davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-03
WHAT RAILROADS ARE DOING
Nv HOLLAND

New York, September 2.-(speeial)
 The latest available figures that re 7
 port the ton mileage of the railroads
 in Great Britain, France, Russia, Aus l tria and Germany at the beginning of the European war fix the amount at 12O. O.265, ,OOO.
 1 In 1914 the ton mileage in the Uni :
 ted States was almost exactly 274,0o0,-
 900. Tn 1915 1t increased slightly, but in 1916 the ton mileage in the United States was 9Sg.ss2.oOO. This is an in crease over the mileage of 1915 of 24 per cent.
 Large as this increase is the rail road war board at Washington is able to contemplate now an increase of ton
 mileage in 1917 at the rate of A per cent over the mileage of 1915. This in crease will be better understood when it is said that it will be at the rate or 120 ,560,000 ton miles, or somewhat In excess of the total ton mileage in the European countries before the war
 began. As there has been no increase in railway construction in Great Brit ain or upon the continent of Europe since 1914 it can be reasonably as sumed that the total now stands at 120,000,000. which is about 800, 900 less than the rate of increase in ton mile age in the United States for the sim gle year 1917.
 These statistics contain the best possible evidence of the efficiency made posstEse through the co-ordina tfop and coonara+;oo 1f +h ra41raad- of the United States under the direc- ton of an executive committee of, which Fairfax Harrison is chairman and Howard Elliott. Hale Holden, Julius Kruttschnitt and Samuel Req are associate members and Daniel Will lard Is ex officio a member. When 1t Is borne in mind that the railway war board was established early in the spring and that while it has no man dstory authority. nevertheless it has the support of the federal government, then an excellent idea can be obtained of what coordination and cooperation and unification for certain purposes of the railway systems of the United States can accomplish. The railway war board has been able to achieve this extraordinary success because it has had a free hand and has perfected simple propositions without any Iegis- lative or governmental interference. Some of the members of the railway war board in private or informal con- versation with their friends have said that the increase in capacity (of which increase an additional ton mileage for 1917 over the previous year repre- senting the aggregate ton mileage of Great Britain and the European coun- tries is perhaps the best evidence) is the result of permitting the owners of the railroads and their managers to go ahead with all their energy, with out being diverted as they have been in the past by endorsements occa- stoned by certain state and federal regulation.
 The work already accomplished by this railway war board is regarded as sufficient proof that private owner ship of the railroads of the United States can most successfully meet the great problems of transportation which are to arise after the war pro vided only there be wise and expert regulation of the railroads and spirit of cooperation. manifested by the public.
 Recently Frank A. Vanderlip is report
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-03
NEGROES IN THE SOUTH

To the Editor of the New York Sun Sir: I noticed in the Sun of yesterday a letter from MT. w. B. Reed of Hartford, Conn, The Negroes of the South"
 Absolute ignorance of the south, south ern people and the southern negro sticks out in. every line.
 My advice to Mir. Reed would be to take a trip to Georgia or any other southern state, meet the people study condi- tions. etc, for week or two and come hack and write another letter.
 I, too, am down east Vermont yaI- kee, but I know the south, and that is why I am sorry friend Reed writes such stuff on hearsay from a negro who will probably be around again to make q touch" to get back to dear old Geor- gia." H. W. HOWE.
 New York
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-03
HER BEAU WAS No ADoNrs

From the Topeka Globe.
 A girl with a stunning figure, big brown eyes. peach like complexion and wavy black hair, lovely enough to be {. come the bride of a prince. stood around the Union station today watch ing and waiting. Finally her face be. came illuminated; a spindly, weak eyed. under sized young man slouched in sight, homely enough to stop a clock.
 The two talked, and every once in a while the princess like girl dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief. At last train puffed in under the station shed. The young man waved an in- different good by to the beautiful cre- ature who chung to him sobbing until he boarded the train and was carried swiftly away.
 Is he he brother, her cousin, or her uncle? No, he is her beau Girls arc the funniest things in the world.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-03
ssNO ROSE WITHOUT A THORTl''

Yet, when the heart, enchAined by love- With jealous fears is torn Too soon the hapless lovers prove
 No rose without thorn" The brightest prospects lure our eyes, Of power, of wealth and fame; Eager we grasp the glittering prize, But find an empty name. And when the gilded phantoms known, Dejected and forlorn, The mournful s...il our bosozas own NO rose without thorn..' Such is the destined lot of all,
 Along this vale below; New Pleasures sweetest showers may
 fall.
 And now the storms of woe To scenes of sorrow and of pain
 The human race is born; Then, cease expecting to obtain
 No rose without a thorn.' But let us learn Life's ills to bear, To Heavens will resigned; It's joys partake, it's sorrows share,
 With calm, contented mind. For he who murmurs at his fate
 Deserves contempt and scorn; He'd find, in Lifs's most enxiods stAto.f No rose without 8 thorn"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-03

|WMT AssiINGToN. August a.-(spe, WNW- cial)-The River Sereth, one of V the important lines of advance for the Austro-G German forces on the eastern front is described in the follow ing war geography bulletin issued today by the National Geographic society. Rising in the Carpathians, 40 miles southwest of Czernowitz, the Sereth Is one of the principal waterways of the Austrian crownland of Bul1owina. Taking nortkeasterly direction from it's source, the stream describes wide loop to a point few miles below Czernowitz, then, turning to the southeast, it traverses the Rumanian province of Moldavia, finally entering the Danube few miles south of the great commercial and shipping cen- ter, Galatz.
 "The total length of the Sereth is near
 ly $50 miles, and 1t has numerous tribu-
 taries from the west, including the Suc-
 zawa, Bistritza. Trotus and Milkov, but
 only the Berlat from the east.
 "The Sereth is of peculiar interest from
 a military standpoint because of the |
 line. constructed by Rumania in 1885 1892 at a cost of more than five and half million dollars. These military works
 embrace the principles of Prussian en-
 glneer, Lieut.. Col. Macmillan Schumann, who conceived the idea of system of
 defenses which would eliminate entirely the necessity for forts and for infantry support His reliance was upon the ire of protected guns.
 "Rumania adopted the system and put lit to the test on the line from which Q Russian invasion might be expected. There are three points on the northeast ern front where Russian army could cross the sereth--the bridgeheads at Foc- shani, Nemolassa and Galatz. The Ser eth line runs from Falatz to Focshani, a distance of 45 miles. east and west. Foe nj is the most strongly fortified point. with n batteries arranged on semi- circular front of 12 miles, a distance of 5000 to 10000 yards in advance of the t.ridgehead The immediate defense of
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-03
THE RIVER SlERETH

these batteries of quick firing guns ana mortars placed in armored cupolas con- sists of glacis planted with thorn bushes and wire entanglements.
 "All these elaborate and costly de- lenses are now considered practically ob- solete after only 25 years. because there is no provision made for the employment of infantry against the invaders Further more. these batteries are almost entirely negligible in value in the present crisis, inasmuch as they are so placed as to ward off an attack of a Russian army. but do not take into account the pos- siblity of an advance by an Austro- German enemy.
 "The Schumann 'armored fronts sys- tenn probably never again will be em- ployed by nation to guard its frontiers against attack. The Sereth line is mon ument to the impractical in war de- lenses"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-03
HAD LAME EXCUSE
New York Correspondence. Pittsburg Dis
 match

New York Correspondence, Pittsburg Dis
 patch.
 The exemption boards of this city are meeting with some very interesting cases Of men who claim exemption from the draft Yesterday George Murphy asked the board to reverse its decision which put him in the army His excuse is that he Is Turk No. it isn't that kind of Turk; but George says he was born in Constantinople, is subject of the Sultan, and never has been naturalized, or tried to be. Then Albert Jackson and Henry Morse. two prominent residents of the Black Belt section, seek to get out of going to France on the ground that they are German subjects and dc not desire to fight against their own kin. Both declare that they were born in Ger many, undeniably of Afro-American par ents and to prove it they speak German with an eastern shore accent.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-03
LIKE M,LuKE SAYS

The difference between an aboriginal Red Man and a modern white man is that when the modern white man at : tempts to smoke the pipe of peace hls wife declares war because he spills ashes on the rugs.
 Ever notice that the man who can't get rid of his cold can always give you about dozen sure cures for cold?
 Nearly every first born in family has occasion to feel ashamed of This full name This Is because the youn,; boy like a string of Pullman cars. The boys who come later on are not much of novelty and are the plain Bills and Jinls and Jacks.
 A single woman believes what she wants to. A married woman believes what she has to.
 modern woman's idea of economy is how much car fare her husband could save if he would only buy her an automobile.
 Lloyds will insure you against any thing else in the world, but it won't insure you against an unhappy mar riage. Iloyd's is in business to make money. not to lose 1t.
 Why is 1t that the good and pure man who is always singing about hi, happy home in Heaven and denounc ing this sinful world is anxious to live on this old earth as long as he possibly can?
 What has become of the old fash toned 1916 model automobile?
 When you get in bad, don't hunt for sympathy. You will be about as popu. lar as the smallpox, and the fellows who pretend to sympathize with you are inwardly saying. Served you right"
 You may have noticed that the lad who has plenty of cheek also has plen ty of chin to go with 1t. There never was a married woman who didn't believe. that If her husband had to be some other woman's husband for few weeks he could appreciate her more.
 II doesn't hurt to be honest and tell the truth once in a while. The reason why if makes you mad to be dunned Is because you know you owe the money The managing editor of the universe tries to even up matters as much as possible. That's why the man who can't afford a vacation enjoys it more than the man who can afford 1t.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-03
Gerrnan ComlEnemt
 on Presidents Note

sN ERMAN editors write with vigor NJ and when they are in wrathful mood they aim to make the chancel- lories of Europe as we'll as the Ger man populace "sit up and take mo- tice." The semi-official newspapers resent with furious expression Pres ident Wilson's note to the pope, re- jecting the lattsr's peace proposals.
 The Kaiser is cut to the quick be- cause the rresident made it plain that he could not take the word of the ruling power in Germany" and that German aaitoeracy would have to be eliminated before there could be per- rnanent peace. Truth and justice are virtues that all sovereigns affect; that all high-minded governments possess.
 It had been the Kaiser's cherished thought that he was the embodiment Of every virtue. He has found it hard to realize that anyone administering
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-03
Pleasant yaeatIon

have just spent q most pleasant va cation on Lookout mountain" said S. w. Woodin- My family and I lived in a tent during the time and had a very pleasant rest. Up on the mountain the air is fine and with nothing to do but relax and forget about trouble and busi- ness there, one can spend an ideal va cation. fIshed a little. but fishing there Is joke The fish are all right and are plentiful, as usual, but no one can. catch them You can only have the fun of dipping your hook and anticipating a catch, but that Is aII."
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-03
Emergency Suggestion

"A1l business houses in the city should have card tackled up in a prominent place in the stores giving the telephone numbers of persons to be called in case of fire or other emer- gency," said Sergeant Eddie Burgess of the police department "Occa sional
 ly we find door open during the night or something of the kind and 1t Is necessary to get in connection with the person in charge at once. With the card and phone number we could easily do this without having to look up a list of numbers and dis turb others than the right person"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-03
Candles in Demand

'The ancient candle merchant could have made fortune in Birmingham Saturday night if he had been in busi- ness here, for in the darkness that prevailed following the damage done to the power station by the electric storm, candles were at premium" {" said Roy Armstrong, at Parkers drug store.
 They could not be found. Every druggist and every groceryman ex hausted his stock before the<current have been good commodity to have started out to peddle to the house : wives. for the phones rang and the peoples stalked into the stores, and everybody wanted candles"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-03
Summer Months Gone

Yesterday was the first fall day, and the promise of cooiness that 1t brought to us was greatly appreciated" said James B. Hollingsworth. ''Of course. the hot days often continue much longer, and we may expect some suItry days yet, but it Is comforting to know that the regular calendar summer months are gone and fan is here. In just a little while, though, we will begin talking about the good old summertime and long once more for the heat of August"
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-03
HOTEL LOBBTES
cnrnenter,. Article.

I have had several inquiries from a distance and they continue to come in each day, regarding Birmingham, ask ing questions about the city. following papers of the country of Frank G. Car penter's article about Birmingham" said Blanks Everett general manager of the Chamber of Commerce.
 It just shows what publicity will do. That article, aside from being pub hshed tn Birmingham in The Age-Her- ald. went to practically every city of any size in the United States, and it will do Birmingham much good before it stops circulating" concluded MT. Everett.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-03

government should suspect that he was a tyrant, or not ruling by divine right, but the German press-the pa- pers that have spoken--now know that the President thinks and what the peo-
 Ie think.
 The text of the Presidents note was published in Germany much soon- CT than expected. Let us be thankful for that. It may take time for the people to be stirred to action, but soon or late the democratic principle will prevail in the empire and cause stalwart men to assert themselves.
 The Kaiser protests that the people are still with him. Wait and see.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-03
e2s.ltlteMl1@an1lI.
ENTHRALLED SOCIETY EDITOR

From the Charlotte (ky.) Chronicle.
 The lovely and elegant home of that crown prince of hospitality. the big hearted and noble souled Alb Weaver, was radiant scene of enchanting love- Illness, for Cupid had brought one of his finest offerings to the court of Hy- men, for the lovable Miss Maude, the beautiful daughter of Mr. Weaver and his refined and most excellent wife. who is lady of rarest charms and sweeu- est graces. dedicated her life's ministry to pr. James E. Hobgood, the brilliant and gifted and talented son of that ripe scholar and renowned educator, the learned Professor Hobgood. the very able and successful president of tho Oxford Te1hale college,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-03
\ light heart lives long.
 Loves Labor Lost. sk *

BEGINNING THE DAY--O Lord, keep me in love with my world with the men l work with and walk with. with the circumstances that surround me, with the God who k over me. May my heart be in low ing, warm, intimate sympathy with the labor and the life of my time. For Jesus sake. Amen.--H. M. E.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-03
Improved Condition

now" said W. J. Williams. "The en- tire jail has lately been repainted, and has fresh and spotless aspect. A number of changes have been made by Chief Warden Conrad Austin are for the increased comfort of the prisoners, and have been appreciated
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-03
Great Producing Center

"A friend from Pumpkin Center tells me that the pumpkin crop this season is the largest and finest ever known, said D. B. Grace.
 This is gratifying news to the lov. CTS of this golden fruit and is import ant information for the trade reports As Birmingham is the iron and steel center of the world and fixes market prices. so Pumpkin Center regulates the price of pumpkins the world over Situated as it is in close proximity to the Warrior river Pumpkin Center en- joys water rates to tidewater and can ship it's output at minimum of ex- pense to the far-off pumpkin -hued Chinamen and the dark complexioned gentlemen in Central Africa It is the heir of Jefferson and Walker coun- ties, being near the border line, and both these counties possess potentiali- ties for wealth beyond the dreams of avarce.
 Tt holds a point of advantage en- loved by none of it's rivals for world supremacy In the production of pump kins. At no distant day, when the Warrior river bears upon its broad bosom the richly freighted argosies of the world carrying the wealth of the orient to the marts of trade of tho occident, Pumpkin Center will be the chief commercial emporium. As a port of entry 1t will levy tribute on the diamonds of India, tho flmy laces of China and the priceless fabrics of far Cathay.
 The eye of prophetic vision can see the day when this commercial center will draw tribute from the upper | tributaries of the Warrior, peopled by
 teeming millions, now unborn. who will
 sing In accents now unknown the
 praises of Pumpkin Center. Then will
 the name Pumpkin Center become synonymous with culture and educa . tion, as the name oxford of England,
 which was once but an OK ford. now
 suggests all that embellishes human
 life and exalts the spiritual and tenn poral welfare of mankind. The good people who chose the name Pumpkin
 Center were not actuated by vain
 glorious spirit, but selected the proud
 title because their home was really
 the center for the production and sale
 of great merchantablA commodity
 they were not moved by the self.seek.
 ing spirit of certain city in neigh
 boring state which arroEates to itself
 the proud but false title of the Gate !: City of the South"
 l ---
 COMMERCIAL VALUE OF, SPONGE
 The commercial value of the sponge
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-03

off of the monarchy's naval base at Pola from the rest of the empire. The disheartening effect of such blow Is apparent. It would stop submarine activities in the Mediterranean. It would make the Austrian fleet help less. It would give Italy undisputed and absolute control of the Adriatfc sea.
 It is for these reasons that General Cordona's progress is watched with such intense interest all over the world.
 General Cardona of Italy is the only great European general who has re- tained supreme command of his arm ies since his country went to war. If he keeps up the present pace he prom ises to hold the job indefinitely.
 
 Wholesale arrest of counter revoIu- tionists was made in Petrosrad yes terday. America has some anti-gov- ernment agitators who also need at tention. |. Munition and equipment shares took quite drop on Wall street last week. a Some of the news from Washington was rather disconcerting to excess war profits.
 The Senate will disregard labor Day today. Still there are some senators who are not so overworked that they need | days rest
 x.] <
 Memphis, too Is having hard time agreeing upon the commissioners. She wants to perform her public duties.
  Mayor Thompson of Chicago needs attention from Uncle Sam.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-03

Washington Bureau. POT Hibbs Build ing.
 European bureau. Henrietta street, Covent Garden. London.
 Eastern business office. Rooms 4S 10 50, inclusive Tribune Building, New York city; western business office, Tribune Building. Chicago. The 5. C.. Beckwith Special Agency, agents Tor foi eign advertising.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-03
COMMERCIAL vxLUr OF SPONGE

COMMERCIAL VALUE OF SPONGE
 The commercial value of the sponge was known from very early times. Though there is no mention of 1t in the Old Testament. 1t. was doubtless used by the ancient Hebrews who could read fly have obtained 1t from the Nediter- ranean sea.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-03
Member of the Associated Press

Member of the Associated Press
 The Age-Herald is the only morning and Sunday newspaper in Birmingham carrying the Associated Press dis patches.
 The Associated Press is exclusively entitled to the use for republication of all news credited to it or not oSner- wise credited in this paper and also the local news published herein.
 All rights of republication of spe- cia. dispatches herein are also re- served.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-03

 Entered al the Birmingham. AIa', postoffice as second class matter un- der act of Congress. March $. lsf9-  Daily and Sunday Age Herald. year Ss.vo Daily without Sunday ........s. 0.Vv Daily ana Sunday, per month'' 'V Daily ana Sunday. three months z.o| Sunday Age-HeraId. per annum' z.co Weekly Age-Herald. per annum'' 70, No communication will be published without tts authors name. Rejected manuscript will not be returned unless stamps are enclosed for that purpose -~~S-~-~-~~-~~-~~-~~~~~~> Remittances can be made at current rate of exchange. The Age Herald VIII not he responsinle for money sent through the mails. Address,
 THE AGE HERALD,
 Birmingham, Ala
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-03
TELEPHONE

Bell trrfyate exchange connectin nll departmental Main 40OO.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-09-03

I used to never tire of roaming the hills of vicksburg. It seemed to me the most glorious sunsets that had ever wit messed were from high points overlook ing the Mississippi. I never wearled of trying to live over the siege and it was always in the minds of tho people. and if they ever forgot there on the outskirts of the city was the National cemetery to remind them at what a fear full cost vicksburg was entered by the northern forces.
 vicksburg was city of churches. schools and lovely homes. In She old days business went on in the leisurely way of river towns. I remember many of the prominent business men and cherish the glimpses got into many love- |1y homes. It was place of refinement and culture. Life was lived as if it was to last long time. Blessings be on the city by the great river. or rather on the city that the Mississippi cut in 1876, for lit gave it the high sign and now it fronts on what is called Centennial lake.