davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1917-11-07

lection routines had to be pre-
pared and new system Of &C
counting worked out. The tele-
phone company has advised all
telephone users OF the new law
and the methods put into effect
for collecting the tax. Notices
giving full directions have been
placed on all public telephones
and all subscribers have been
advised by means of Il circular
enclosed with their monthly
bills. This circular explains the
method making the charge for
the tax and gives Il digest Of
the law relating to IT,
"rhe law not only applies to
all messages on which the total
rate is 10 cents or more per mes
sage, but also to all messages
on which the total charge, in
GLIDING overtime, amounts to
10 cents or more. Thus, while
a single call at the rate of 5
cents bears no tax, should the
conversation be prolonged over
period which would make the
aggregate charge Is cents or
more, the tax of cents is i'm
posed.
Cali telephone bills rendered
during the life of this law in
clude toll service statement
that will show those messages
on which the tax is to levied,
together with the amount of
such tax.
"The law directs that this tax
shall be collected from the per-
son paying for such messsage
or conversation and places the
responsibility for collection up
on the telephone company"
The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1917-11-07
rs. o. s." Call From Armenia
and Syria.

The attention of everyone id
called to the desperate condi-
lions still prevailing in Asia
Minor, Syria and Palestine
among the suffering Christians
who have been driven from
their homes since the breaking
out of the war. So urgent is
tho need accustomed by these
conditions, that President Will
son has set Sunday, November
18th, as armenian Day." and
has suggested that offerings for
the sufferers be made in all the
Churches on that day.
Over one and one-hulf million
refugees are now in the striker
districts, and the number is
slowly increasing by the arrival
OF newcomers. a large proper
ton of these are helpless women
and children. In order to meet
the present needs to feed, clothe
and shelter these people to keep
them alive, minimum of
$500, COO per month is needed.
The Big StoneGap Committee
earnestly .solicits gifts to this
cause. Mrs. II. a. w. Skeen is
the local treasurer. She will
gladly receive and promptly for
ward any and all offerings. II
you have not done 80 already,
please renew your monthly sub
scription at once, Drop some
of your loose change in the coin
The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1917-11-07
Changes in Schedule OF Pass
eneer Trains on Appalachia
Division, Southern Ry.

Effective Sunday, November
4th, passenger schedules on APP
pa,ucina Division of Southern
Railway changed as follows:
Eastern time.
Train No. will leave Noun.
tain City NJ G:3O a. m. instead
of 200 Il. m, and will arrive
Bristol 500 Il, N leave Bristol
1000 n. IN. az ut present; arrive
Albert Yards 1880 a. M, con
meeting with No. 3 from Bulls
Gap, for Appalachin and inter
mediate points.
Train No. will leave Albert
Yards 3:05 p. m, taking con
nection from No. 4, and arrive
Bristol 4:l0 p. IN, and leave
Bristol $40 y. IN as at present,
arriving Mountain City $40 y.
IN.
Train No. 1 will leave Albeit
\ ards at 3:l5 p. m, and arrive,
Bulls Gap 5:l5 p IN.
Train No. . will leave ST.
Charles 7:45 n. m. as at present,
and will arrive ut Bristol at
1910 noon, instead of 1905
noon us AT present.
Train No. 3 will leave Bristol
i:i0 y. m, as ut present, but
will arrive at St. Charles at a.45
inslcnd Of present time of 9;25
p. III.
Train No 10 will leave Rog-
erSville AT 7;55 n m. instead of
$50 Il m. and arrive at Bulls
Gap nt $3.50 a IN, as heretofore.
The changes outlined above
viii of course affect the time of
these trains at intermediate
points.
Time Of trains not mentioned
herein is not affected.
4 -46 w. +. ALLEN,
General Passenger Agent.
The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1917-11-07
$3.50 BIG STONE GAP. WISE COUNTY. VA. WEDNESDAY MOVE
John w. Norris Dead.

John w. Morris, who had a
severe stroke of paralysis about
a month ago. died last Friday
night at his home in Big Stone
Gap. Mr.. Morris was born in
June, 1915, in Harlan County,
Ky, being past 70 years of age.
His father moved to Powelis
Mountain before the Civil War,
aud MIR. Morris lived there and
raised his family until II few
years ago, when he moved 10
the Gap. Mr.. Morris leaves !
brothers and one sister, namely:
James II Morris, of Arkansas;
Elias Morris, of Kentucky;
Pearl Morris. of Imboden; An
tbony Morris, of Kentuck = and
Mrs. Elizabeth Barker of Tex IS.
MIR. Morris is survived iy his
wife, Mrs. Lydia Starnes Morris.
and living children, viz:
Thomas g., James Addison and
Joseph G. Morris, of Big Stone
Gap, and Mrs. p j Martha j J
Starnes, of Verdi. Scott County.
Two of his Children preceded
him to the grave, namely: John
NJ, Morris and Mrs. f. p. (Alpha
ED Starnes, of Verdi, Scott
County.
Funeral services were con
Quoted Sunday afternoon at 3
O'Clock on the Morris farm
burying ground on Powells
Mountain, about miles from
the Gap, near the Scott County
line, witnessed by n large circle
OF relatives and friends. Rev
William Rohinette, of Powells
Valley, conducted the funeral
aud burial services, after which
the remains were laid to rest
among his relatives i'll sight of
his old home, where his son now
lives. The pail bearers were:
j. S. Hamblen, 4. l.. Witt, g.
I. Garrison, Dock Showulter.
j. G. Mullins and William Std
ham Mr.. Morris was n devoted
husband, n good father aud Il
devcut Christian, being a mem
Der at the Baptist Church for II
good many years. Mr.. Morris
was an uncle Of Mrs. T.. q,
Wallace, of the Gap. y large
c'Icle of friends extend TO the
relatives of the deceased in their
gre loss their heartfelt
sympathy.
The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1917-11-07
!, telephone Tax.

{ AS for the tax on telephone
messages, Mr.. e. r. Milton, of
the The Chesapeake and Potom-
&C Telephone, when seen, told
how the Chesapeake and Po-
tomac Telephone Company had
prepared to collect the tax as
directed by the government.
"The preparation for the col
lection of the five cents tax on
all messages of Is cents or over
has been d big job for the tele.
phone company" said Mr.. E.
r. Milton. I'm the case of pub
lie telephones with coin box at
tachments the tax of 5 cents is
to be inserted as directed by
the operators have been in.
structed to arrange for this.
Especial preparationsfor bill
ing regular subscribers correct
ly for the tax imposed on their
messages of 10 cents and over
also had to be made. New col
The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1917-11-07

Wise; Mrs. G.. l.. Heuser, Coe-
burn; WIN. S. Keister, Norton;
Mrs. n. +. Xix, Wise; Mrs.
James n. Grecar, st. Paul; Miss
Mayme Michigan, Norton; Mrs.
w. a. Banner, Coeburn; Mrs.
L. NJ. Arlington, Cocburn (;
Mrs. d. a. Dunkley, Coeburn Z;
Mrs. L. q. Greear, Coeburn +;
Mrs, j. w. Wyatt, Coeburn ;
Miss Rosa Nj. finder, Norton
Mrs. Il. |. Hawthorne, Norton
Mrs. W.. S. Keister, Norton
Mrs. j. l.. King, Norton; Mrs.
n. b. Dickinson, Cocburn ; Mrs
a. +. Crockett, Coeburn; Mrs.
Esther Bond, Cocburn; Mrs. w.
9. Tompkins, Toms Creek ;
Miss Anna Bcrray Reynolds,
Norton; Mrs. 7. NJ. Pepper,
Norton Mrs. Il. L. Hyatt, Nor
ton; Mrs. w. w. Kemp, Norton
Mrs. } @. Dawson, Imam; Mrs.
L. e. Hatcher, Norton; Mrs. ].
L. Sandoe, Wise; Mrs. w. j.
McLenorc, Wise; G. 4. Downes,
Coeburn; Mrs. Q. &. Downes,
Coeburn; Mrs. A. b. Brooks,
Coeburn A. b. Brooks ,Coeburn
Mrs. ii. a. Lacy, Wise; Mrs.
Mamie Dorton, Wise; Mrs. a.
G. Anderson, Wise Mrs. w. ID.
McNiel, Wise; Mrs. j. NJ. Hill,
Wise; Mrs. j. l.. Mccormick
Big Stone Gap; Miss Virginia
Williams, Appalachia; Mrs. II.
a w. ,Skeen, Big Stone Gap
Mrs. Marion Cox, Big Stone Gap
Mrs. r. l.. Irvine, Big Stone Gap
Mrs. Il. @. Carico, Coeburn; Mrs.
p. L. Wolfe, Coeburn; Mrs. w.
L, Painter, Coeburn.
The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1917-11-07

Jars while shopping. You will
find them in every place of
business in town. AS winter
draws near let it remind us of
t hes sufferers--our fellow
Christians across the seas-and
let IL also move VA to self-denial
and sacrifice that we may have
a part in this work of presers-
ing many souls alive.
On behalf of the local com.
mittee,
JAMES NJ. SMITH.
The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1917-11-07
$500 Reward

a long, slender bay, slightly
roam horse, six years old named
Race Horse, disappeared from
my stable about three weeks
ago. | will give $25 90 for the
return of this horse to me, or
$1,000 for Information that will
lead to his recovery.
NJ. Il. Lips,
Wise, Virginia.
The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1917-11-07
Card of Thanks.

We desire to express our sin.
cere gratitude to our many
friends who so kindly assisted
us during the illness and death
of our dear husband and father.
May the Lord bless them.
MTs. John w. Morris,
Thomas G.. Morris,
Joseph G.. Morris.
James Addison Morris,
Mrs. P. j. Starnes.
The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1917-11-07
NOTICE.

We will have q piano tuner
from the Baldwin Company
here about the first of Novem-
Der. Write us at once If you
want yonr piano or player piano
put in good condition.
G. @. Blankenship.
Appalachia, VI
The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1917-11-07
TRY 1T! SUBSTITUTE
FOR NASTY CALOMEL
Starts Your Liver Without
Making You Sick and Can
Not Salivate.

Every druggist in town-your
druggist and everybody's drug
gist has noticed a great falling
off in the sale of calomel. They
all give the same reason. bod
sons Liver Tone is taking ita
place.
"Calomel is dangerous and
people know it, while Dodson's
Liver Tone is perfectly safe and
gives better results" said a
prominent local druggist. bod.
sons Liver Tone il personally
guaranteed by every druggist
who sells it. a large bottle
costs 80 cents, and if it fails to
give easy relief in every case of
liver sluggishness and constipa-
ton, YOU have only to ask for
your money back.
Dodson's Liver Tone is a
pleasant-;asting, purely vege.
table remedy, harmless TO both
children and adults. Take a
spoonful at night and wake up
feeling fine; no biliousness, sick
headache, acid stomach or con-
stipated bowels. 1t doesn't
grippe Or cause Inconvenience
all the next day like violent
calomel. Take a dose of Gallo.
mel today and tomorrow you
will feel weak, sick and nau-
seated. Don't lose days
work Take Dodson't Liver
Tone instead and feel fine, full
of vigor and ambition.-adv.
The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1917-11-07
Federation of
w onan's Civic
Leagues.


in the Methodist Church at Coe
burn, October 10th. The ladies
we're greeted by Mrs. w. a.
Banner in the uniform of the
Food Administration of the
United States, and after regis
tering and signing the "Iloover
Pledge, " were presented with
the official button for "Hoover
Helpers and also beautiful
badge of Woman's Federated
League presented by the Coeburn
League. The League was called
to order by the president, Mrs.
&. L. Heuser, then followed the
invocation by Rev. A. L. Brooks.
Mrs. G.. N. Thompkins, Of
Of Toms Greek, in very grace
ful address Of welcome, greeted
Wv leagues VI VIC "iilcic"'
towns most cordially. she re-
called the coming together of
'hese wohieha' pig stone zap
one year ago 'ha' 'he federation
then sprang into existence, and
To-Day we were celebrating me
p'i' huay OF 'hiS rusty, young
o"oc Dorm lor u hieh ana hoole
purpose.
MIS- rleuser men gave al out
hie Oh 'ne WORK "cco'hpiisiie'i
ny !he ieuer'''oh 'he i''s' SIN
months II { coii'Pletloh oil
'he SUBSCRIPTION oil FlZoo re-
CURED Tor the nurses salary;
'he securing Oh II young ana ell
cieht nurse ana placing her IN
'he helo september ISL secur-
cah'hs ue"'ohs'r"'or lor
Mceh "o'A III 'he county
"oio'ng hos' s"ccessiu' lemon
s'r"'ions III eacH Town OIL me
county olerihg Szo'oo III prizes
iof c"''''eu GOODS Ut 'hc " Use
county fair 4 Visit TO 'he o'.
iaui oi'lc league III Nay by
'eNcfAi VI 'he oiiicers an eAec"-
we colnii''''ee meeting ~ Nor-
'o'' III oep'e'i'oer 1T WHICH 'he
nui DC . aai"'y WIS oiso"sseu anu
10 'o'''o 'h'' On account oi
"e"'s EXPENSES !" 'l""sPoi u
.'o,'' anu me ,tei''e,'uo"S ''eiu
~ o' ooSereu' 'ha' 'he amount
'"iseo' Si1oo' VIII ho' DC SUM-
e"' anu ''''' '''o'e must NC
"''e.'' ne 'eeu ior roru
.unNoo"' lof ''i's worN Is cry
,"s one lsh mere ! flch' pun
'''-Sp'ri'eu patron Oh ''is worthy
o' = 'o ~" l'e'e',' '"e 'o""
y "u'se w" ''''c''''e
us 'i'uSef "s"'h Sc. lot'n
.me PURPOSES VI ''e reuer"'eo
The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1917-11-07

An exchange speaks of "most
of the beef at the average mans
table" That's mistake. 1t
amt there.
The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1917-11-07

were most encouraging to the
work of Wise County, the see.
ond ON the State Federation
and its splendid progressivcness
III public health work, "The
eyes of the State are on Wise. y
said one letter, thereby putting
Il heavy responsibility on us
women, here assembled, to make
a success of this work.
DIR. kcistcr, the all,tilne
health officer for Wise County,
then gave Il report of the work
done from February till June,
after which time his appoint
ment on theexamining board pre-
vented his pursuing county
health work further.
Coeburn, Norton, Wise, Gla-
morgan and Big Stone Gap
schools we're Inspected, 1900
i" ,''''''o"N NV 'oo''eon
81 ''e''''''"''S appointed
s| - we i'''''S'oN Na,e' 'he
o s''''' WIS e"''e" 10
~ : Nelly county school SUI
per'h'ehueh'' i'll most interest
my 'uoress cave many helpful
suggestions as to The cooperation
Oh 'he federation III making the
schools better. Prof. Llvesay,
oi Ooeo"rh' gave 4 tax on the
hoh-a''ehdahce oil many children
OF Schoo' age ana the lnadeqnacy
VI ''e law on INC SUBJECT
Committee on resolutions then
presented the following: Re
solved "That inasmuch as our
present compulsory school law
rs Inadequate, we, the women of
the Woman's Federated Civic
Leagues Of Wise County, do
hereby petition tile State Legis-
lature to enact a more effective
law for the enforcement of at
tendance IN public schools"
This resolution was adopted.
Miss Randolph, president OF
OF An'i-Tuberculosls League OF
virginia, who came from Rich
mond to address the federation,
missed connection at Bluetield,
and driving through the country
III automobile, reached Coeburn
about : o'clock. Mrs. Il. 7.
Irvine gracefully introduced
Miss Randolph, who gave u most
interesting and Instructive adj
dress, and bespoke the co-opera-
tion OF the federation IN carry
ing on the campaign against hu.
mani'y,s greatest Zoe, "thc
The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1917-11-07

The Germans profess to re-
gard the American army as
negligible force" If they
will continue to act on that
theory after Pershing and his
Sammies get into action they
will greatly hasten the end.
The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1917-06-28
NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS.

NOIlCE ~ CONikACICRS.
Bids will be received at the regular
July meeting of the Council of the
City of Greenwood for the paving with
Asphaltic Concrete, and curbing and
guttering and grading of the following
Streets or portions thereof of the City
of Greenwood, to witt
Carrollton Avenue or street extend
ed from Howard Street to Fulton
Street; Fulton Street from Market
Street to Washington Street; Dewey
Street from Washington Street to
Henry Street; Henry Street from
Dewey to South Boulevard; South
Boulevard from Henry Street to Ala
bama Street.
Said paving, CURLING, Gutteringtand
grading to be done according to the
plans and specifications now on file in
the City Clerks office. Each bidder
shall file his proposal in manne and
form required by City Engineer, and
shall be filed by 8 o'clock P. M. July
the 3rd, 1917, with the City Clerk.
Each bidder must accompany his bid
with certified check for $4,000. So. go.
The Council reserves the right to
reject any and all bids.
Witness my. signature this the 25th
day of June, 1917.
S. H. MONTGOMERY
City Clerk
The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1917-06-28

A safe and effective weapon against
the typhoid or house fly has been
found in powdered hellebore by scien.
fists of the department of agriculture.
Flies lay their eggs chiefly in stable
azure Powdered hellebore mixed
with water and sprinkled over the
manure will destroy the larvae which
are Matched from the eggs. Since pow
dered hellebore is readily obtainable,
this puts in the hands of everyone a
remedy for one of the pests that has
been found dangerous as well as trou.
blesome. Powdered hellebore, how.
ever, will not kill adult flies which
must be swatted or trapped.
1t has long been known that flies
breed in manure but previous methods
of destroying the larvae there by the
use of strong chemicals have been
open to the objection that the treat.
ment under some conditions lessened
the fertilizing value of the manure or
actually injured vegetation. This is
not true of powdered hellebore. Gov.
| eminent experiments have shown that
the hellebore is entirely decompOsed
In the course of the fermentation of
| the manure and that ever in excessive
| quantities it does no harm except to
the larvae it is intended to destroy.
| Chickens picking in manure treated
| with it suffer no i'll effects.
One-half pound of powdered helle-
bore mixed with ten gallons Of water
Is sufficient to kill the larvae in eight
bushels, or ten cubic feet If manure.
The mixture should be sprinkled care
fully over the pile, especial attention
being paid to the outer edges. In most
places hellebore Is obtalnable in 100
pound lots at a cost Of II cents u
pound. This makes the cost of the
treatment a little less than seven.
tenths Of q cent per bushel Of manure.
A liberal estimate Of the output OF
manure Is two bushels a day per
horse. The money involved Is, there
fore, trifing In comparison with the
benefits to the individual and the com.
munity from the practical elimination
of the disense-spreading fly.
Although fresh manure Is the ia.
vorlte breeding spot, flies lay their
eggs in other places as well, such as
outhouses, refuse piles, etc. In these
places, from which no manure is taken
to spread on the fields, considerable
saving may be effected through the
substitution of .borax for powdered
hellebore. Applied at the rate of O.82
pounds per eight bushels of manure,
borax is as effective as powdered helle.,
bore In killing the larvae but costs
less than half a cent for each bushel
of manure treated. In larger guam.
titles, however. or when the manure
The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1917-06-28
HOW CITIES SPEND MONEY.

How American cities dispose of more than their
revenue has been a source OF fraqueE- comment
There are precious few people that operate within
their income. All require prodig. ous local i'm
provements, which cost money and demand bond
issues and their consequent repayment.
In an article, "Financies of Cities" the U. S.
Department OF Commerce puts it as follows:
In 149 of the 213 American cities OF more than
10000 population the excess of expenditures for
governmental costs, including interest and out
lays for permanent improvements over rev.
enues, during the year 1916, amounted to
S86,O13,326 or S3.6S rer capital In the
remaining Cd cities the excess OF
S1.4O per capita. TakinC the entire 213 cities
as a group, the excess Of expenditures over reve-
nues amounted to $73,5 9 .N7O, or 1928 PEI capita.
The net indebtedness of these cities averaged
1864 per capita-a tigul nearly eight zines as
great as the correspond : one for the national
government. Eighty-niEe cities, or nearly AZ
percent of the total numb n, are operating under
the commission from of government"
1t is perhaps unnecessary to add anything to
The above report. Nothing as effective could be
thereto. Our cities know how to spend
money.
Who pays?
The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1917-06-28
PLAN TO SAVE 10000 BUSHELS
OF SPUDS.

Atlanta, Ga, June 27-(By Union
Associated Press)-In several agricul-
ural communities of the South move
nants have been started to care for
sweet potatoes, so as to save them
rom decay during winter storage.
The Department of Agriculture esti-
mates that 10, 100000 bushels sweet
potatoes are lost annually through i'm
curing and storing. Il
The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1917-06-28

The board Of health Of Albany has
barred kissing on the mouth. espe-
cially of children. Candidates for
office will lose one strong argument
for votes with doting parents. but
the babies will lift up their voices
louder than ever in one long rejoicing
howl,
The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1917-06-28

It Is said that the wounded soldiers
In war hospitals are highly pleased to
have ~princesses and duchesses wait
upon them. But the plain nurse who
knows her business Is the one pre-
ferred when real work Is required.
The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1917-06-28
cats Blu. Eyes shin, ReoC,n Or.

Cats Blue Eyes shlns Red n DARN.
As showing how widely the perm~
nently blue eyer Of cats differ from
other eyes, It ts noted that imms.
diately the eyes Of white cats that are
to have permanently blue eyes open
they shine bright red in the dark, ane
neither the e%pher1eral kitten blue nos
any other colorad eyss do thiA
The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1917-06-28

Canned dogfish, sea mussels and
iack-rabbit sausage are new additions
to the American bill Of fare. But they
are not nearly as important as the SUBJ
fractions.
The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1917-06-28

There are always people to throw
a wet blanket On a fellows burning
ambitions.
The daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Leflore Co., Miss.) 1916-1919, 1917-06-28
"a "a ~ "a - pa -
COCKTAILS AND STEEL.

It is claimed that Canal Builder Goethals was
willing to pay $95 a ton for steel when Col. Den
man, chairman of the shipping board, placed ten
tative contracts for $50.
The difference is considerable. The Goathals
price undoubtedly was too high, and it is really
surprising that the canal-builder was in favor Of
paying this price.
The disturbance in Washington over the con-
~struction of merchant ships on the whole has made
a bad impression throughout the country. While
we are planning and investigating and accepting
and turning down contracts, time-precious time
is passing.
And time just now sides with the submarines.
"a IA "a "a IA n
Hoover figures that food gamblers have taken
$4,000 900 from US in the last five months and
plan to take more. Still Congress dawdles over
sQuekching them.
AAAAAAA
Chairman Denman, Of the shipping board, did
not have to shoot-as soon as he reached for his
gun the steel crowd promised to be good.