davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-08-14

Improvements being made at Cahaba station. will total when completed $350.O00, and the extensions in mains and other developments throughout the city will cost another $S50.00o,, making the total cost of improve ments already made, under way or authorized reach the total of $7o0.o0o-
 One of the features of the develop rrent Is the automatic coal handling system. From the time the coal is dug at the mine one mile from the plant untilsit is burned and the ashes dumped into the large ash hoppers. the coal is not touched or handled by hand. s The two DeLaval steam turbines consisting of thsee centrifugal drive pumps each have capacity of 10,- 0oO, 900 gallons. They pump the water from the suction well on a leyel<w with the river to the reservoir some dis tance away, making lift of 45S feet.
 The company is laying 1000 feet of large cast iron pipe and 1.5oo feet of smaller pipe each week. and has all ready authorized for immediate lay
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-08-14
MURRAY BROWN HOST TO CHAMBER MEMBERS

Matters of Trade Extension and Development" will be topic at the luncheon to be rendered a hundred members of the Chamber of Com mercc by Director Murray Brown at 1 o'clock tomorrow afternoon on the second floor of the Southern club.
 This is the second in series of similar luncheons to be rendered the members with a view to cultivating acquaintance and fellowship in the chamber so as to produce better team work
 The first was given by Director and Vice President W. J. Adams last Mon day and proved very interesting to those who attended.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-08-14
SHOWERS PROBABLE

Weather conditions in Birming- ham will be unsettled today with showers probable, according to prediction of MT, Horton of the Fountain Heights observatory. The temperature will remain un- changed.
 The highest temperature regis tered yesterday by the official thermometer was s6 and the low est 73. These readings are one degree above normal for this sea son.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-08-14
DRS. HOGAN PURCHASE FORMER UNIVERSITY
 CLUB BUILDING

Drs. George A. and F. P. Hogan have purchased the old University club building at 920 Twentieth street, south, for a consideration not an nounced, from Mrs Robert Pearson, former resident of Birmingham, but now living at Pike. N. H. The deal was handled by Charles r. Marks of Jemison & Co, Estimated value of the property is $30,00o.
 Discussing the purchase last nigh, pr. E. P. Hogan declared 1t was the Intention of his brother and himself to rent the property for the present Later, offices and a private infirm- ary will be installed. Suitable re- modelling work will be done, he said, in order to fit the property for this use
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-08-14
LOCAL ZIONISTS TO HOLD IMPORTANT
 MEETING TODAY

A special membership meeting ot Birmingham district. Zionist Organi- zation of America Is called to meet at 3:30 o'clock this afternoon. at knes- seth Israel synagogue. Matters Of an urgent nature are to be brought to the attention of the membership. The welfare of the present, and immediate future of the local district and es- peciaily the relation of the local district to the national organization, 1t is said, will depend upon the in- terest exhibited by the membership at this meeting. It Is urged upon every member of the local district to be present at this afternoons meet ing
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-08-14
GROCERYMAN IS IN
 SERIOUS CONDITION

City detectives continued their search yesterday for the unknown assailant who assaulted J. W. Gray, sroceryman, at his store 4203 Second avenue, north, Friday afternoon, and struck him several time with a hatchet. leaving him lying uncon- scious on the floor. J. T. Moser and J. M. McCombs, detectives who are Investigating the case, had made no arrests late last night.
 Gray was said to be in serious condition last night at Fraternal hos pital. though he was resting easily. His skull was fractured by the blows from the hatchet.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-08-14
LOCAL FIRM SECURES
 OUT FLOWN CONTRACTS

z Important out-of-town contracts have been secured by Birmingham firm. Brown Rogers Wall Paper and Paint company has been awarded contracts for painting and decorating the Mississippi state university buildings now under construction at Oxford, Miss. and also for the Bap- tist hospital now being built at Selma.
 The Birmingham firm feels all the more gratified in securing these large contracts because they were in com petition with some of the largest decorating firms in the south.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-08-14
CHIEF INSTRUCTED TO STRICTLY ENFORCE
 SUNDAY CLOSING LAW

All stores in Birmingham selling groceries must lock their doors to- day or the proprietors will be sub jected to arrest by members of the police force. in accordance with in structons issued yesterday to Chier of Police T. J. Shirley by John H. Fay Tor, commi ssioner of public safety.
 Under this ruling, groceries sepa- rated from the rest of the store by partition will not permit man to remain open, because of numerous infractions of this law reported last week Commissioner Taylor declared yesterday he had tried to strike a happy medium. but that non-obser- vance of the law had forced more rigorous steps.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-08-14
UNION SERVICE AT
 WEST END, TABERNACLE

At the West End Tabernacle this evening at 7.45 o'clock will be held unique service of the three churches In the immediate vicinity. The ser mon will be preached by, Rev. Ii. M. Stevenson of the West End Metho- dist church. Beginning on the fol- lowing Sunday, August 21. the union meetings will begin, closing on Sun day, September 4.
 The people of Birmingham arc cor dially invited to attend these meet ings.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-08-14
DO YOU REMEMBER?

When Hugh w. Roberts used to get regunr dispatches from the lamented King Bobo for the base ball fans? F. l.. K. When Father A. P. O'Reilly of St. Pauls church was killed by being thrown from his horse dur ing a national guard encampment parade? CATHOLIC. When nearly everybody rode on & railroad pass to Montgomery and nearly everywhere else?
 RAILROAD MAN. When Nat l.. Miller was a lieu tenant in Company K, Birming hams crack national guard unit?
 J. H. T. When Solon Jacobs was com mercia, agent for the Central of Georgia: J. T. Y. When Walter Moore was tele- graph operator on the A. c. s.?
 OPERATOR. When Troupe Brazelton and Steve Smith built the Edgewood electric line? M. O. F. When the Caldwell hotel. one of the city's show places on Twenty second street. was burned?
 c. K. Y. When Bozeman Bulger first be- gan calling Birmingham, baseball team the Coal Barons?''-
 FAN.
The New York herald., 1921-02-27

Prohibition and woman suffrage are TIVE,
influences upon which many pin their faith
for divorce reforms Whatever national pro-
hibition ultimately may accomplish In this
line, the figures from States, including the
pioneer dry State OF Maine, look none too
encouraging. From Augusta. Ga, comes the
report that $50 divorces granted In Kenne-
bee county In 1920 show no falling of from
other years, while Bangor, listing 24S de-
crees as against l62 In 1s1s reports 1920 al
n record breaker
Records were broken also in other New
England States Hartford, Conn, scored
one of the new records. Three hundred and
twenty-one divorces were granted by the
Superior Court of Hartford county during
1920, the largest number IN the history of
the county. The number granted I'm 1919
was 2s2. This increase is approximately 40
per cent. greater than that OF 1919 over i'm
mediately preceding years. Indications are
that the increase for 1921 over 1920 will be
much larger than that for 1920 over 1919,
as about 900 cases are now pending.
Superior Court officials ascribe the present
conditions largely to the war, saying that
many triangIes resulted when husbands were
couples which before the war had been un-
happs found happiness in the separations
incurred by the war, and therefore sought
divorce
To indicate conditions In Massachusetts,
II may be stated that divorce petitions filed
In Springfield continue to increase in num-
ber and notwithstanding the special efforts
of the county courts there TO dispose OF tho
libels the court list remains burdened with
them. There were 9S7 divorce libels on the
Superior Court list for 1920. including the
The New York herald., 1921-02-27

South" gives more than hint of the divorce
situation in Georgia--another State which
went dry long before national prohibition
was adopted. 1t Is the State laws of Georgia
rather than prohibition that attract most
interest In connection with the divorce evil
Through the leniency OF the laws and the
sympathy shown, especially by Atlanta
jurors, toward those seeking freedom from
there are denied. Last year $50 divorces
were granted. as compared with 700 in the
preceding year, while the court dockets now
indicate that 1921 will be another record year.
The efforts made by Judges and others
before the Georgia Legislature have been
In the direction of preventing hasty mar
riages. to make IL obligatory to publish the
banns and to see to II that a certain period
of time elapses before the announcing of
the intention to wed and the actual cere-
mony.
Georgias story may be continued best by
taking up the situation In Savannah, where
the courts hear divorce cases sometimes mt
the rate of one minute. In round numbers
there were more than 900 divorce hearings
in Chatham County Superior Court during
1920. This is the highest number ever heard
in one year. but 1t will probably be sur
Superior Court of Chatham county and there
Is an average of ITS uncontested divorce
cases az Zach term. There are very few con-
tested cases. the whole number being heard
in days sitting OF the court
The uncontested cases require from three
to four days Of each term to hear them.
The New York herald., 1921-02-27

stories. Frequently the Judge win direct
verdict for the plaintiff and the foreman will
sign 1t without any consultation with the
other jurors.
1t has been figured out that divorce cases
are heard In Savannah at the rate of more
of the court.
1t is now possible TO secure an absolute
divorce in Chatham county In seven months.
This is just Pne month more than the time
required in Reno. There are four terms
OF the Superior Court. If divorce case is
filed at the March term. for instance. and
personal service is at once perfected. the
appearance term Is the March term. A
hearing can be had and first verdict
rendered at the June term and second
verdict and final decree can be obtained at
the October term. Under the Georgia law
two separate juries have to hear the evil
dence and find In favor of divorce.
The New York herald., 1921-02-27
How Divorce Proceedings May
Be Speeded Up in Georgia Courts

A years citizenship in Georgia Is re-
quirtd to have an applicant for divorce
have any standing In court and six months
residence in the county In which the action
is brought. The courts I'm the counties with
sufficient business to warrant frequent terms
grant divorces more quickly than they can
be secured In the less populated counties.
For instance a litigant In Chatham county,
with Savannah the county seat, or Fulton,
with Atlanta the county seat, can get two
verdicts and a decree In seven months. as
has been shown, but In county where
there are but two terms of court year II
requires eighteen months. The result Is
that the busy court centres are a haven
to which those seeking divorces flock. Time
can be saved by living in a big county for
six months and then starting proceedings.
In case the defendant In divorce pro-
ceedng is a nonresident OF Savannah an
additional month is required to perfect ser
vice by publication. There must be in
The New York herald., 1921-02-27
DEGREES

OF the divorce petitions granted those un-
contested were: In 1920, ss5; In 1919, COS;
In 1918. Ala; in 1917, 512.
Taking UP again the possible influence of
prohibition on divorces. a jump to Duluth,
Mimi, the largest city in the country to
vote dry Independent of State, we find that
with the exception of the year 1915 the
number OF divorces has been increasing for
eight years. Duluth and st. Louis county,
of which IL is the shire town. have been dry
since June, 1917. Last year 270 divorce de-
crces were granted. as compared to 257 In
1919. 243 in 1918, 2S6 in 1917. 219 in 1915.
1s4 In 1916. 204 in 1914 and 191 In 1913.
Atlanta's new title Of the Reno of the
The New York herald., 1921-02-27

Countrywide Survey Shows Startling
Conditions
Conditions

serted twice month for two months notice
OF the Ming OF the suit.
There are nine separate grounds for di
vorce in Georgia. only one of them being
discretionary with the jury to find whether
proper grounds have been shown. This Is
cruel treatment The law grants to the jury
the right to say whether or not an action
complained of constitutes cruel treatment.
Herein lies the loophole for the quick sever
ing OF the marriage ties in Georgia. Cruel
treatment may consist of a husband slap
ping the face of his wife. of his remaining
away from home at night longer than he
should. of speaking harshly and sharply or
even OF refusing to give her as much money
for spending purposes as she thinks she j.
entitled to- 1t is solely for the jury TO de
terrnine whether or not the treatment com
plained of is cruel
Savannah and Chatham county import
great number Of divorce cases. This .s
caused by the fact that South Carolina, an
adjoining State. has no divorce laws at all
The result is that a great many men and
women seeking separations come TO Savan-
nah, acquire a citizenship in year and
seven months. later secure a divorce.
In such legislative measures as are under
consideration in Georgia, Nevada. Washing
ton and other States where "Renos." old
new or prospective exist those who hold
hope of reform through or by the aid Of
woman suffrage may see their theories put
to a definite and decisive test. AS TO the
effects of prohibition, most observers Incline
to the belief that the time is not yet ripe for
it's full influence to be felt.
Coming back TO New York's neighbors
New Jersey reports that while specific fig
ures are not available there has been IN
enormous increase in divorce cases In the
last few years, and that divorce suits at
present outnumber all other htigations COM
bined in the Jersey courts.
Pennsylvania also reports remarkable in
creases In Philadelphia 3.o12 divorce suits
were started and 1850 granted in 1920. set
ting new record In 1919 the number Of
divorces granted was 1871.
The New York herald., 1921-02-27

parsons" and lawyers who specialize In
divorce cases, and of course the money
spent by the interested parties during
their six months residence amounts to
something. The future of this new indus
try depends largely ON the action of the
State Legislature, at present In session,
with the machinery set for tightening up
on the business of getting an easy divorce.
Hasty marriages, lack of control by par
ents, lax laws, motion pictures ease with
which n decree can be obtained and lack
Of solemnity In marriages are but a few
OF the causes to which the Seattle divorce
record Is attributed In the hundreds of
divorce cases tried before him In the last
decade Justice King Dykman OF the King
county Superior Court has presided In only
one contested action where both persons
were processing Christians and actual
churchgoers.
The New York herald., 1921-02-27

curse The woman who marries Just to
have a meal ticket Is blot on society.
There Is but one ground for matrimony,
and that is holy, perfect, God bathed love.
The divorce problem should be solved before
marriage. not after.
Second - Lack OF parental confidence
Parents have not the confidence Of their
children. Domestic discipline IS gone
Parents do not investigate their chlldren's
associates. We have saved more than one
girl from marrying the wrong man by bring
ing the man before us and having him re-
veal the fact that he had wife and child
in some other State Parents ought to do
such Investigating We have too many
scrub sons-in-law. But parents are to
blame II their daughters marry scrubs. No
girl should marry man to reform him. 1t
can't he done.
The New York herald., 1921-02-27
Year 1920 Broke All Records, but 1921 Starts
With Pace That Promises to Establish
New High Mark


of
of socaId Stacker the husbands
anxo to be free.
The New York herald., 1921-02-27
Lsxfty of Administration
Given as the Main Cause

Present conditions" he says, have been
brought about by the laxity of our divorce
laws and their administration, in which
respects we lead, perhaps, any other State
or civilized country
When they cut lawyers fees In divorce
cases and no longer allow the chIldess wife
alimony then watch the bottom fall out Of
our divorce court" said a Seattle citizen
who admitted that his two divorces cost
him $4,000.
In more than one instance decrees have
been granted to persons who took a chance
not waiting until they had lived here the re
The New York herald., 1921-02-27

558 pending at the opening OF 1920, and ais
OF them were disposed of during the year,
leaving 672 on the waiting list for this year,
az against TIL divorce petitions on the list
for 1919. of which number 213 were dis
posed of during 1919. leaving 55S pending
for 1920. The divorce report for three years
is an follows
The New York herald., 1921-02-27
Seattle Outstrips Reno AS the Divorce

Special Correspondence of TIE NEW York
HERALD.
Copyright, 1921, by THE NEW York HERALD
SEATTLE, Feb. %
NTIrH the cessation Of wartime ship
w building Seattle has become Port
for Broken Hearts, IL sociological
students with bent for statistics are to
be believed. Records In the county building
here show that Seattle has outstrlpped
Reno and leads the nation as refuge for
those seeking an easy divorce. or a divorce
easy. In the matter OF divorces Seattle, In
fact, has beaten Reno more than two to one
-, ,490 70 eo1, to be exact
III there is divorce colony" In Seattle
investigation falls to show where II is
Seattle, the Superior Court justices say, is
too big to have such colony. Outsiders
come here, mngle six months with the per-
manent residents to establish legal resi-
dence and 20 hence with their decrees.
their presence unnoticed, their identity lost
In the shuttle.
The number of divorces has grown anaz-
ingly In the last five yeara Several years
ago divorces outstripped marriages and
have continued 10 surmount them in num-
bers II In impossible 10 figure Just how
much revenue the city derives from this
new and thriving industry. One thing is
certain, II provides livelihood for NUM-
ber Of professional Witnesses marrying
The New York herald., 1921-02-27
Portland, Ore, Has Decrease,
as Returns for roso Show

Portland, Ore. reporting for Multnomah
county, is another city to record decrease.
There the falling off was approximately
q per cent. compared with the 1919 fig
ures. In 1920 1923 divorces were granted.
as against 1859 in 1919. the banner year.
In 1918 there were only 1,I25 cases filed
and in 1917 1,O42 cases.
Toledo, Ohio. also reports a slight decrease
in 1920. when LOAF petitions came before
the courts. Divorces in 1918. however
showed n decided Increase over preceding
years.
Washtenaw county. Michigan. of which
Ann Arbor is the shire town, is still another
to report a slight decrease. Eighty-seven
divorces were granted in 1920 out of ia
petitions, as against 90 granted out of I23
applications In 1919.
Swinging back TO the high record column
we come to Virginia admitting a new record.
but with figures for the year 1920 incom-
plete. In 1919 there we're 6B56 divorces
granted In the state. IA against 47es in
1918. In Norfolk the divorce figures for
1920 nearly double those of 1918. The mum
her OF divorces last year was 333 OF which
241 were TO whites. In 1919 there were g27
DEGREES. OF which 114 were to whites. "a 60
negroes and 30 TO couples with no color
stated.
There is a movement under way 70 have
the Legislature of Virginia enact laws that
win prohibit the remarrying OF divorced
persons.
In Wheeling. w. Va, ninety-three divorces
were granted in 1920. an increase OF only
The New York herald., 1921-02-27
Divorce Lawyers Menace
And Courts Act Loosely

"Third-The lawyers and the courts are
to blame. The divorce lawyers arc a men
ace to society. Courts try the ca ses loosely.
The State is supposed to be represented az
every divorce trial by the prosecuting at
torney, but his appearance. interest and
participation in the trial are n farce.
judges and justices OF the peace have no
moral right to perform marriage cere-
monies They take away all OF the spir-
itual and serious Impressions when they
present only the legal side Of the contract.
"Fourth-The women are to blame for
the increase Of divorces. becnuse they will
not state the facts In their complaints"
The New York herald., 1921-02-27

quired six months Discovery and prosecu-
tion have followed In some cases of this
sort. In two cases recently the court NULL
fled the divorce decrees and the contracting
parties found themselves with husbands and
wives in duplicate 1t also was found that
witnesses had given false testimony for
consideration.
Presiding Justice Ronald interrupted the
default divorce proceedings In the Superior
Courts recently to say
The New York herald., 1921-02-27
Judge Gives Full Warning
To Seekers of DEGREES

King county Is becoming a convenient
ground for people looking for divorce.
From now on I shall have TO be absolutely
convinced that the bona fide place Of resi-
dence Is here before granting decrees."
Judge Ronald's view Is shared By all
members of the King county bench. The
notoriety Seattle has gained from the d.
vorce situation Is not reIished here. re
cent crusade against the divorce evil dis
closed the fact that Seattle Is the record
holder Of the country. Records for the last
few weeks show the number Of applications
is still increasing.
Clergy and laity. bench and bar are voic-
ing their condemnation OF divorce In prin-
ciple and In practice. "America's black
spot Is the divorce court" said the Rev.
Dr. Mark A. Matthews. "Amerlca's disease
Is divorce. There are several reasons for
the Increase:
"First-Loose marriages. Marriages are
hastily contracted. insufficient time In
courtship. A marriage for convenience is
The New York herald., 1921-02-27

2,o4s; in 1918. 1,24s
Two hundred and sixty-five divorce de-
crees. OF which 93 were final DEGREES, were
granted In Delaware during the year 1920.
constituting a new divorce record for that
State. The highest previous year was 1919.
when 226 final and decrees mist were granted.
The most of these DEGREES were authorized
during the May. 1920, term Of the Upper
Court In Wilmington. Listed on the court
to be heard for decrees nisi and So petitions
for final DEGREES to be given trial. Except
I'm cases based statutory grounds or
bigamy charges one of the parties must be
a bona hde resident of Delaware for at least
two years next preceding the commencement
of the action.
Detroit one OF the record breakers.
with 3.715 divorces granted In 192O an in
crease of 200 over 1919. The county courts
In Des Mo.nes, Iowa. also set a new record.
turning out 1886 divorce DEGREES out OF 0ss
petitions. Unheard cases listed at present
are sufficient 20 indicate another record in
1921.
Baltimore is one OF the few important
cities where the number of divorces in 1920
was less than in 1919. A total of I,648 de.
crees granted is a decrease of six as com
pared with the figures for the preceding
year. These include absolute and partial
divorces and annulments. About eighty per
cent. OF the divorces are absolute Statutory
offence kand abandonment are the only
grounds upon which absolute divorce f.
granted In MARYLAND