davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
Diversification and Packing Houses

Alabama's need of packing houses as corollary of crop diversification is obvious, but an organized move ment to promote the building of pack ing plants will be in order if the need is to be supplied on an extensive scale in the near future. The only packing houses in the state are those situated in Birming- ham and in Andalusia, in Covington county. A company is being organ ized in Talladega, having for it's ob- ject the erection of plant there, but the field is inviting for a dozen or more packing houses properly dis tributed.
 An industry of the kind referred to would without doubt prove profit able in Montgomery, and it should be an easy matter to assemble local capital there for building and operat- ing a large and modern plant. If Andalusia found no difficulty in rais- ing $125,0O0 last year for a packing house communities of larger size in stock raising sections should not hesi- tate to do likewise.
 In the weevil-infecte counties com- paratively little cotton will be planted this year. In the black belt farmers must turn their attention more than ever to food crops. Without consider ing the ravages of the boil weevil, the cotton farmers have learned the necessity of producing more grain and forage and live stock, if they are to get the best results from agricul- ture.
 By feeding corn to cattle and hogs and turning them into meat by the packing house route, the marketing problem would be solved. In that way the farmer would get fancy prices for 1 his corn.
 The time has passed when the pro- gressive husbandman will depend upon cotton as his only money crop. The diversification campaign of a year ago was wonderfully successful. Now let it be followed by packing house campaign.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
CAFE CARS DON'T PAY

From the San Francisco Bulletin.
 Local option and state prohibition, to- gether with new laws in localities here and there forbidding the liquor traffic have brought the dry and wet problem souarely before the Southern Pacific board of directors for the first time in its his- tory.
 The question was discussed at it's recent meeting in New York, which was at- tended by President William Sproule.
 The wet territory in the country tra- versed by Southern Pacific passenger trains carrying dining and buffet cars is so limited now that the company has practically decided to suspend the sale of drinks on all its trains at the end of this year, should California voters favor pro- hibition at the fall elections
 The sale of drinks on tho trains is hardly paying for that branch of the menu, and the employees have to have very good memory in order to know when and where not to sell.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
BELGIANs PAY FOR BREAD

From Review of Reviews.
 While the entire population of Bel gium, approximating 1000, 900 persons ob- tains it's bread solely from the supplies imported by the commission for relief in Belgium, only about one-third of the distribution is gratuitous. About 4,5OO,- OO0 persons pay for the bread which they receive, while about 2,50OO00 are unable to pay. Approximately S0,OO0 tons of wheat or flour are required each month to supply the entire country. At the beginning of the work, last fall, the cost of wheat purchased in the United States and delivered in Belgium was ap- proximately $60 per ton. Later the price of wheat rapidly increased, while the charges for transportation by ship through the dangerous waters of the English channel, and the cost of insur- ance, doubled and trebled.
 By the middle of the winter of 1914-15 the cost of the commission O, wheat de- livered in Belgium, had risen almost to $100 per ton. Thus, the monthly expendi- ture climbed rapidly from about 5000, GOO to about ss,oOOOOO; then, toward the sum- mer of 1915, it dropped back again as the price of wheat declined. It will be seen that the sale of bread in Belgium has not been sufficient to meet the cost of the entire work. The value of the bread given away to 2,5O0,0OO persons is, roughly, the measure of the actual gift of food required from the United States and other countries. This has varied with the changing prices and has ranged from ap-
  month It will be understood that this amount has not at all been given in cash Much the greater part of it, in fact has been given in the form of wheat or flour, collected by special state or community efforts in the United States. With these efforts the public is familiar for never has so vast and universal a helpful movement been witnessed in this country as that brought into existence by the tide of sympathy for Belgium.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
OLD IRONsIDEs IN NEED

From the St. Louis Republic.
 Plans are afootl for the complete re- mobilization of the Constitution. We do not mean the basic law of the land, but the famous frigate now in Boston harbor. We cannot plead with Congress to give she deserves with anything like the elo- quence which has been expended on her behalf by twice 10000 of her eulogists, nor can anybody do for her again what Oliver Wendell Holmes did in the fiery lyric that saved her from the 1unkmen The song and the ship own joint 1m- mortality, but we may join, as we be- lieve with all the country in wishing that everything may be done that need be done to preserve her as long as timbers will hold together
 The Constitution was not the only ship of the days of wood and sails around which glorious memories hung, but she is the last of her mighty line and stands for all Moreover, there must have been something in the ship herself that was far above the common, for her three sig nal victories were won undef three com manders Hull commanded her when she destroyed the Guerriere, Bainbridge was her captain when she overcame the Java and Stewart was on the quarter deck when she captured the Cyane and Le- want in one fight There are human things about the old ship too She was as good at running away when occasion dictated prudence as at battle when bat tie was the word. The story of her CO., hour flight before a whole squadron of pursuers is not less interesting than the accounts of her combats. And we do not love the Constitution less because of the old tale about Captain Hull, who. in the gmynastic emphasis with which he
 gave the command Fire" for the first broadside of her first action. ripped his tight white ducks from the waistband to the knee.
 It is the navy department which is ask ing Congress for money to save the Con-
 stituuion, and we hope the navy gets all i it needs
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
MOVIES IN SURGERY

From the Rochester Democrat and
 Chronicle.
 It is now proposed to utilize, In a rather spectacular way, the moving picture camera in connection with surgery It is suggested that film records of delicate and unusual operations by the most ex- pert surgeons might be reproduced and placed in medical schools and libraries. It is also claimed that such records would enable surgeons, at short notice, to ob- tain suggestions which would be of value and which would also enable them to operate quickly without the delay in- volved in securing the services of a spe- cialist. There is. though, the apparent drawback that few conscientious surgeons would care to perform delicate and diff ficult operation in the presence of mov- ing picture outfit. Besides, something is due to the patient, who pays the freight and is entitled to the best eff forts of the surgeon, whose mind would naturally be on the photographic feature, at least to certain extent.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
Reorganized Chamber of Commerce


 Under it's new constitution the Bir- mingham Chamber of Commerce has been completely reorganized and the modern system by which each branch of business, profession or calling IS compactly grouped for dealing with questions peculiar to it's particular in terest, should bring good results.
 A large civic body like the Chamber of Commerce includes in it's member ship every class representative of its industrial, mercantile and profession al life, and as these several inter ests are subdivided for active work the executive head and his board of directors will be able to keep in close touch with the needs of the communi- ty and abreast of its progress.
 Now that the chamber is equipped with new machinery, so to speak, 1t will be expected to achieve great things for Birmingham and the Bir- mingham district. The Warrior river connection will, of course, be of inn mediate concern to the Chamber of Commerce and of far-reaching inn portance will be an organized effort to increase the number of this dis trict's small manufacturing plants.
 But among the earliest activities of the chamber should be the formulation of plans for the Confederate reunion, which will be held here May 16, IT and IS. The general committee of arrangements has an excellent chair man in Crawford Johnson, but the finance committee should be appointed at once and should start to work with out any delay.
 This years reunion promises to be unusually well attended. There will be large turnout of the veterans and still larger crowd of Sons and Daughters of the Confectionery and other visitors. It will be a great event and the railroads are preparing to advertise it extensively No con- vention held in any section of the United States is favored with such low rates as the Confederate re- union, and throngs will come from all over the south.
 The Chamber of Commerce has no time to lose in making ready for the reunion.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
BIRMINGHAM BACHELORS

From the Montgomery Advertiser
 Commissioner Arlie Barber of Birming- ham is the father of an ordinance, yet to be acted upon, providing tax of s1OO a. year on men between the ages of 21 and 45 who are unmarried
 If the commissioner wants to raise rev. enue, that is one way to get it, provided the unmarried men can be induced to re- main in Birmingham long enough to pay the tax. But if his motive is to ecour- age matrimony, we doubt if it will work. Very often, especially in an industrial city like Birmingham, s1OO is the approxi- mate figure standing between a man and realization of his matrimonial ambitions '1f I had s100 I'd get married right away" says one, speaking for hundreds of others who are in the same position. He strives to accumulate $1OO ahead so he can afford to marry. He is the type of man who has many years to live before he can hope to accumulate several hun dred dollars ahead" If he be compelled to pay $100 a year for the privilege of living in Birmingham his marriage might be indefinitely postponed.
 Besides, $l00 @ year is altogether out Of proportion to the privileges which a Bir- mingham bachelor may enjoy; it is out of proportion to his income for the average unmarried man in Birmingham probably has no asset other than his job.
 Of course, this proposal of Commis- sioner Barber's- offers an opportunity for the humorists. But there is serious side to the question. If made a law the ordinance will discourage young men from going to Birmingham, and it will en- courage others to leave that city.
 Why not also levy a special tax on married couples who have no children? And we say all of this in spite of the fact that it is none of our business.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
A Republicans Hope

q am republican and voted for Taft in 1912, but l expect to vote for Roose- welt this year." said w. c. Beamis of New York city. T felt somewhat bitter against Colonel Roosevelt when he bolted the old party, but have got over that feeling and thousands of other repub- licans have done the same. Roosevelt will be nominated by both the progressives and the regular republicans in June We will all get together and I think we shall carry New York.
 ''1t is an interesting fact that the old cry against third-termism is no longer heard. The time will probably never come when President can be elected to fill the office three consecutive terms, but after President has been out for a term or two he should be considered eligible for a third or fourth term
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
HOTEL LOBBIES
Peanut Crops Profitable

'The farmers in most sections of the state are prosperous at the present time, :" said Henry P. Merritt of Tuskegee, can didate for president of the public utilities commission.
 "In counties where diversifcation is ex- tensively practiced the farmers are ex- ceptionally prosperous. In the wiregrass country peanuts are being raised with highly satisfactory results. In Coving- ton, Dale Geneva and Houston counties the peanut crop was large and profit able. The farmers of those counties have been growing peanuts for the past two years and in many other counties pea nuts will be planted this year.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
GETTING AT THE FACTS.

building directly on an asphalt pave ment and was not killed.'
 "Now, don't you know" answered the contentious person, "that a statement like that is obviously absurd? It is physically impossible for a human being to fall from such a great height to a city pavement without being instantly killed"
 Perhaps so, but this man merely broke his arm. He was washing windows on the first foor.''
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
Colonel Houses Mission
reunion,

A rather guarded interview given out recently by Colonel House indi- cates that he has not learned any thing particularly new while on his mission abroad for President Wilson. The most important feature of his statement is that he has been able to clarify the situation to a certain extent so far as Germany and the United States is concerned, although it is hard to see just what there was to clear up. If plain speaking on the part of President Wilson amounts to anything, the Germans should have had a very good idea of the senti- ment of the American people without any further explanations from Colonel House.
 That the Presidents representative has been treated with great courtesy wherever he went is not to be gain said, nor the fact that he seems to have been granted an audience with everybody he cared to see. Americas s diplomatic representatives abroad hastened to gain his privy ear, but whatever the information they inn parted, it was not sufficient to justify any optimistic reports as to the col onel's mission. He was wined and dined and extensively photographed; he stood off newspaper reporters with an imperturbability not sur
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
BEFORE THE SNOW
lan in the Atlantic.

Bliss Carman in the Atlantic. Now soon, ah, very soon, I know The trtlmpets of the north will blow, And the great winds will come to bring The pale wild riders of the snow Gardening the sun with level flight At arrowy speed, they will alight, Unnumbered as the desert sands, To bivouac on the edge of night -
 Then within their somber ring, Shall hear a voice that seems to sing Deep. deep within my tranquil heart, The valiant prophecy of spring.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
"BL1GHTY.
From the Boston Herald.

FTO1H lHt BOStOn HeraId.
 There has been discussion of the word "Rlighty," applied by British soldiers in the trenches to England. Miriam Lowell wrote to us that the word might have been brought to France by Anglo-Indian soldiers; that it is Hindustapic. An ori- entalist at the Porphyry informs us that the Hindu word "Belaite' means Europe. Tommy Atkins may have corrupted the word itself and restricted the meaning.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02

What is described by a writer in the Washington Star as a "hand-finished'' island is a mere speck in the Pacific ocean, known to the world as Midway Island. It lies 1900 miles east of Honolulu and Is used as a relay station for the cable that connects San Francisco with the Philippines and China. The islet's framework Is composed of coral deposited there during countless ages. The em- ployes of the cable company decided that they would make soil. As a result of their plans, Hawaii is now exporting earth to Midway Island. Every three months supplies are sent to the sable employees and a shipload of earth Is also taken along to spread over the coral surface This work has been under way for some time, and it is said that it has already so far that a COW can be pastured on the "man-made" meadow.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
ALAS, ITS TRUE
From the Ta,Iadeea Home.

From the Talladega Home.
 According to The Age-Herald, Birming- ham has only about 5000 citizens of the voting class, when the number should be in the neighborhood of 25,OO0. However, there is no evidence that an increase in numbers would make a more intelligent vote.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
TWO REASONS.

"You are charged with not having a tail light,' said the magistrate to the motorist.
 Guilty, your honor," answered the mos torist, briefly. How much?'
 But the judge could not resist the temp tation to deliver short lecture.
 Don't you know" he said, that it is very dangerous for you to go about at night without a tail lisht7"
 Certainly"
 "Then hope you won't be guilty of such an offense again."
 ESQ do I. but 1t is liable to happen"
 ''Well sir, why?"
 Because, In the first place, I'm rather forgetful and in the second place, don't happen to be lightning buzz
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02

BEGINNING THE DAY-My Fath- CT, the day is cold and gloomy out side. But within, the fire on the hearth is warm and bright. HOW old is the charm of fire. and yet now new and lovely today! My Father' life is cold and gloomy today' b"t oh. the warmth at Thy side and the Iirbt in Thy face! Ancient of days 1rt Thou, and yet how new and wonderful today! Amen.-H. M. E.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
TEXAS GLOATS

From the Houston Post.
 Birmingham reports that fully 40O0 peo- pie have failed to pay poll taxes. Fully 12.OO0 men in Harris county have failed to pay, but just the same this is the land of the paid school teacher
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
INJECTED, ANYHOW.

You say you were not speeding?" "No your honor. I was going dowr hill and lost control of my car" 'sIn that case the fine will be $10.'' "But what for, your honor?'
 "Coasting down a public highway"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
ADRIF'T WITH THE TIMES

THE SINGER AND HIS SONG. The bard who sings a careless song, With unaffected art, Will oft arrest the busy throng And touch the human heart, While he whose polished lines reSect A mind with knowledge stored, Despite his weight of intellect, Is cheerfu1ly ignored.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
SAFETY FIRST.

"When Mrs. Twobble speaks with an air of hnality you get the impression that there is nothing more to say"
 .'True. At least, that's the idea MT. Twobble always gets"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
A KINDLY THOUGHT.

A KINDLY THOUGHT.
 'This problem play we are going to see involves the usual triangle suppose?" Worse than that. It's a four-cornered affair. The plot has to do with two mar ried women and two married men, Good! I don't care much for the tri- angle drama, any way. Somebody in the triangle is sure to get the short end of it'
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02

Chicago,s pickpockets were probably as glad to see President Wilson come to town as anybody The larger the crowds the easier 1t is for them to operate.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02

The army experts seem hopelessly dis agreed on plans for adequate land de- fense. It might be well to remember that the time for argument is limited.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02

A newspaper reader says Villa has good cause to feel hurt by the conduct of the United States. He will be hurt worse still
  if he ever falls into the hands of General CaTanza.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
OUR FRIEND rr'E cA1

From the New York EfspA
 Lady Patricia. Lad selfllxA Lady | Phyllis, King Winter, 11pnAilvsrra. and
 Gloria Victis are ga hea Nitu such
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
GERMAN EFFICIENCY

From the Atlanta Constitution.
 The Kaiser got his men out of the trenches long enough to tell them to dig in again and keep up the lick.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02

A contributor to the Medical Record says the Japs are ideal smokers Three puffs satisfy Jap.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02

The gowns worn by the beauteous star are now being featured by moving pie ture producers. Another blow dealt at the Legitimate" stage.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02

The Germans claim that the recenA aerial attacks on Paris were ''reprisals." demed necessary.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02

Ye rainmaker, scientists aver, is a fraud. Therefore his reception in more enlightened communities is apt to be frost"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02

When the government loses trace of one of it's submarines, there is nothing to do but to keep on working the wireless.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02

Even if Washington should be made "constructively dry" 1t is only a short jaunt to Baltimore, the worlds greatest rye whisky market
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02

When President Wilson dwelt in the comparatively calm environment of Princeton he probably did not dream that he would ever found an Ananias club.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02

Plans are being made for the annual ap- pearance of the ground hog, a great be- liever in preparedness.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02

humber personages as Bobby Shafto and Teddy Snookums at the Silver Society Cat show, which opened today at the Hotel McAlpin. King Winter, the pride of the lot surrounded by 19 silver cups, silver platter, and hundred ribbons, holds his whiskered muzzle the highest and ignores, with the best breeding, the tributes paid to him by visitors.
 There is no doubt that felines take more kindly to shows than dogs; they relish admiration, and they like to sleep or to sit still good part of the time. There is none of that bowling for liberty which makes a dog show well nigh un- bearable to the sensitive person. Cat lovers and dog lovers are always divided against each other. The dog lover likes to be fawned on; the cats lover likes to do the fawning himself But the latter is in good company. His name may be mentioned with those of Baudelaire, An ma Marble, Swinburne, Gautier and Co., lette Willy. ss
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02

The storm clouds which gathered thick ly over the University of Alabama were disspated by quick work on the part of the trustees.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02

The blow has fallen. Birmingham will have liquor inspector Amateur dstill- CTS will soon be making whisky out of cornbread as a last resort
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02

The President does not monopolize at- tention when Mrs. Wilson is "among those present."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-02-02
ALABAMA PRESS

Dothan Eagle: Where ignorance is
 bliss the illteracy commission has the hardest work.
 | Anniston Star: The way some of the eastern dailies are talking about offer | ing John Sharp Williams the vice presi- dential nomination, it would seem that
 the offer was an insult.
 Henry County Standard: The impress sion seemed to have gotten hold of the assessors that the more property man
 has the less percentage he ought to be assessed. There never was bigger mis- take made than this. Every man, whether
 he be a one-horse farmer or a million aire should pay up to 60 per cent of his property values. And the Standard hopes they will be made to do it.
 Selma Times: Birmingham, Montgom- cry and Mobile now allow the moving pie ture houses to run Sunday afternoons and nights. They afford harmless diversion to thousands. The principal objection to this form of Sunday amusement is not tHdb it io SAiilui per oe, uul ptCduSc OA the fear that should the bars be let down, the sacredness of the Sabbath will be de- stroyed. The experience of our sister cities with Sunday movies will be watched with interest.
 Mobile Register The National Defense Society, Inc, of which Theodore Roose- welt and William F. McCombs are of- ficial advisers, is much shocked to dis cover that the chief collection agent is one of the we Boys" that follow the profession of collecting funds for alleged charitable enterprises" themselves be- ing the only beneficiaries. The society should be advised to look more closely into the character of those it employs to aDproac oh tha ul1blic