davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-23
Wide Fluctuations
 Mark Week In Curb

NEW YORK, Dec. 22.-This weeks market on the New York curb was one of wide fluctuations and active trading in many groups. Industrial issues attracted increased interest be- cause of various movements In both directions. A strong feature was Gillette Safety Razor, which first ad- vanced nearly 20 points to 284, but lost a good part of this gain toward the end of the week. Durant Motors was also strong, moving up about points.
 Radio common held a prominent position for a time, selling at Az, 8 new high for the movement. Read ing Coal. new stock. yielded more than points in the first half of the week, but rallied in the following days.
 There were wide movements also in many of the Petroleum issues. Penn Mex Fuel, which closed a week ago at 2S. rose to 45, and Solar Refining moved up from 169 to 174. Atlantic Lobos rose from 2h to 5h. The ad vances were said to be due almost wholly to the improvement in the oil situation reflected in the higher prices established for crude oil in many fields. The gains, however. were not maintained.
 Independent Oil stocks were gener- ally higher. Prairie oil and Gas moved in variable manner. an early loss of some 5 points being followed by moderate rally.
 In the mining group heavy trading In Walker Mining Friday made that stock the most prominent feature.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-23
Wheat Price Lower
 During Past Week

CHICAGO. Dec, 22.-Evidence of the pressure and of the Canadian surplus in particular has been eff fective toward bringing about lower prices for, wheat this week. Com pared with week ago the market this morning showed ssc to 17so de- cline, with corn unchanged at %o down; oats l 1s to 1hc off and pro- visions from 20 cents loss to a gain of 10 cents.
 Genera selling which was wit messed in the wheat market as tho week drew to an end appeared to be associated with enlarged deliveries here on December contracts and with notice taken of the huge amount of wheat estimated to be coming to this country from Canada and en- tering into domestic use. Bearish sentiment was also increased owing to obstacles interposed against any loan to Germany based on food pay ments having priority over repara- lions. Government crop reports from Washington had further depress- ing influence on the wheat market inasmuch as the production estimate for 1928 was larger than the trade had looked for.
 Unfavorable weather together with assertion that farm feeding of corn was about equal to last years rec ord tended to uphold the corn mar ket Demand for oats was slack.
 Provisions averaged lower in syn- pathy with the hog market.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-23
5CAAAE0G R&
 Par 10(
Ala Nat. Life ......-......... IS Protective Life (new basisl Is
 hIISCELLANEOU STOCKS
PETITIONS IN BANKRUPTCY

The following petitions in bank ruptcy were filed during the past week:
 Beavers & Vance Shoe company. Bessemer. Ala. involuntary, Decem- Der 15. 1923, No. 20665.
 H. N. Whitlock. Brighton. Ala. Dec. 15, 1928, No. 20664; liabilities, $626; assets, none; attorney, T. J.. Roe.
 John Kennedy. s17 Huntsville ave- nue, Boyles. Ala. Dec. IT. 1923, No. 20665; liabilities, s545; assets, $225; attorney. .R. II. Manley.
 A. E. Clements, S712 Third avenue, north, December IT. 1923. No. 20666; liabilities, sSo6; assets. S7o0. claimed exempt; attorney, R. M. Montgomery.
 Issac Neither. 2311 Avenue F, Ens- ley, Ala, Dec. IT. 1923. No. 20667; liabilities, $116.35; assets. SIS, claimed exempt s5o1s attorney. J. H. stock.
 F. J. Brennan. SIP Eighth avenue, west, city, December IS, 1923. No. s2o66s; liabilities sSsy.s4; assets, s75, claimed exempt s5; attorney, J. H. Ward.
 John wooley. TIP Fifteenth street. north. city, December IS, 1923. No. 2oses; liabilities, $335: assets. none; attorney c. J. Dougherty.
 J. Earl Albritton, Pinehurst street. abilities, sssS.5s; assets. s677O; at- torney, s. Henderson.
 Tom Peoples, 1920 Avenue J, Ens- ley. Ala. Dec. IS, 1923, No. 20670; liabilities. $162.54; assets. sS5, claimed exempt; attorney, ". E. Perkins.
 Leathes Smith, c. D., Bessemer. Ala, Dec IS. 1923, No. 20671: li- abilities, s79; assets, s22. claimed ex- empt; attorney, Matthews & Mat thews.
 x Newt Lee. 721 Nineteenth street. south, city, December 19. 1923, No. 20673; liabilities, $225; assets, $2o; attorney, D. D. Trimble.
 W. W. McManus, 120 Almond street. south. December 1s, 1923, No. 20674; liabilities, $1,732.34; assets. none; attorney, H. J. Ward
 H. H. Luther, 111S Twenty sixth street. north, December 1s, 1923. No 20e75; liabilities, $405; assets. sov. claimed exempt; attorney. R. W. Quinn. v
 David Holmes. 1s1 Fall avenue. Pratt City. December 21. 1923, No. 2o67S; liabilities. s75.75; assets, s25, claimed exempt; attorney B. F. Smith.
 Will Harris, 112 Fall avenue, Pratt City, December 20, 1923. No.> 20677; liabilities. s231; assets, $7845; attorney Murphy & Hanna.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-23
SANTA CLAUS TAXED
German Government And French ru,v Rath Take Sfah A. Old Gent

German Government And French
 Army Both Take Stab At old Gent
 BERLIN, Tex, Dec. 22-A tax on Santa Claus was announced today.
 The French army of occupation. which has thrown a customs ring around the Ruhr and occupied Rhine- land, is not making an exception this Christmas. even for the Ger mans favorite saint. Herr Kris Kringle.
 The German government, which has taken to taxing everything tangible, likewise Is putting strictest restrictions on Christmas packages from the occupied areas.
 The ministry of posts and tele- graphs announced that the post off, flee department will handle Christ mas packages destined for all points in the invaded territory except the Ruhr and also packages from the occupied zones as far as French regulations permit.
 Food and books may be sent as gifts, tax free Other things are subject to taxation by the French.
 The senders must label his pres ents "Christmas shipping" and list the contents. Severe penalties are provided for Justification of such lists.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-23
Realty Transfers

Milner Land company to Mayo Holloway, lot IT in block 6, accord ing to survey of Milner Land com pany's second addition to Birming- ham, for $5,000.
 W. F. Epperson and wife to Dave Byrd and Lula Byrd, lot Il in block ?, according to survey of Day and Ryan's addition to Ensley, for s3,0O0.
 Birmingham Realty company to Ben Cheeseman, part of lot In block .35, according to survey of Birmingham Realty company's addi- tioh to No. 4, for $3,500.
 Frances II. Partridge, Mrs. Lo- duska V. Luker. Mrs. Sarah V. Leach, Charles G. Partridge. D. P. Partridge. John W. Partridge, John Frank Patterson, Dowell Patterson, Wilma Patterson, Sarah Patterson. Harold Onslow Partridge, Gertrude Partridge and I. c. Patterson to Loxie Strange, lot IS in block {, &C., cording to survey of Avondale Land company, for $9,500
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-23
LOCAL MARKETS
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES


 Bananas-Ss and straights. gross weight. Cranberries-M bbl. boxes. se; small boxes. s3.25.
 Grapes-Emperor, fancy good red color, s2.50: Emperor, in kegs, $5.5o.
 Grapefruit-Fancy Fla. s3.25 93.6e. Lemons-Cal Sunkist, s4.6o05. Oranges-s3.50@3.75.
 Pears-Fancy Oregon. s5.6o. Cabbage--Lb., 2Scs
 Celery-Fancy Cal. doz. to crate. s7. Irish PotatoesWCoi, aio; Minn. Cob blers, 2c Red Triumphs, Sc.
 Sweet Potatoes-Porto Ricos. 2Ao. onions@Red. ioO lbs. to sack. 4Mo, white 100 lbs. to sack. 50; yellow, 100 lbs. to sack, 4ho: Spanish, per crates, s2.75. Mackerel-1o0 count. 3 to 8 oz.. 3s. Kingan's Pig Feet-A bbL. $4.5o; # Peanuts-Alabama stock. Sc; No. l Va. stock, Sc: No. Va. stock. roasted. sack lots. raw weights, 10o. Cocoanuts-s7. Almonds--Drakes, 1so, Evaporated Peaches = Fancy so-lb. boxes. 12c; choice 6o-lb. boxea 11c. | Prunes-Cal. 12M @17o. | Cheese-Full cream. soc, Beans-Cal. Lima. large, i2oj Cal Lima, baby, iso; Mich. navy. sMc; Pinto. %; Peas-Cal. buckeyes. So. mems. Winesaps. Grimes. Black Twis. bbl.. .s1.boQL56. Jonathan. Grimes Gold en. Ark. Black, Delioious. Ortley, Spitz. per box. s2.2b03.6o.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-23
Cotton Goods Quiet,
 But Prices Steady

NEW YORK, Dec. 22.-Cotton goods markets have been exceedingly quiet of late. yet prices have held very steady in all unfinished goods markets. The trade has made steady progress in advancing prices or standard merchandise nearer a parity of the high cotton value but little new business has developed. To some extent this Is attributable to the season of year when jobbers are inventorying and preparing to ship spring goods to retailers and to tho activity of the latter in holiday business. The lack of orders and the lack of profit in the limited business offered, have led to further curtail- ment of production, a million spindles alone being now wholly idle at Fall River and u million more being oper- ated on short time It is estimated that 35 per cent of the New England mills are on short time and from IS to 20 per cent of southern mills are curtatling in some degree.
 Buyers are unimpressed by any fear of a light supply of goods and they show little disposition to make provisions against the higher prices that are ineviabls in tobbing and re- tail channels. Fercales, ginghams, bleached cottons ,and other staple goods are quiet. During the week between eight and ten millions of yards of goods for manufacturing purposes in automobiles were placed under order for delivery in the next six months. Knit goods openings are scheduled to take place before Jan- uary 10 at an advance of 20 per cent | over last year
 Prices current in primary markets are as follows; Print cloths 28 inch | 64xe4's 81Ac; 64x60's 8Ac; 38n inch | 64x6fs 11Ac; brown sheeting, south ern standards, 17c and 171ac; tick inss. 8 oz soc; denims 2.20s 26 al | 271ac; prints 90%c; staple ginghams 19c; dress ginghams 211sc and 24c.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-23
BUSINESS IS SLOW IN COTTON MART

NEW YORK, Dec. 22.-The cotton market was very quiet today and the little business reported seemed to be chiefly of a pre-holiday char acter. Fluctuations were correspond inEly narrow, with January selling off from 3497c to 84.72c and closing at 34.77e- The general market closeo barely steady at net declines or to 9 points.
 The market opened steady at an advance of to Il points and solo about 10 to Is points net higher dur ing the early trading on very pullleu spot advices and firm LlVerpool cables. December touched 8o.zo at 1ee oee opening and March sold up to 3o.3oc on the early advance but these figur eS evidently attracted realizing or scat, tering liuuidation and prices saggeo off to 35.96c for December ana So.ooc for March later in the morning. liners was no change in the news wnlcn Wss connected with this decline, but the hullish features emphasized on the early advance, failed to create muci1 buying mower and the market yieioeo to small orders in the later traulHs' Private cables reported healthy loiie in Liverpool owing to moderate trade demand and small offerings. Reports of a steady or firm spot sltu- ation continued to reach here, rom the south and December contracts here maintained 8 premium of apout 125 points over January compared with 128 points at the close of Friday. There was talk of probably large mo- ttces on January contracts next week but there was also gossip to the ef- feet that two or three of the larger shippers were preparing to take up cotton next month, presumably for export. showed little or no change in the situation and a continued small vol ume of business as usual during the holiday season. It Is reported tnat the ordinary stacking down Of trace in cotton goods at this season or the year has been intensified to some ex- tent by unseasonably warm weather; The amount of cotton on ship board awaiting clearance at the end Of tne 150. GOO at this time last year Caple adyices received in the trade here today sta ted that the Indian crop was was estimated at 4,913,00o bales or 4oo pounds gross.
 TrrTTTTRRS
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-23
Cotton Letters
KAHN BROS. Q VIRGIN

NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 22-Trading in cotton was restricted in volume today and They advanced about 20 points early on the strength displayed by Liverpool and York. but slipped 27 to S5 later on be- | lated profit taking. The decline met l pretty good buying. however. and closing sales were unchanged to 10 points down. | There was no news in circulation except reports to the effect that the interests which have been taking up their tenders ] In New York are prepared to take 16,o00 bales if necessary. Cables reported that Brookhart had reduced estimated crop expectation was for an India crop of | 6,600,000 bales, but other estimates recent 1 ly predicted 5,5ooooo Spot news con was new reached the market A good many traders have cashed their profits and are inclined to look on during the expect the closing out of December to cause reaction. If 1t does we believe 1t a purchase for e scalp.
 NEW YORK. Dec 22S-wau Street Jour overnight of a market nature the opening proved dull affair. with futures showing edHanees eaHias ranging from to Ii points l lacked snap. Local cloth markets Friday were firmer on light dealings. Sales of S are estimated ma tp at f' bSseS %se peees spot l houses and Liverpool bought at call while there was Selling by Wall Street, the south and locals. Few price changes of much importance occurred in the first 30 min utes or so of trading. While. price changes | during the morning were confined to a narrow range and trading more less of pre-holiday character, there appeared to be some nervousness around the ring. There was some short covering and even 1 ing up for the weekend well as sell ing by New Orleans interests. Demand, l however. was sufficient to absorb the of ferings and tho undertone held firm Fenner & Beane.
 HUBBARD BROS. & co.
 NEW YORK. Dec. 22.-Market today was very quiet and steady at about last | nights prices. A better demand in Liver pool gave us an advance on the opening, | which was again lost by scattered profit taking. We think that business will con tinue quiet until after Christmas The increased it is approximately 100, 00O l bales. Monday will sec the end of trading 1 in December contracts, which expire al 1 12 noon The first notice day for delivery | on January contracts is Wednesday. De- cember 26. and 1t has been expected that tenders would be heavy in view of the question has arisen, however as to wheth- CT the increase in demand for end of the | month shipment out of the south will not l make this cotton in New York valuable | as 1t is of a most attractive character This feeling. together with the strength of spots, has led to improvement in the see no change in the general situation, nor | do expect any until after the close of the holidays can be seen how business will turn at the coming of the new year.
 SHANNON & co.
 | NEW YORK, Dec. 22.-It has been an- other holiday market, with fluctuations | stricted by the bullfsh spot news while | speculative interests are reluctant to sup port the market at this level and the
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-23
NEW YORK COTTON FUTURES NEW YORK, Dec. 22.-Todays ouota-
,rrx,r ournANa C0TT0Nl

NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 2a.-The holiday feeling that has been more or less apparss ent in the cotton market of late increaseaa today, and following a rise of lo 10 ds points fin the early trading prices were III. clined to sag under 1t, and the liQuldatloii of the long interest which 1t stllnuiateSa, .S. After the early part of the session the market was wholly under the control or scattered weekend and year-end evening up trading on the long side. and as one stage 1t had prices 14 to is points undeT the last sales of yesterday. January tra9en rse,i m to 952o cents a pound and then ieii off to 34.s5o the market finally closing 6 to IA points net lower on the day. "lth the last sale of January at S4.soc-
 When the market was rising Octoper was the strongest month. It stood 1s points up at 2S.24c at its best. Much or the demand for this position was stlmu- lated by tho continued wet weather over the greater part of the belt ana the rear that while 1t was putting the soil in gooo condition 1t would cause delay in winter blowing, already behind hand in some
 Tn a small way the old crops were sold against purchases of october by traders who think the prevailing wide differences between the prices of the old and new crop cannot be maintained. At some stage this week October had been ct discount of cents a pound under the highest prlce in the old crop position.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-23
Weekly Statement Of
 Clearing House Banks

NEW YORK. Dec. 22.-The actual condition of clearing house banks and trust companies for the week shows an excess in reserve of $14,- 01S,060. This is decrease of $S,- 547.SS0.
 The statement follows:
 Loans and discounts, etc.. s4,569,- 475, ,000; increase, s9,397 900.
 Cash in own vaults, members fed eral reserve bank. s61,133,o00I in- crease, S6,S7S,o0o.
 Reserve in federal reserve bank of member banks, s4s7.46s,ooo, de- crease, S1o,297. 900.
 Reserve in own vaults, state banks and trust companies. s9,058,o0o; in- crease. S423,000.
 Reserve in Repositories, state banks and trust companies, ss.6s7.ooo; de- crease, s21S,000.
 x-Net demand deposits, $3,742,- 147 ,o0O; decrease. s49,173.0
 Time deposits. s4sO.s7s.ooo; de- crease, $3,331,0 900.
 Circulation. ssi.s54,ooo; decrease, $865,000.
 x-U. S. deposits deducted. s4s.-
 Aggregate reserve, s51ssos,oop.
 Excess reserve, $14,o1S,o6o; deA crease, $3.547,SS0. Summary of state banks and trust companies in greater New York, not iHcludlnS III clearinS nouse stdte- ment: Loans, discounts. etc, $s14o92, 900; increase, s10,4299,00o. Gold $3,79S,000; decrease. S32.500. 1 Currency and bank notes, s22,640,- l 900; decrease,I S413,600. Deposits with federal reserve bank of New York, s72,S79,2oo; increase l $257,500.
 Total deposits, sS52,42s,soo; in. crease, $10,S11, 300.
 Do eliminating amounts due from reserve repositories and other banks and trust companies in New l York and U. s.
 Deposits, $79s,s1s.soo; decrease l $745,S00.
 Banks: Cash in vault, s3o,252,5o0
 Trust companies: Cash in vault s69,O65, 500.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-23
Grain Letters
KAHN pRoa. N yvBGYN

CHICAGO, Dec. 32.--wheat There was but the market had heavy undertone and liquidation. This was well taken care of later selling by locals started in a decline that ran into stop-loss orders. Buying was mostly profit taking by shorts. early. but was finally overwhelmed by weakness in wheat and in the spot corn market.
 ests bought December and sofd May at 8hc difference. Weakness in other erafns led to scattered liquidation in May.
 Provisions: There was selling by houses representing foreign interests, but declines ran into investment purchases. Hogs 6c higher; tops, S750.-Fenner & Beane.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-23
NOT. DEAD, BUT WEALTHY
Pennsylvania Family Gets Unexpect-
 ed Christmas Surprise

BERWICK, Pa, Dec. 22.-Twenty years ago Harry Folk left his homo at Catawissa, near here to, enlist in the army and failing to hear from him, his family long since gave him up for dead. N-
 Today, a sister, Mrs. John Lieby. received stered letter from Folk enclosing 27 railroad tickets to Sand Springs, Okla. and $500, with instructions to bring all his rela- tives out for big Christmas party as he had struck 1t rich on the oil fields. .s
 Plans will be rushed at once to make .up tho party of relatives from Berwick, Reading, Bloomsburg and other towns, Mrs. Lieby said.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-23
BOY BUILDS FIRE

It Was A Good One, Too, But In
 The WronS Place
 NESCOPECK, Pa., Dec. 22<-"rvs got Q good fire up5s airs. mamna," exclaimed 6-year-old Harry schrup- penheiser. She Tushes upstars and extinguished the bonfire h. had started in the bed.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-23
,NTrRIoR MOyEMENT

Houston: MiddIing, 3bci recelpts, S,b5ST shipments, s,o4s; sales. 2,S7s; stock' S7o'- Memphis: Middling. s45oe; receipts, e.25l; shipments. 7197; sales. 2,6oo; stock. Augusta: Middling. s46oo; receipts. s3S; shipments, 756; sales, 1,7oo; stock, 62.006.
 416a; shipments, 4.162; stock, 3.653.'
 Atlanta Middling, 34Soc.
 Little Rock; Middling, 34.6oc; receipts. s17; shipments. 1.555; sales. 1.b55; stock. Dallas: Middling. s4.40o; sales, 4.4o7. Montgomery: Mddling, S4.25c sales. 4a. Total today: Receipts, 2o,637; ship ments 21.719; stock, 595.782.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-23
LIVERPOOL COTTON

LIVERPOOL, Dec. 22.-Cotton spot Tn limited demand; prices steady. Good md- ding. 2o.ssd; fully middling. 2o.5Sd; mid ding, 1a9sd; low middling, 18.9Sd; good ordinary, 17.9sd; ordinary. 17.4Sd. Sales, 2,ooo bales. including 800 American. Re- ceipts S5, 900 bales. including 16.900 Amer ican Futures closed quiet; December, 20.34d; January. 2o.3ed March. 2o.31d; May, 2o.14d; July. 19.62d; September, 17.lsd; October, 16.44d; December G924), 15.93d.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-23
NEW ORLEANS COTTON FUTURES
PORT ABATEMENT

New Orleans: Middling. ssoj receipts' 1o,s34; exports, 1s5; sales. SIS; stoch' Galveston: Middling. sss; receipts. 1o.- >7; sales, 2,16s; stock. 8ae'1Is: ax, sales 27; stock, 18.S56.
 savannah Middli,ns,s stiSso; siS receipts Charleston: Middling. 34.2boI receipta' W wiimineton: st1gn Middung. sLsse, receipts 545; stock, 34,762.
 Texas City: Stock, 1,0s3.
 Norfolk: Middling, S4Ssci receipts. 2,SS5; sales. 7O6; stock. so,517.
 Baitimore: Stock, 2s12. Boston: NIiddling, 9e.40c: stock. b,4oo. Philadelphia: stock 3,959:
 New York: Middling, se.aoo; stock. Minor Minor ports: Receipts. s2s; exports. S2S; stock, 2,59s.
 T9tai ltof today; o4 EsSs'pts' sSf 1s'S0 'A'0'A Total for week., Receipts. as.7s6; ex- pO1 Total ,Tt for season: Receipts. Aeot.ssa; exports, S.o01,7s7.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-23
MONEY IN GRAIN

S1s-5o buys guarantee option on le.ooe busheNs of wheat or corn. No Further Risk. A move. ment of 5c from option price gives you an opportunity to take $5oo 4c, $4oo; Sc, $500. etc. WRITE TODAY FOR PARTICULARS and FREE MARKET LETTER. xnvesters Daily Guide, s. W. Branch
 Dept. TIA,
 Io16 Baltimore Ave-. Kansas City, Mo.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-23
SPOT COTTON

NEW YORK. Dec. 22.-spot cotton quiet. Middling. 8s.3oo.
 NEW ORLEANS, Dec. 1f.-gpot cotton quiet, unchanged; sales on the spot. 121 bales; to arrive. 76S. Low middling, 32c; middling, 35c; good middling, 28.12c. Re- celpts, 1o,s34; stock. 2s2,1Ss.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-23

trade demand Is not urgent at the mo- rnent. but Is waiting on the goods mark et. There are rumors that a large short in- terest exists in January, and while it is generally thought that much of the cot ton received on December may come back on January it is difficult to see much temptation for that at the existing dis count for that month and with such re- ports regarding the spot situation in the south as are coming to hand. Those who have the cotton are in the better position and can be guided by developments, while the shorts, if any, have no alternative but to cover or deliver In satisfaction of their contracts
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-23
Higher LeUels Are
 Reached By Butter

CHICAGO. Dec 22.-The prioa trend in the butter market toward a higher level during the week was caused by supplies of fancy butter running short of immediate needs, Although production increased tha quality of domestic receipts was not particularly fancy and of undepend- able keeping quality.
 Arrivals at New York amounted tq I59 boxes Irish, casks Swedish. sra casks Danish and 81,780 pounds Ca- nadian. All found fairly ready outs lets.
 Range and closing wholesale prices 92 score butter, follows: Chicago half higher at 531s: New York 1 higher at 55; Boston 1 higher at 54; Philadel- phia 1A at 55.