco and RoJas. COM
,na nders OF federal volunteers. escaped
from the rebels al oj!nasa through La
MuIa pass. south OF Olinaga, after they
fact that they escaped gave General VIZ
Ia much anxiety He had ordered the
execution of all of them.
Tho rebels reported that they found in
o,,napn after the federal evacua tion
four.een cannon. 1000 rifles and 100
rounds OF ammunition. The rebels said
they did not fire on the retrealing fed
crsis becaugs they did not want 10 en-
danger life on tho American side. Cen
apai Mercado's version was that the fed
erals had evacuated some time before
| the rebels realized il.
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-01-14
Has He a Cure for
Rheumatism?

Dear Editor
] suffered as only a man can suffer
with rheumatism. but finally was fortu-
nate enough 10 find something that en-
abled me 10 get rid OF II, | believe for
all time TO come.
a few weeks ago ] made a resolution
to help others all ! possibly could in the
future 10 ind relief from this awful dis
ease that leads TO helplcRsness so soon.
7 realize that ] VIII be able to see very
few people In person. so I am asking YOU
Ia help me- If the readers OF this paper
will write Mr. F H. Delano. 200-J. De-
lsno Bldg. Syracuse. ~ Y,. they viii
receive free package OF t,1e same medi-
cine that I used.
(Slgued) READER.
r S-Please insert this in some
prominent place in your paper, giving
nv name ~ you wish to- IT'S Rev. j. L..
Manley. (AdVertisementJ
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-01-14
of the volcano were buried IN.
of lava yesterday.
C Communication Cut Off.

The full extent of the disaster could
not be ascertained today, as all com
munication was cut of from the
stricken district south of Knmamoto,
eighty or ninety miles north oil
Kagoshima The navy department was
unable to obtain wireless report from
the warships sent to the scene, al,
though many messages were dispatched
to them.
Ashes to the depth of six inches have
fallen in the seaport OF Miya@aki, on
the east coast of KiushIu
A postal employee who He'd from
Kagoshima states that the big post
office there collapsed during the earth
quakes and tidal wave, and that
great number of residences were
ruined, while many people and animals
were killed or injured.
The navy and army departments arc
giving succor and supplies to kago-
shima.
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-01-14
Earthquake Adds Horror.

The horror was increased by the
shaking caused by incessant shocks
of earthquake, which rocked the
houses all day. More than $50
shocks were recorded before night
fall
The people fed in disordered
drovcs along the highways leading
west and north of the city. They
had abandoned everything in their
flight, and soon they were suffer
ing also from lack of food and
drink.
When 7 left Kagoshima the vol
cano resembled an enormous set
piece Of fireworks, glowing from
the foot to the summit During
the night the glowing lava
illuminated the entire district.
The volcano constantly emitted
thunderous explosions.
The burning rock and ashes set fl
to several villages. At Moi. on tn
railway, 100 persons wer
killed. Several villages along the foe
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-01-14

try in several directions are heavily popu-
lated and the number in the danger zone
is hundreds OF thousands. The chief city
in danger is Kagoshiina, which lies al
most in the shadow of the volcano and is
sepa rated from il by a narrow strait.
Fragmentary dispatches that come in
over a telegraph and telephone service
that has been destroyed at several points
Indicate that there has been heavy loss
of life In Kagoshima and its vicinity,
and It Is feared that this deadly work
continues and will take larger range
when advlces are complete. The city is
the center of large pottery and porce-
lain industry which employees thou
sands OF artisans and laoorcrs OF both
The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-01-14

lnolrect loans of compa rativcly small
amounts TOT which the government Ina S
stood sponsor. not 10 mention the inter
est ON the bonds OF the National rail
ways OF Mexico and affiliated properties,
mrucn are under government control
'hrough majority stock interest
IN comparison with England. Germany
ana france, bankers arc agreed that the
holdings of Mexican securities in the
,un,sed States are relatively small. Eng
Oh tnese Issues and the English French
ana German investing public have pur-
chased extensively of Mexican Indus
trials, including oil securities,