davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-02-17
Illiteracy in the Army
,mas r. Logan, in Leslie's.

IHCmdS r. Logan, Tn Leslie S.
 The war revealed an extent of Hitter acy in America almost unbelievable. Sec retary of the Interior Lane points out that there are 100000 men of draft age in the United States who cannot read or write in English or in any other 1an- guage. There are 5,5OO,0O0 persons over 10 years of age who cannot read or write in any language. The regular army nev- CT enlisted illiterates, but the draft act brought into the army approximately 35,000 illiterates and as many more who were almost illiterate. These soldiers could not sign their names. They could not read the manual of arms. They could not read their letters or write home They could not read their daily orders posted on bulletin boards in camp. They could not understand signals in time of battle. The economic loss through Hitter acy is estimated at $S25, 1000 a year, on the conservative assumption that the productive labor value of an illiterate is less by only soc day than that of an educated person. Ten per cent of our country folk cannot read or write a word. In view of these facts, Secretary Lane urges an appropriation for a sys- tematic campaign to eradicate adult il- literacy.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-02-17
The Democratic Spirit

John Barrett, in World Outlook.
 In some respects the war is blessing in that it has shown to the people of Latin America that the people of the United States are not exclusively com mercial, material and money-loving! They are now grasping the fact that the great republic of the north has as pirations and devotion to such aspira- tions which were not believed possible prior to this world struggle The mes- sages to Congress and the addresses of President Wilson. who speaks for the people of the United States, have shown to them a new phase of mental attitude in their northern neighbor which they hardly believed possible before the war.
 Throughout all Latin America there is growing a new spirit of apprecia- tion of the United States and it's peo- pie. It is no longer looked upon as the Yankee colossus of the north ,'' intending to extend it's dominion over the whole western hemisphere. It is no longer commonly described as a
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-02-17
Phenomenal Sugar Season in
 Louisiana of Wide Interest

naissance of the sugar industry of Louisiana. It is reasonable to estimate that real estate transfers in the sugar district of sugar producing properties in the last month approximated more than s1 00O, GOO, and in every instance the sale indicated was for greater de- velopment.
 During the campaign events have been transpiring which emphasized the fact that Louisiana, although one of the smallest sugar producing countries, is still Sugar Schoolhouse of the World" At Longview factory, in the old French parish of St. James, throughout the season experiments have been conducted with the new Williamson defecator, a machine which takes care of the cane juice as it leaves the pans beneath the rollers, and by means of steam and air pressure ex- tracts from the juice the impurities contained in the juice. It has been pro- nounced a success by many, and if so, it will bring about a great economy in the manufacture of both cane and beet sugar. It will do away with a number of tanks, pumps and other ma chinery now used in the clarification of raw juicse. By the Williamson ap- paratus it will be possible to quickly clarify the juice by using only one piece of machinery. The machine can be used for defacating all high and low grade liquors as well as cane juice.
 Aonther movement along educational lines from a sugar standpoint is the activity of the Louisiana section of the American Chemical society to produce an American polariscope to supersede the French and German polarlScopes formerly in use. and To be better than them. Dr. c. E. Coates, dean of the Audobon Sugar school of the Louisiana State university, which is the mecca of sugar students from every country on the globe, is the prime mover
 this movement The plant of the Refining Products company, near Houma, in the Terre- bonne gas fields of south Louisiana. IS almost completed. When finished this plant will manufacture carbon to be used in clarifying syrup and refining sugar under a process patented by k. A. Demme. This new carbon will take the place of bone-black. Tn ecost or refining under the Demme plan Will be reduced to 25 or 30 cents per hun dred pounds. The Demme process was proven successful in Cuba.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-02-17
Many Substantial Euidences or
 Construction Actiuity Hereabouts
Industrial Journals Report Building Building Throughout Sou-MOtor Truck Mileage Increasing of
 Cheaply Built Roads Numbered Prosperity On the Farm

three or four years will seem phenome- nal
 Industrial journals report considerable activity in the building trades Contracts for the erection of houses are being let in towns and cities and plans are being made for building rush in the spring and summer. If the price of material and the price of labor drop even in small degree. which many real estate agents and prospective investors think likely, nothing can hold back a healthy building boom.
 The demand for houses hereabouts was never so great as it is today. and only good start is needed to put the building movement in full swing.
 As the whole world needs rehabili- tation manufacturers of all products entering into construction will be kept busy, the industrial revival once under way The business outlook for the near future is bright indeed
 Prosperity abounded in the agricui- tural south last year and there is promise of abundant crops and satis-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-02-17
COLUMBUS, MISS.

Columbus, Miss, February 16.-(Special) County farm demonstration agents in East Mississippi will hold their annual meeting in this city February 1921. Eff teen counties will be represented, and 1 in addition to the agents in these coun- ties several noted agronomists from vari- ous points in this and other states will be in attendance and will deliver ad- dresses. The meetings will be held in the courthouse, and P. l.. Wells, demon stration agent for Lowndes county, has, issued an invitation to local farmers to attend these meetings, where they will hear matters in which they are deeply interested discussed by experts.
 According to an order issued sometime ago by the local municipal authorities a special election will be held here Mon- day to fill existing vacancies on the city council and board of public school
 trustees; but the latter office cannot at
 that time be filled, there is no can
 didate. Both vacancies resulted from the recent death of Hon. B. A. Weaver,
 who for more than two decades had rep resented the First ward on the municipal council. G. I. Banks resigned from the school board to seek the vacancy on the council, and while T. A. McGahey an
 nounced for school trustee he later with drew. leaving the field open. Under the
 provisions of the city charter the council
 has the power to appoint a trustee to
 fill the vacancy, and will probably find 1t necessary to resort to this course. Rev. A. H. McGregor of Randolph, Miss, has accepted call to the pull pit of the Second Baptist church in this city, and will at once enter upon the discharge of his new duties.
 The local drive for funds to relieve the sufferings of poverty-stricken Armenians and Syrians will be inaugurated Tues
 day morning, and Hon. John F. Frierson,
 chairman for Lowndes county, has ap- pointed strong committees to assist him in the work. Every small town and every rural community has it's own com
 mittee and the county will be thoroughly canvassed. Lowndes county's quota has been fixed at $25C0 and MT. Frierson eX- poets to make every possible effort to raise that amount.
 Citizens of Lowndes county who are l interested in the improvement of pub lie roads are very much disappointed at the recent action of the board of super visors in refusing to provide for a change in the route of the Pickensville pike,
 which was necessary in order to secure
 I
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-02-17

The 191S-19 sugar season in Louisl- ana, the strangest in the history Of sugar manufacture in this state. is dragging its weary way to a close, which at the latest should be around the mid dle of February, according to New Orleans special t othe Manufacturers Record. This means that the last house in Louisiana will stop grinding about a month and half later than was ever the case before. The season now ending so protractedly is easily the most paradoxical that sugar men have ever seen. Despite persistent rains, in nuenza epidemics, freezes and unusu- ally high temperatures at other tlmes' the crop financially will be one of the best that we have had in long perlod of years. Conditions now indicate that the total output of sugar in Louisiana this year will run between 2'5,oOo anc zso, 900 tons. Overproduction of mo- lasses stimulated by government re- uuest and government assurance Of dls- tribution aid has resulted in molasses market stagnation. High grade sec end molasses is only bringing from $ to cents a gallon, and first open tram stuff has sold for 3O cenlS
 The seaboard refineries are now op- erating on tropical sugars and local sugars and competing with the planta- tion products through their vastly su- perior distributing facilities.
 The mobilization of the army has turned back abundant labor into the sugar district, and there is no com plaint about labor now. The planters seem to have all the laborers they need The use of tractors in the Louisiana sugar and rice belt promises to be gen. eral next year.
 Transfers of sugar real estate are numerous. The principal sales report ed recently are the big modern Oak lawn factory near Franklin, in St. Mary, a parish which can now boast If having practically not an idle acre within its boundaries, and the sale of the Pecan factory near Plaquemine, fin Iberville parish. These transactions represented alone close to $oO0,0o0, ana besides there were at least five other large transfers of sugar properties around Plaquem1ne. Some of the sales were to middle western farmers, who had come down to take part ln the re-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-02-17
Industrial Progress

Troy, February 16.-(SpeciaL)-Tr is planning for a canning factory and probably a pickle factory. The Retail Merchants association has sent T. J. Wood to Dothan and points in Georgia to investigate canning plants, espec- tally as to canning sweet potatoes. It the investigations are satisfactory, capital is ready to erect such plant in Troy. A pickle factory is also under advisement.
 The association, in order to stabilize the price of hogs here and guarantee the hog raisers immunity from unscru- pulous buyers, authorized F. c. Bas- sett to keep posted on the price of hogs in this section and buy for the association such as were offered for sale when the market here was below that of other towns in this section. Preparations have been made to take care of 1000 hogs to be bought for the association, if necessary.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-02-17

factory prices again this year. Winter wheat is in excellent condition and every progressive farmer in Alabama will strive to produce record crops or feedstuff for the harvest of 1919.
 The wealth of the state has been vastly increased by live stock husodn- dry. There has been an immense in- crease in hog breeding and steady increase in the breeding of high-grade cattle. Alabama is coming to be known as an important beet state. No state in the union raises finer beef than Alabama, while in the breeding of dairy cattle marked progress is being made. Agriculture is now on busi- ness basis and is attracting more and more the attention of the large inter ests of financial and commercial cen- ters. Bankers and merchants are CO., operating with the farmers as never before. The prosperity of the tiller of the soil means the prosperity of all branches of commerce and this fact was never so fully realized as it .s today.
 All in all. with favorable weather for farming, the hum of industry will be heard and accentuated in every part of the south
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-02-17

country of overwhelmingly selfish am- bitions which would disregard the sovereignty and integrity of it's sister American republics
 There are speeches made, editorials printed and books written throughout Latin America that are severely critical of the United States. There are cor responding expressions of opinion in the United States that are severely critical of Latin America. On the other hand, when we average up the sentiments of the best men of both the United States and Latin America and the opinions of the great majority of the real con trolling statesmen of both North and South America, we find that there is little difference in their common pur- poses ideals and aspirations.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-02-17
Roads Planned by
 Mississippi Counties

A Jackson, Miss, correspondent, in a speciol to the Manufacturers Record, says:
 Tate county plans to issue $150,oo0 in bonds for the building of 60 miles or gravel roads, while Franklin county mas completed plans for the issuance or s1OO GOO in bonds for a road from Mead vile, the county seat, to the Adams coun- ty line.
 These are the most important recent de-
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-02-17

velopments in Mssissippi's revivified good roads programme. Adams county will improve a highway to the line where the Franklin road touches.
 Jefferson county, adjoining Adams, re- gently voted bonds for the building or roads, and a highway from ,Natchez to Winnsboro has been surveyed. NatcheZ is already on the Prentiss highway. lead- ing from Natchez to Mobile, through Wilkinson county.
 Tate plans to build it's link of the Jeff ferson Davis highway, and to complete a Emile stretch of the Memphis-New Orleans highway. State Highway En- gineer Xavier A. Kramer has promised Tate s25, 900 from the federal highway fund if she votes the $15O,000.
 Tate has abundant gravel deposits along the line of the proposed highways, and cost of construction will be unusually low, Engineer Kramer says.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-02-17

If q note of pessimism is heard Tn certain circles regarding the reconstruc- tion period, there are many encouraging signs of industrial revival. In the south evidences of activity in many directions multiply.
 In most of the southern states coun- ties are voting bond issues for good road building and it is reasonable predic- ton that the year 1919 will witness the greatest era of highway construction in the history of this section. Motor trucH haulage is steadily increasing and every motor truck route established is a sure in- dication that better roads are well in sight Not only will the mileage of new roads be greatly extended but every mile wilIa be an improvement over the old method of cheap construction The days of cheap road building are numbered. Only the best class of construction pays in the end.
 Although highway development mas given the south fairly good system ol roads compared with 10 years ago, the strides that will be made within the next
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-02-17

issue bonds for permanent paving amount ing to s150OOo as the city's proportion Of street paving with permanent materials aggregating s45O,oO0, it being understood that the other two-thirds will be as- sessed against property owners.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-02-17

The tree cotton of West Africa 's ahout to be introduced to the warmer sections of Australia in the effort to n,.ce that island empire in the list of cotton producing countries. rms tre' cotton grows to a height of l2 feet or more and is often at its best when seven or eight years old. The great ad- vantage of not having to replant every season is a big item in the industry The tree cotton is said to have lint of fine quality and average length ana can be used to advantage in almost any cotton manufactures. Some effort has been made to experiment with tree cotton in the Imperial valley and Art zona, but so far as known the results are not yet determined.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-02-17

federal funds for the improvement or that thoroughfare, and pressure will De brought upon the county solons to lii- duce them to rescind their action Tn the matter Had the petition praying TOT the proposed change been granted req eral funds in the sum of $5OO Woulo have been available for the improve ment of the road, and Hon. T. J. Locke president of the Lowndes county hlgh- way commission, is very anxious 10 get this money, as his efforts in that dlrec- tiop have extended over long perloo and he not only hates to see the county lose the money, but dislikes to see the time which he has devoted to the proJect thrown away.
 Mrs. Anne Wood, wife of J. G. Woou' who is constable in the Third dlstrlct, and who is now a candidate for sherHl of Lowndes county, died at her nome few miles east of this city yesterday, her death having resulted from heart trou- ble. She is survived by her husband, son. J. G. Wood, and six daughters Mrs' IT A McGahey, Mrs. Wilda Cox, Mrs. Juanita. Whitten, Mrs. Anne Bradiey' Mrs Zula Beard and Miss Vera Wood. The body was taken to -Tabernafie ceme- tery. about 12 miles northeast Of Coium- bus funeral services having been neio there today and having been conducteo bv Rev J. H. Newton.
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-03

ing OF oxygen to tho tissues and to keep
up the nutrition and efficiency Of the heart.
The increase Of the pulse rate and Of blood
pressure Is due to stimulation OF the vase
motor centre in the brain by acid-eXccss in
the blood--cn effect similar to the stimula-
tion Of the respiratory centre.
Now, OF course. the value OF altitude in
the treatment Of tuberculosis has been long
established, and because of the purity and
dryness of mountain air In such places as
Saranac in America and Davos in Europe
we get a stimulating effect upon the APP
petite and nutrition. But It would seem
mat the point made by DR.. Charles T..
QuimOy about twenty years ago must also
be taken into consideration along with the
lhysical effects noted by the observers OF
the air service, in estimating the value Of
attitude In the therapy Of tuberculosis and
that point Is that when air Is rareied, as
by altitude, pulmonary hyperema or in
crease OF the amount OF blood in the lungs,
ensues
This hyperemia would necessarily con-
tribute to the processes of repair and
to phagocytlc activity. by which Is meant
the destruction Of bacteria by the white
cells of the blood Webb and Williams
have found an increase in the white cells
as on effect OF high altitude and Bartel,
Dcrgel. Marie and Fliessinger have seen IN
this phenomenon a defensive demonstra-
ton whenever 1t occurs In the course OF
tuberculosis.
Why go to Colorado or Davos II the
same altitude can be attained over New
York or Chicago?
There can be no quibbling over the value
OF altitude IN the treatment Of tuberculosis
we know very well where most OF tho
modern sanatoria are located. We know
That cold Is not felt acutely at high alti-
tides owing TO the fact that a rarefied at.
mosphere facilitates the passage OF heat
rays; we know that the mobility and OK.
FEASIBILITY OF the thorax increase; and we
Know that in addition to an enhancement
OF the hemoglobin content of the blood
there Is reinforcement of the phagocytes
Won Muralt has argued that residence at
high attitudes favors proliferation OF pull.
monary connective tissue, 1.-The true repara-
i've process in phthisis.' In the words OF
flshberg. The latter expert states that a
p.eural enus!on showing no tendency TO
absorption will occasionally disappear
AFTER stay in the mountains, and he ia
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-03

increased ventilation IS
to obviate the partial
pressure OF the oxygen
In the blood and lungs
(partial because dimin.
ished). Thus the in,
creased acidity is seen
TO be another regula.
tory device by which.
when imperatlvely de-
manded by oxygen
starvation, nature slim.
ulates the respiratory
centre to increased
activity.
The improvement IN
the circulation OF the
blood is shown by an
increase of the pulse
rate and OF blood pres
sure. This Is evidently
an adjustment intended
to facilitate the carry.
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-03

not inclined to over-estimate the good eff
fects OF high altitude.
Turban thinks that pulmonary hemor-
image is less frequent at high attitudes
than at the level OF the sea, while Fish
berg has noted that some patients, dis
posed TO bleed In the city. lose their ten
dency to this accident in the mountains.
Theoretically. increased blood pressure
end pulmonary hyperemia ought TO favor
hemorrhage, but the facts controvert this
idea. Fish erg has been unsuccessful in
trying to detect a rise OF pressure be-
for the onset OF bleeding. Many who
bleed profusely have n very low blood
pressure. Abnormally low blood pres
sure Is the rulo In tuberculosis.
The subjects OF tuberculosis might
be trained TO constitute the personnel
OF our proposed aerial mail service,
to make meteorological observations,
and to plot coast lines, river courses,
etc. In other words, useful and re-
munerative service might be con.
Copyright. 1919. by Star Company
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-03

Diagram Showing the Great
ly Increased Diiatation of tho
Heart Caused by the Def
cheney of Oxygen at High
Attitudes. The Solid Line
Shows the Hearts Percussion
Outline at Sea Level; the
Broken Line, the Outline at
an Elevation Of $4,000 Feet.
he Dilatation of the Heart
Raises the Blood Pressure
Which in Tubsrculo,is |,
Always Abnormally Low.
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-03

Joined with therapeutic flying and balloon
work. The problem Of healthful employ.
ment for the tuberculous, always difficult
one. could perhaps be partially solved In
this manner
The Medical Research Board OF tina
United States Army might very we'll turn
Its attention now 70 this phase OF expert.
mental therapy. Tuberculous medical Off.
GERS and soldiers and sailors similarly at.
f!cted should make up the first crews.
They would be far happier in the air than
cooped up in some government sanatorium
and would be more likely to get we'll.
Turning from the subject OF controlled
altitude therapy in tuberculosis, let US
consider the possibilities with respect to
pcrnicious and other grave anemias. Our
clinical resources, including TRANSMISSION,
are by no means successful in these de-
Plorable states. 1t seems to the writer
that great hope looms up In the light Of
the reports from the Research Laboratory
at M!neoa ARMY Air Seryice), for the
workers there have noted hemoglobin In.
crcases Of from four to nine per cent IN
riany OF the men even after short flights.
May 1t not be that in gradual acclimati.
cation OF our perniciously anemic patients
TO nigh attitudes, maintained for consider.
able periods OF time, we shall find the
blood making stimulus 80 far undiscovered
by our internists? For such work the bal.
loon would probably serve a better practi.
cal purpose than the aeroplane.
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-03

now rgble Will Look When Fitted Out Aerial FIop;
.ai' with Sun Parior Sleeping Quarters Dining Halls and
Decks for the Patients Huge
Bag and Reached by Starways Elevators from H.
fas OF the Craft Large Cables the Earth
VIII Hold 1t Captive at Amy Altitude Desired
Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-08-03

THE successful round trip Of the British dirigtbe
across the Atlantic interest posi-
bity of using huge arships hospitals for
nent Of tuberculosis. anemia and other diseases.
An officer of the Royal Army Medical Corps writing in
recent Issue OF the British Medical Journal
airshtp floating height 5000 more where
the atmosphere is entirely free germs
sanariun for kinds of invads.
to begin at working the practical necessary
for the establishment of spas"
On this Or. Arthur c. Jacobson, the wellknown
physician and writer explains how patients be
benefited by the high attitudes which
ried in floating air hospital