davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-28
S0LD|ERSOF SOUTH
 AT CHRISTMAS TREE
Daughters of Confederacy En- tertain Veterans Yesterday
 at Courthouse

Following their annual GUS tom; the Confederate Veterans of Birmingham were entertained with Christmas tree Monday afternoon at the courthouse by Pelham and Wilcox chapters, United Daughters of the Confederacy, assisted by the chapters of East Lake. Ensley, Woodlawn and William L. Yancey
 Two beautiful trees. elaborately dec orated and heavily laden with gifts. awaited the veterans. They assembled promptly, at ? o'clock.
 Mrs. J. A. Rountree. general chair man, presided. A brief programme was rendered. It opened with prayer by the Rev. O'Hara; vocal solo by Miss Vera Mae Brewer. accompanied by Miss Ll- lian Bates; entertainment by the Chil- dren of the Confederacy of East Lake, 10 little tots who under the direction of Miss Hattie Williams, president, sang Christmas carols, gave a dance of the fairies with little Frances Bohannan and Gladis Norris the fairies, and a vocal solo by little Miss Edith Ansley.
 There was real Santa Claus, who removed the gifts from the trees and passed them to the children for distri- button to the veterans.
 Greetings were extended by the pres idents of the several chapters-Mrs. IL. H. K. Jefferson of Pelham chapter; Mrs. Charles Donoho of Wilcox, Mrs T.. l.. Hobart of the William l.. Yancey, and on behalf of the Sons of Veterans by Judge Hugh A. Locke and Thomas Dozier.
 Coffee and waters were served throughout the afternoon by the ladies
 ,f federacy chapters.
 A rising vote of thanks was extended by the veterans, of whom there were about 75 present.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-28
County to Sell $6OO,OOO
 Road Improvement Bonds

At the meeting of the Jeffer- son county board of revenue this morning nt 10 o'clock bids on S65O.- 900 worth of county road improve mcnt bonds will be opened.
 They are semi-annuaI rond im- prov vement bonds, bearing interest at per cent, and will mature si5O.OOO, April I. 1927: $2o0.0OO April [, 1928; s2OO,0OO April [. 1929, and SIOO,OOO April 1. f03O. They will bear the date April |. 1920. purchaser to pay accrued in terest from thnt date to md in- ciuding the date of delivery of the bonds.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-28
DIR. MORGENSTERN TO DELIVER LECTURES AT
 TEMPLE EMANUEL

Dr. Julian Morgenstern, teacher of Bible and Semitic languages in the Hebrew Union college at Cincinnati, will deliver the first of series of four lec- lures on the Jacob Stories taken from the book of Genesis, tonight at s:15 o'clock at Temple Emanu-El.
 All four of the lectures will be deliv- cred at the Temple Emanu-El, the first one beginning at s:15 o'clock tonight, the second one tomorrow afternoon at 3:l5 O clock. and the third one tomorrow night at S:l5 o'clock, and the last one Thursday night at SIS o'clock.
 Rabbi Morgenstern. who is president Of the American Oriental society. is we'll known in Birmingham. and while he was attending school he was a pupil of Rabbi Morris Newfield. the present pastor of the Temple Emanu-Ei. He is also con sdered ohe of the best authorities on Sanskrit. chaldean and other ancient languages, and although an American by birth and education, he has travelled much in the orient.
 His visit to Birmingham is made as the result of a special request of the Council of Jewish Women and the Sis terhood and it is expected that many people will hear his addresses while in the city.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-28

and haste that marked some of the buying of the 1919 holidays. There was less display of money, but there was more of it finally spent and it was spent in a more normal and thought ful manner.
 "I have been particularly pleased with the wholesomeness of the men tai attitude of purchasers this year. rever handled a Christmas trade with as perfect satisfaction to myself and to customers. Selling and buying seemed to revolve on oiled hinges. l heard fewer persons talk about Christ mas being a bore and they wished someone else would do their buying for them. A marked thoughtfulness and membered was more manifest than last year.
 BEST YEAR
 Altogether, 1920 has been mighty good to the retail merchants of Bir mngham and to the people"
 Charles E. Thomas of Wimberly x Thomas, wholesale and retail hard ware, said:
 Tt has been Ia very good year with the hardware trade. There is much to be grateful for and nothing to com ahead right now, but We certainly have a pleasant record with which to come
 
 to 1921"
 Inquiry among some of the sellers os talking machines elicited the informa tion that this years business had been greater than that of last year Tho Christmas trade was not character ized by as many cash purchases of the higher priced machines, but the volume of trade was larger
 MORE PURCHASES
 There were more purchasers this year who seemed to have thought out their plans for Christmas and who bought just what they knew they could afford and on terms exactly suited to their pocketbooks.
 The marked characteristic of the Christmas trade of 1920 appears to havc been its wholesomeness Merchants agree that the consumer is again q normal person and has been much pleasanter to deal with. The consumer appears to have been better satisfied. with what he got and the price paid for the article.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-28
BEST CHRISTMAS TRADE M THIS CITY'S RECORD, SAY Y RETAIL MERCHANTS,
Less Extravagant Buying-More Money Spent-More Things Sold-Customers Selected Thoughtfully Volume of Business Exceeds Past Years.
 Dollar Bought More

Retail merchants agree that 1920 has holiday trade was especially whole some and gratifying.
 Felix Drennen of Drennen company said
 The year 1920 has witnessed a large turnover of goods than oc cured in 1919. That is remarkab ble considerin the unexampled record of 1919 and the year preceding.
 "More sales were made and more
 persons bought goods In 1920 than
 in 1919. There wHs not the same
 lavish display of money as in 1919.
 but it was there just the same and
 the people spent it. The feature
 of buying the past few months has
 been the carefuIness of the pur-
 chaser and the conservatism shown.
 When the same amount of business or more is done by a thoughtful pureh- ing public as by what seemed a more or less reckless one last year. one can not doubt the substantial soundness of the average Birmingham citizens con dition.
 PRICE INFLUENCE
 Undoubtedly prices had much to do with 1t. l should say, on a conserva- tive estimate, that the dollar of De- cember. 1920, has had the same pur- chasing power as s1,5O had at the same time in 1919. When the volume of business done this year goes over that of 1919 the larger amount of goods handled and the bigger turnover may be readily estimated.
 "None of us cnn tell just when
 the adjustment process is to be
 complete. The one certain thing
 we of Birmingham know is that
 no city in the country iS better
 off than we are. In fact, I am
 almost inclined to believe that we
 arc absolutely the best oG."
 Reid Lawson. jeweler, is among those who realized larger business done this year than last, and a larger Christmas trade in particular. He said
 More articles in the jewelry line were purchased this year than last. Not quite so many of the very expen- sive articles were purchased, but many more of the less expensive were pur- chased and made the aggregate larger.
 There was less of the hurly- burly
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-28
FLOWING O|L WELL
 ON bLACH'S RANCH
Birmingham Firms Texas Acreage Delivers Spasmodic
 Gusher-Property Leased

Oil has been struck on the S,6SO-acrc raEch in Shackelfod county, Tex, be- longing to the Birmingham firm, J. Blach & Son according to a message received yesterday afternoon from Hud- mon Hopson. formerly of Birmingham, now of Dallas, Tex. by his brother, G. w. Hopson, Jr., of this city.
 This will be of especial interest to Bir- mii;gham people, says MT. Hopson. be- cause the Walker Consolidated Petro' leum company, with approximately 1,5Oo Birmingham stockholders, has large holdings adjoining the property on which the o,l well has just come in
 The well was drilled by the Texhouma Oil Refining company. It's appearance in this field looks encouraging to the holders of stock in the Walker Consoli- dated company
 The Texhouma company has been drilling the we'll since April. 1919. The test struck oil sand at 40@ feet. There was 2,5o0 feet of water and caving in the hole through which it is estimated there are S,oo0, 900 cubic feet of wet gas flowing. This wet gas is making the oil flow in heads.
 By the above expression, according to MT. G. w. Hopson, people familiar with the business mean that the gas blows the oil out in spurts which are recurrent every few minutes
 The oil in the well is of high gravity grade.
 Members of the firm of J. Bach X Son. on whose property the oil was found by the Texhouma company, are: Max Blach Coleman Blach and sam Blach The oil rights of the land are leased by the Texhouma company.
 Hudmon Hopson moved to Dallas. Tex. about a year ago to oversee the oil in terests of himself and his brother. while e. w. Hopson looks after the wholesale grocery business here, which was left to the two men by their father. and which has been successful house for many ears in Rirrnin phan
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-28
DIR. A. P. SMITH IN
 CRITICAL CONDITION

The condition of Dr. A. P. Smith or Eutaw who was operated on last week at St Vincents hospital, was somewhat critical last night, according to attend ing physicians. While operating on patient at Eutaw several days ago, pr. Smiths hand became infected through a slight cut. Blood poisoning set in ana he was brought to Birmingham for treatment. His condition grew worse and it became necessary to remove. ms right arm.
 pr Smith is 70 years of age, and one of the most widely known physicians or the black belt. He was member of the last legislature and though. he served 4 years as probate judge of Greene county he kept up his practice througout the en- tire period
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-28
BROWN REITERATES FORMER STATEMENT
 ON UTILITY COSTS
Hearings Continue Today Be- fore Public Service Commits sion In Montgomery-ln-
 voIve Car Fare, Water

Reiterating the statement he recently made that the city did oppose the proposed raise to z cents in street car fares in Birmingham, notwithstanding the statement given out by B. H. Cooper of the Alabama Public Service commission, J Ellis Brown, commissioner ot public utilities, yesterday said
 "I was out of the city three days during Christmas. On my re- turn Sunday night I noticed Mir. Cooper's statement in regard to the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company rate case. The statement I made last week after the hearing which MT. Cooper criticized. was correct. It clearly set forth the position the city took in the matter. We endeavored to work out the coke oven gas mat ter advantageously to the people. This was done and result we are getting gas at SS cents, when most other cities are paying about three times that much.
 ssWe are also honestly and in . busineSslike way endcavoriBg to negotiate a contract with the wa- ter company, which, after the property Is taken over, will insure proper rates to the public.
 "These things were done and the Birmingham Railway Light and Power company matters are being handled without any politics being pIayed,' as Mir. Cooper in- sinunted,
 "I am perfectly willing for Bir- mingham people to judge who has the interest of the people of this city more at heart, myself. MT. Cooper of the Alabama Public Ser vice commission,
 Commissioner Brown and Judg' Horace c. Wilkinson and l. W. Ross special engineer for the city, will at tend the hearing on the waterwork! case and the continuation of the hear ing of the petition of the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company before the public service commission in Montgomery this morning.
 Application for 30 per cent raise il rates by the Birmingham Waterwork company, it is expected, will take u most of the day
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-28
 SLOW PAYMENT OF
 DOG LICENSES

Dog licenses become delinquent after December s1. and all who have not purchased tags for their pets will be forced to pay penalty. Time for the payment of this license was extended by the state licenses department on October l. and since that time few tags have been issued, according to officials in the office of William J.. waldrop, clerk of the circuit court.
 In addition to paying the penalty owners of dogs are subject to arrest for violating this law and the animals are liable to be killed by the officers on sight.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-28

Proceeds from tbe sale of th' bonds, if sold at this time. will hc used to complete all road contracts in the county now under con structiOn, including the completion oc number of projects being con structed by federal aid.
 certified check for SEQ, ,ll9 drawn on n bank doing business Ia Jefferson county must ncrOmpnU each bid and must he made pnyabIs uncOnditionalIy to the board Of rcNc- nue of Jefferson county. the proceeds 10 he retained by the county as liuuidnted damage in thc event thc purchaser falls to pay for any bonds awarded him. Cheeks Of bidders to whom no award is mntie by the board will he returned.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-28
WARRIOR FLEET IS STEADILY GROWING Two New ToWboats Accepted. Steamers Busy Plying
 River

The towboats Demopolis and Mont eomerv. which have made successful trial trips and been accepted by the Warrior river, management, left the yards of the Howard Shipyard and Dock company at Jeffersonville. Ind. yesterday and are headed southward down the Mississippi river to their destination on the Warrior.
 They complete the new towboat fleet. The Cordova, the first one to be re- ceived, is now steaming up the war rior from Mobile with four barges Of manganese ore from Brazil for the. steel works of the Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company at Fairfield ana Ensley. The cargo will be trans ferred to freight cars at Port of Bir- mingham
 Owing to the filling of the river with ice at St. Louis the self-propeller Tus- caloosa, which was to have had her trial trip yesterday, did not do so, The try-out and acceptance by the War rior river management have been post. poned until conditions of the river per mts.
 It was hoped to have the Tuscaloosa headed south today but the weather decided that she must De lS2l Bill'
 There being no ice on the Warrior and no interference with navigation on that stream at any time. the fol- lowing movements of vessels are re- ported:
 Steamer Darling left Mobile this morning with two barges of ore and one empty for Port of Birmingham.
 Self propeller Birmingham left Mo bile this morning with general mer- chandise cargo for merchants in Tus- caloosa, Birmingham. Gadsden and Att lanta. Transfer of cargo to freight cars will be made at Port of Cordova owing to the pressure of work at Por, of Birmingham handling ore.
 Steamer Clio, with four barges of coal, left Cordova this morning for Mo- bile.
 The steamer Volcano Is by Tusca- : loosa with two barges of orc and two empties for Port of Birmingham.
 self-propelling barge Jackson with 120 tons of arc arrived at Port Of Birmingham Christmas night and is unloading there. going thence to Cor dove for coal for New Orleans.
 Self f-propollinE barge tois Is out of Donopoi.s with 800 tons of ore for Por. of Birmingham.
 steamer NuEent. that was icaso1 from the engineering department. has bean returned 10 that department At Tusonlnoaa
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-28
kIWANIANS INSTALL
 OFFICERS TODAY

Officers of the Kiwanis club for the year 1921 will be installed a the meet ing to be held today at 1 o'clock at the Southern club.
 A special programme has been ar ranged. J. Mercer Barnett, interna- . tional president of the Kiwanis, will conduct the ceremony of bestowing the presidents button on the incoming president. W. J. Adams. and the past presidents button on Rev. Middleton s. Barnwell. who is retiring from of flee.
 Those who will be installed are: w. J. Adams, president: Joseph H. Love- man, first vice president; Eugene Ire land, treasurer; c. N. Wiley. secretary: A. J. Arrant, trustee. and the board of directors composed of: D. H. Brown, w. A. Currie, J. L. Davidson, Erskine Ramsay aand w A. Steadman.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-28
HIGHWAY MEETING

Members of the board of directors of the Bankhead National Highway as sociation will meet in Birmingham January to arrange for the fifth annual meeting of the association. Dennehan Cameron, president. has called thu l. eting.
 J. A. Rountree. tho secretary. will make . report on the work accom- plished during the last ciEht months. The board will pass on his report of tho transcontincntal convoy which re- e ntly traversed the highway
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-28
Marriage Licenses

The following marriage licenses were issued yesterday at the office of the probate judge:
 John W. Jones and Miss Matte Lee Cockrell.
 Newton H. Morris and Miss Dorothy Alice Crockett.
 Joe NJ. terrell and Miss Ella E. Dooley. C. H. Miles and Miss Matte Posey Jesse B. Jones and Miss .;u5y Bearden. Isaac Sims and Mss Laurina Howard Wiley L. Wade and Miss Nellie Measher.
 Joseph N Pharo and Miss Rosa Mes- shid.
 John E. Pratt and M:sx Eoacba.d ifi.l c. J. Lambert aud Miss Annie straet. Charlie Smith and Miss f.yda Nichols Henry Keiso an .fiss Ala Harris. Paul B. Rodgers and Mes Florence Lucille Wade.
 Samuel D. Collins and Mrs Willie Lns J. 8. Radciiff and Mrs. Julia Y. Cole. man.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-28
COLD WAVE HERE

When the sun rises this morn ing the mercury will be hanging around between the fifteenth and the twentieth degree mark.
 This wns the announcement made yesterday afternoon by Weather Observer Horton, who said that the cold spell would come gradually and would probably last for several days.
 Yesterday morning the mercury registered about 40 degrees. By noon yesterday 1t hnd dropped z degrees. By dark last night it was registering just about de- Erees above freezing and by sun rise this morning, the weather man states, the mercury will be many degrees below the freezing point.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-28
EVENTS OF TODAY
 IN BIRMINGHAM
ss4,44s.

Kiuanis luncheon at I o'clock at the Southern club.
 ADJUSTMENTS Jefferson--A1cxander s"rhe Man Who knows.,
 Lyric--Keith vaudeville and pictures. Loew's Bijou-vaudevilie and pic tures.
 AIcaxar-I.ew Cody, in "OccasionalIy Yours.o
 Trianon--Norma Taimadge, In NShe Loves and Lies.o Strand-Fatty Arbuekle. in "The Life of the Party.
 GaIax--Dorothy Gish, in sLfttle Miss Rebellion"
 RiaIto---TOm Mix, fin "Prsirie Traiis.e PxincesS-AWhfrlwind Odeon-svanishing Daggers" Miles School of Dnncing-Daneins from Q to IF.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-28
Co-Operative Coal Buying By Associated Press

Boston, December 27.-Thousa nds of persons in Massachusetts are buying coal on a cooperative basis. and many are making purchases for their employees. State Fuel Administra- tor Huffman announced today. He said also that because of a market short age. 500 residents of the town of Es- sex had been obliged to pay a price of 600 and S24 A ton.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-28
MASONIC FUNERAL NOTICE

sernal Lodge No. 3S4. A. F. q A. M- are requested to meet at the Masonic temple today at 2;3O p. m. to attend the funeral of BrO. James K. Polk of Dortc Lodge No. 4O6. Services at Johns' chapel ?. Interment Eimwood eemrtery. All Masona fraternally in- vited. M. RINGELbEAGs w. n.
 W. W. RANs0M. secretary.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-28
s12,OOO FOR REPAIRS

Permit for repairs costing si2.ooo to be made on the plant of the Armour company. 23oe First avenue. was issued by the city building de- partment yesterday.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-28
ACCUSED MINERS
 PLEAD GUILTY ID : CONTEMPT CHARGE
Federal Court Passes Sentence to March 7-lntimidating Workers of Pratt Company
 Was Base of Trial

Pleas of guilty for alleged violation of an injunction issued by the federal court several weeks ago restraining members of the United Mine Workers of America from interfering with employees of the Pratt Consolidated Coal company at Gamble were made yesterday by five miners cited to appear before Judge Will liam I. Gru5b of the United States court.
 The men are Jack Bradford, Curtis Henderson, Ellis Henderson, Leonard W. Pearce and Walter Benson.
 Sentence was passed until March [ by Judge Grubb. who told the men that if they observed the restraining order and advised others to do likewise, he would probably give them nominal fine, but if they again violated the order or advised anyone else to do so they would prob ably be given a heavy fine with an ad- dtional sentence.
 PROCEEDINGS START
 The contempt proceedings were taken up yesterday morning at 10 o'clock. The entire morning session was spent in or ganizing the jury and hearing argument on demurrer to the petition filed few weeks ago, asking that the court order the contempt proceedings agans. the defendants.
 Capt Frank S. White, Jr., Judge K. c. Grove of Birmingham and W. c. Davis of Jasper, attorneys for the defendants, made the demurrer. The petition asking for the contempt order, it was claimed. was not specific as to acts committed by the defendants. The demurrer was sustained by Judge Grubb, but the court allowed the attorneys for the Pratt Gen. solidated Coal company and the govern ment to amend the petition remedying the defect.
 Following this, counsel agreed that the five defendants should be tried together without individual hearing for each one of them.
 JURY ORGANIZED
 Much time was consumed with the or ganization Of the jury, as all members of the mine workers association, those III any way interested in the Pratt Consoli- dated Coal company and relatives of the defendants, were barred from sitting on the jury under the law.
 At the completion of the organization
 
 and again resumed it's session at o'clock There was some delay in get ting into the case, and when it was finally called, the defendants entered pleas of guilty.
 The injunction which the defendants are alleged to have violated was issued several months ago in the federal cours on petition If the Pratt company. The petition, asking that these men be cited to appear before Judge Grubb and show cause, if any there be- why they should not be adjudged in contempt of court, charged that the men violated the original restraining order in that they had repeatedly gathered at the railway station at Gamble mines for the pur- pose of ntimidating or coercing persons who were getting off the trains to enter the service o< the petitioner in the op- eration of of it's coal mine there.
 The Pratt Consolidated Coal company was represented by John H. Bankhead, Jr, of Jasper, R. B. Watts and Griffin Lampkin of Birmingham. The govern- ment was represented by Erie Pettrs' United States attorney, and Ralph Quinn, assistant United States attorney.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-12-28
NO FIRE DAMAGE

MT Witt of the Reliable JobbinS house, 2lg3 First avenue. says the dam age in his store early Sunday morning was done by water and smoke; that there was no fire in his building.
The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-09-02
NEW YORK's BIRTH
RATE IS GOING UP

New York, Sept. 2.-Despite the
high cost of living, shortage of hous-
ing and the scarcity of domestic SER
wants, the actual birth rate in New
York city is going up at rapid
rate, according to health authorities
statistics issued here.
The figures show that the birth
rate per thousand for the first seven
months of 1920 was 22.34, against
the rate of 21.90 in the same period
last year.
While the birth rate is on the in
crease, the health departments sta
tistics show, that the death rate OF
children in the city is on the decline
The rate of infant mortality for the
past year on each 1000 birts was 80
while the preceding years much
higher figure is on the records.
The decline in death rate Is attri
buted by the authorities to the laws
of sanitation and healthful living
which are now better understood by
the mass of the people.