davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-20
PROTECTING GINS FROM FIRE

Perhaps there are many owners of
cotton gins who have seen their plants
mysteriously ignite and go up in smoke
without being able to discover the
cause. In many cases, according to
the findings of the department of ag-
riculture and the insurance companies,
the ignition is due to sparks arising
from fractional or static electricity,
generated by the movement of cotton
through the gin. This danger is coun-
teracted by having the gins properly
equipped with grounding wires which
carry the dangerous fluid away before
it accumulates in quantity sufficient
to cause disaster. Aside from the
protection the gin-owner may thus
provide, the insurance rates are much
lower on gins so protected, enough
lower, perhaps, to cover several times
the cost of wiring. 1t appears to be
the part of wise forethonght to take
the precaution suggested.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-20

session of details, the average person
will be inclined to credit the waterway
management with more impartial
judgment in the premises than the
railroads would naturally exercise. If
there is prospect of an early agree
ment, we'll and good, provided, the
waterway management has consulted
the widest public advantage in its
proposed schedules. If the railroad is
in a cooperative mood, so much the
better. The fact remains that at
present the Warrior is paying more
than it should out of the receipts for
these joint hauls. So Ear, there is no
date set when this injustice shall
cease. What is to prevent the prompt
installation of all rates except those
on which there is disagreement? Such
installation would be the railroad s
first evidence of an inclination to
cooperate with the public good in this
matter,
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-20
PEOPLES FORUM


To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
l have recently read several let
tiers and editorials relative to the
legislature of Alabama abolishins
capital punishment. With more
murders committed in Birmingham
than in the whole of England with
forty million population, and seven
murderers for trial in Judge
Heflin's court next week, unless
the hangman does get busy it
will be dangerous to live in Bir-
mingham. If law enforcement
officer tells the truth, there is a
corporation in Birmingham COM
posed of lawyers. bond fixers and
others who have the bond and
everything arranged before the
criminal is arrested, leaving moth
ing to do except sign on the dotted
line and go commit another
crime.
l believe with Darius Water
house, when debating the ques-
ton, Shall capital punishment be
abolished?" said that "if we hang
a man there is no possibility of
that man ever committing another
crime" The reason why there
are so few murders in England
is due to the fact that the criminal
is tried, convicted and hung. re-
CARELESS of money or political in
fluence. Some years ago there
were quito a number of murders
committed near Lewisburg, a SUI
burb of Birmingham. The people
demanded that the officers get
busy and arrest the murderers.
They were arrested, tried, con-
victed and hung. Since that date
Lewisburg has been the most
peaceful part of Birmingham. AS
to the Master not approving capt.
tai punishment; surely the writer
has never read the twenty-third
chapter of Matthew-where he
said that the lawyers who heaped
heavy taxes on men and hindered
those who would remove them;
He could not see how these fell
lows could escape the damnation
of hell; and if our courts would
hasten the departure Of murderers
by the rope route, there will be
less said about the convict ques-
ton and no necessity for the
Kilby prison being enlarged.
G. T. McELDERRY.
Talladega, Ala.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-20
SOUTHERN AND JOINT RATES

According to the statement given
out by officials of the Southern Rail
way system, there is no disagreement
between the railway and the Warrior
barge management as to division of
joint rates, except as to it's applica-
ton on five commodities following the
rail carriers between Birmingport and
points in the Birmingham district very
much less than would be obtained from
application of basis prescribed by the
federal commission" Now, of course,
difference as to these five commodj-
ties may be great or a small
difference. The public is unable to
tell. 1t appears, however, that for
the chief contributing rail lines to
ask for full local rates on tonnage on
which they have practical monopoly
is not to take account Of the con-
stantly growing volume of such bust
ness. If there were great competition
for this haul, it is likely that there
would be comparatively low rates for
the short distance concerned. The
controversy seems~to hinge somewhat
upon the position of strategic strength
occupied by the Southern as to this
haul. The Southern should also not
forget that it owes much of this ton
mage to the existence of Birmingport
Without being completely in pos
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-20
POOR BOYS WHO
BECAME FAMOUS
Christopher l.. Sholes
By Frederick Houk Law

A great many Of Americas best
men and women have been de-
scendants of the pioneers of New
England. The strain of John AL
den and his wife, Priscilla Null
Inns, has produced many great
Americans. Among others de-
scended from this romantic couple,
concerning whom Longfellow
wrote so happily in THE Court
ship of Miles Standish," was Chris
topher l.. Sho1es. one of the in
ventors of the typewriter.
WIN don't you speak for your
self, john" Priscilla asked many
years ago, and it was Johns de-
scendant who made the machine
that today enables every business
man to speak SO well for himself
in the clear print of typewrit-
ing.
This particular successor of
John Alden did not have wealth,
even if he did have the best blood
of America. When he was boy
of fourteen he was set to work in
d
proverbial printers devil" When
he had passed his apprenticeship
as devil" he went to work for
his brother out in Wisconsin,
prosperous printer. From being
a printer, Christopher Sholes nat
urally developed into an editor
and writer. and then just as nat
urally into politician. From be-
ing merely a citizen who could
express his strong opinions on
slavery and other topics he be-
came first a postmaster and then
a state senator. collector OF GUS
toms and comptroller Of Milwau-
kee.
In the printing shop that he
continued to operate. Christopher
Sholes had need of numbering
machines, and in trying to make a
numbering machine he stumbled
upon the idea of a machine that
would print as well as number.
Making use of crude machines in
vented by others, and initiating
the keyboard of a piano, he at
last made an apparatus that seems
peculiarly laundering when put by
the side of any ordinary modern
typewriter. But 1t worked. Then
he began the task of interesting
wealthy men. The Remington
Arms Company was able to make
accurately formed parts. and so
that company was quickly inter-
ested in the new machine, bought
the rights. and developed and per-
fected one Of the most useful In
strunents ever devised.
For many years Christopher
Sholes continued to work on the
improvement of the typewriter.
and many others came to his aid.
In general, however. it is the work
Of the printers devil" that gave
the world the first really success
full typewriter.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-20
THE LEGISLATURES TURN

With failure of the federal water
power commission to act, and with re-
fusal of the Alabama Public Service
Commission to grant the applications
of the Alabama Power Company for
extension of it's transmission lines
into the field of Muscle Shoals and
for the development of a hydro-elec-
trio unit at. Lock II on the Warrior,
there devolves upon the state legisla-
ture the additional responsibility of
formulating such water-power pol
icy as will best meet the needs of the
situation. 1t is understood that such
a policy is already being considered
in its legislative aspects. The people
of Alabama do not seek nor desire
any punitive statutes, such as will
hinder or thwart the development of
this great resource. There is no pub
lie desire that the opportunity for
private enterprise in this field be mar
rowed, but rather that it be expanded
to offer attractive invitation to pri-
vate capital. Of course, monopoly
in this field would narrow the oppor-
tunity and prevent wide financial in
terest in such development.
It is not forgotten also that the
distribution of electric current is of
a public utility nature and that there
fore it is naturally subject to far
greater regulation than ordinary in
dustry, for the welfare of many in
dustries depends upon the manner,
regularity, dependability and cost of
such distribution. Water power is one
Of Alabama's most important and
vital natural resources. Every legal
and reasonable guaranty that this re-
source will be developed to the fullest
public advantage to the people of this
state is the legitimate concern of the
Legislators. 1t is not believed that a
monopoly of this resource or an I'M
restricted permission to export the
power developed from it is to the
fullest public advantage. The state
and federal governments can doubt
less work out an acceptable and har-
monious policy that will insure the
most intensive public benefit
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-20
PENDING DEALS IN COAL

Eastern capital is earnestly seeking
to acquire four of the principal oper-
ating Alabama coal properties. Two
well-defined deals are in progress.
The district is not counting chickens
before they are Matched and is not
considering either of these deals as
certain until and unless they are
closed. However, the fact remains
that capital is seeking Alabama. 1t is
headed this way because Alabama is
rich in resources. For decades it has
been known that the resources were
here in more or less undeveloped form.
Capital has always been prepared to
come on proof of the success attend
ing original development of these re-
sources.
!. The. coal properties now under
consideration have been successful de-
velopments. Value has been added to
the resources which they represent
and control by the manner in which
they have been developed and their
product marketed These properties
are not being auctioned in Eastern
markets. The deals are not the seek
ing of the owners. They have been
proposed by Eastern capital Of its own
motion AID the only question has been
that of price. The owners do not have
to sell and they will not sell without
satisfactory return on their own in
vestment. If the deals go through it
will be on the businesslike basis that
a going and successful concern can
command.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-20
FOR LACK OF THEM, BABIES DIE

Screens, ice and milk, these three.
Common enough they are, and 1t
seems that almost everybody has them
And vet for lack of these three SO
common articles of everyday use, hum
dreds of little babies in birmingham
suffer and scores of them die. The
moor we have always with us, but the
moor little babies we do not. keep with
us. if we neglect them, for they die.
II seems incredible that in this city OF
generous plenty there should actually
be helpless little human beings VINO
do not have enough nourishment, While
the great majority of the people nave
far more than they can possibly use.
And yet the superintendent OF the de-
parsment of public welfare asserts,
without fear of contradiction, that, Tor
the lack of screens, ice and milk,
many and many an infant falls SICK
and many of them die.
The screens, to be sure, are to Ward
off the flies that this city's peculiar
interpretation VI lto P"o-iN
bility permits to breed in such GUAM
titles. The flies that are absolutely
preventable and that carry preventa-
BILE disease. The ice is needed to keep
the milk sweet and to, cool the feYerish
little ones. The milk, that universal
food, is the only form in which many
of these babies can take nourlshment
at all. Yet screens, and ice, and milk,
which this city possesses in such guam
titles as actually result in great
daily waste of these vital commodities,
are beyond the reach of many OF these
helpless babies. Two dollars and
half a week it costs to provide for the
living of these babies. What answer
will the prosperous people of Birming-
had give to this situation?
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-20
FORD DECLINES TO RUN

The people of this section of the
South receive with sentiments of sat
isfaction the report that Henry Ford
refuses to consider himself in any
sense candidate for the presidential
nomination. The project very dear
to the people of the area surrounding
Muscle Shoals is the development of
that giant project in accordance with
the plans outlined by Ford and his
spokesman and associates. The peo-
pie favor Ford for many reasons. One
of the chief of these is his promptness
in making an offer for the PROPOSE
ton, an offer that has proved better
than anyone else has put forward, and
that has stood the violent political and
corporation attacks upon it. The idea
that the project can be utilized to the
general betterment of agriculture
throughout the country, and to the
industrial expansion of the region
within the scope of the Muscle Shoals
power influence has elected wide pub
lie appreciation.
There is confidence in Henry Ford:
ability to do the task he has set fol
himself at Muscle Shoals, confidence
based upon his Incompatible success:
already achieved along industrial lines
Although Ford is reputed the wealth
lest man in the world, the common
people are not afraid of him, for the!
believe that he has arrayed his re
sources against those. financial en-
trenchments of Wall Street that arr
nationally unpopular and that once
sought to bring Ford himself to hi
financial knees. The people admire
success, and especially success agains
odds and against powers that use theil
forces unscrupulously to win theil
evn ends. Nobody knows how mucl
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-20
AClDErLIcHTS faa Ri 4CAl
A\NATIONAL sfiIII
~ CAPITAL @qsssslasIsssss.l

Clerks in the pension office are
today busily filling out and sign
ing 549.Oe6 checks for the payment
of s2O,66o,01S.97 in pensions to
old soldiers and their widows.
The pension office mails more
checks each month than any other
department of the government
Envelopes addressed to pensioners
living in every state of the Union
are put in the local postoffice in
time to reach the beneficiaries by
the fourth of the month. Signing
the checks is a big job within it
self Prompt mailing is effected
as result of an arrangement with
the postoffice whereby the gov
eminent separates the letters by
states and encloses them in sepa-
rate bags.
The checks are printed in sheets
of five with attached stubs. the
latter for convenience being kept
in books of 1000. After the cor
rectness of the checks is ascer-
tanned by supervisors, they are
sent to clerks designated to sign
them. The signatures of these
clerks are on file at the treasury.
Cheek signers use 4 the ten-pen
signagraph which Enables them to
affix their signatures to ten
checks at single operation.
After they are signed, the checks
are separated by an electric cut
ting machine.
After the checks are enclosed
in window envelopes they are
placed IN boxes containing 420
each. One thousand, two hundred
boxes are required. When mail
sacks are filled with these boxes
twelve heavy office trucks are
used to convey them to the post
office.
All pension checks are sent to
the Washington postoffice one
week prior to the fourth of the
month when the pensions are due.
The postmaster routes for dispatch
upon proper schedules those des-
tined for points near the District,
and release them SO that they
may be delivered on the fourth.
Checks for distant points are re-
sacked and forwarded to the SUI
pei VI tic ldllW IHdil
service in their respective districts
and they are held and released
for dispatch in the same manner
as those nearer Washington.
A Civil war general (who played
his part in making it 500 declared
that war was h. A casual visit
to the bureau proves that the
generals conception was accurate.
1t was and still Is.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-20
MOTHERS OFFAMOUS
MEN
The Mother of John G. Patton

Janet Jardine Rogers on-mother
of one of the most celebrated of
all missionaries, one of the kind
Hest and sweetest of men, man
who with sanity devotion carried
Christianity among the savage
cannibals of the New Hebrides-
was a Scotch woman. Strangely
enough, for the mother of mis-
sionary, she looked back upon
romantic family history. Her
mother, Janet Jardine. had been
a most attractive Scotch lass sent
away to boarding school. She fell
in love with a huge young black
smith. William Rogerson. but her
guardians forbade her to. have
anything to do with the big rough
fellow. Now, William Rogerson
had half a dozen brothers as big
and as strong as he. and SO he
came, horses and brothers and all,
lifted Janet into the saddle, and
away they went like mad
troop. to the nearest minister,
And so they married and lived
happily ever after. Such is the
romantic history of the lady who
became the grandmother of the
most sober and devout of all mod
ern missionaries!
Janet Rogerson, mother Of the
missionary, was "a bright hearted,
r h-spirited, patient, heroic young
| woman" a fit daughter of such an
ancestry. AS a girl she grew up
| singing songs, and making life
| happy for everyone around her.
One day she saw neighboring
young man. weaver of stockings.
slip into a grove of trees and sit
down to read. James Patton read
very earnestly. and came day after
| day, never seeing the girl. The
mischievous witch slipped up
quietly and stole his hat, hanging
it on a bush not far away. and
giggling when he could not find
it. She did it again. and again
! giggled in high glee. Then, on
another day, she pinned a note
on his hat. and begged his for
| giveness for her mischief. But he
had never seen her! Finally
James Patton saw her, mischievous
| eyes alight, and then there was a
real romance!
| The serious man loved the mis-
chievous, romantic girl-and so
they too were married and lived
happily ever after. OF their five
sons and six daughters. John G.
Patton became most noted. He
grew up in happy. religious
home, and he carried his fathers
seriousness, and his mother'2 II
vaci1el s1n s~en~ thA ~an"i( Va
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-20
10 FAVORITE BOOKS


Gas chosen by the late Emerson
HOugh)
"Idylls Of the King" (Tenny-
son).
"Ivanhoe" (Scott).
Westward Ho" Kingsley.
Lorna Doone" (Blackmore).
The Virginians" (Thackeray).
THE Great West" (Henry Howe,
1860.
THE Cioister and the Hearth"
(Reade).
Conquest Of Mexico" Dress
cotD.
Life of Napoleon" (Abbott).
warwick Woodlands" Drank
Forester).
Copyright. 1929. in United States and
Great Britain for The Age Herald
Alliance. All rights reserved.
- 49, h--.h A--~-i~-n Naw.~.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-20
Having failed fully to impress tn,

Having failed fully to impress the
Germans with the Importance of aban-
.doning their passive resistance policy
in the Ruhr by appealing to their rea-
son, the French have taken oyer the
transportation facilities, including the
food trains, and are appealing to the
Germans stomachs. If there is one
thing the Germans don't take to, it is
the hunger strike.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-20

Fearing race riots, extra police have
been patrolling Chicago's "black belt, -
and it is noted that the Chicago Tri-
bune is not issuing any "extras" on
the situation.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-20

Sessions of the legislature in Flor
ida do not seem to be welcomed by
the people. Two newspapers of that
state expressed regret that only two
years stand between the public inter-
ests and the next law-making body.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-20

The New York woman who. depos-
tied $2,400 in her stocking and lost it
now knows that when this receptacle
is made of silk, there is liable to be
"run" on the bank with discouraging
results,
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-20

New York Evening World)
The United States supreme court
seems to have put Kansas back
into the Union. The frisky colt is
quite given to jumping the fence.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-20

The adjutant at the Leavenworth
barracks says that Erwin R. Bergdoll
has made a model prisoner. There
is mark for Grover to shoot at.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-20
Big Building Record


Is Sylacauga building? With
$4,000 state institution. a $4,000
addition being added to our city
public school, q new fire truck
and equipment bought, white
way to be built, fire station to
be erected. and numerous other
small improvements to be made in
the city, we will leave the ques-
ton for you to answer.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-20
Neyvberry's Scooter


A dispatch from Frisco an
nounces that Truman H. New
berry SCOTS at Ford" When did
Uncle Truman's scoffer get re-
stored to working order. we'd like
to know?
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-20
Schools and Teachers


N (Florida Times Union)
The value Of school property in
this country has increased four
fold during the last two decades.
Wonder if the pay Of the teachers
has increased one-third as much?
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-20

Britain's launching of the largest
submarine may be interpreted by some
as an under-cover effort to get a
bulge in the disarmament situation.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-20
The vicious Circle

Detroit Free Press)
Coal we have always with us.
First we buy it, then we pay for
it. then we burn. 1t. and then the
vicious circle Immediately re-
commences.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-20

\SrduSutH lACS-4NcW6y
Guarding the wild life Of the
state is a commendable undertake
ing on the part of the conserva-
tionists, and 1t is to be hoped that
they will be able to carry out their
purposes. The Legislature should.
and in fact is said to be likely to,
pass conservation laws that will
greatly help in the protection of
the fish and game. The senti-
ment for this work is increasing
and spreading steadily, and will
undoubtedly have a fine effect in
the right direction. The Wild life
of the state is one of its most val
liable assets. Its conservation and
propagation is we'll worth while.
The plans of the conservationists
are calculated, If carried out, to
not only increase and conserve the
wild life as an aid to sport and
enjoyment, but will increase the
food supply of the state. The
conservation program will aid
everybody. 1t Is not for the
sportsman alone. The legislature
should take action on the matter
at the next session.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-20
THE PHOTOGRAPHERS
Saving the Pieces


(DeMOit News)
When big curb brokerage
house falls about all it can do is
to rattle the sucker list.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-20

The opera buffe model of political
revolution in Bulgaria seems to have
toned down long enough to receive
the expected applause.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-20

Stockholders in "Wail" Street are
not so gleeful these days over the kind
of Cleanup towards which they are
headed.
The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-06-20

w aSnIngtOn Star1
No reason for a third party is
seen by Senator Borah. who finds
all the inspiration needed for
live comment in the two already
in onaration.