The Birmingham age-herald. [volume], July 15, 1913, Page 3, Image 3

About The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950

Image provided by: University of Alabama Libraries, Tuscaloosa, AL

                
MORGAN PROUD OF
EARLY EFFORFS FOR
NEW YORKCENTRAL
Acquirement of West Shore
Among Greatest Achieve
ments of His Youth
HR. WEBB SHOWED
GREAT FORESIGHT
Building Road Through Adirondacks
Meant Overcoming Obstacles as
Great as Napoleon's Road
Across the Alps
By HOLLAND
New' York. July 14— (Special.)—Some time
fast winter it was stated by one of the
members of the firm of J. P. Morgan «!Si
Co. that the proposed consolidation or
complete merger of the various railroad
systems which are already in the con
trol or ownership of the New York Cen
tral would entail delicate, somewhat com
plicated, financing, the aggregate figures
of which would probably represent the
largest sum invested in the capital, stock
and bonds of American railway corpora
tions—perhaps as much as $l,u00,000,000.
Much of tills financing, however, would
Involve, it was then said, no great amount
of money. It. would be accomplished by a
•atlsfaetory exchange of securities, simi
lar possibly to that by which the New
York Central came Into possession of
much more than a majority of the Lake
8hore stock, paying for it with New York
Central bonds, bearing 3Vs per cent in
terest, two for one, that is to say two
bonds for one share of stock.
The consolidation, however, into one gi
gantic system of the various subsidiaries
of the New York Central will have, in ad
dition to its financial magnitude, behind it
some exceedingly romantic and interest
ing histories of railroad creation and
growth.
The absorption by the New York Central
of the West Shore was achieved by one
Excelsior laundered
collars fit. like new
ones.
We SHAPE them
right and it adds a
deal to comfort.
Excelsior Wagons Cover
Greater Birmingham
Excelsior
Laundry
1805-1807 Second Ave.
Phones 5312-5313
CUTTING ALFALFA FOR THIRD TIME
. , , WHAT BLACK BELT ALFALFA GROWERS ARE DOING NOW
Showing alfalfa cutting on plantation of Lloyd & Bright near Demopolis. From this field the third
cutting has already been made. Two and possibly three more cuttings will be made this season.
of the earliest master strokes of the late
J: P. Morgan. Although Mr. Morgan was
usually tacitQrn when asked about his
own achievements, he was rather anxious
that the story of the difficulties he en- ,
countered and overcame when handling. (
for the Vanderbilts, the West Shore ab
sorption proposition should be accurately
and fully told. He seemed to take special I
pride in this achievement of his younger !
days.
There was some incidental history con
nected with the absorption of the West
Shore by the Vanderbilt system of which
no record was ever made. For instance,
the day came when William H. Vanderbilt
was to give his check for a little over $6,
000,000, so that the final part of the trans
action could be completed. One of Mr.
Vanderbilt’s friends, the late Commodore
Van Santvoord, knowing that Mr. Van
derbilt had drawn a check for $6,000,000
and that it was to pass through a bank
with which the commodore was connected
as director, went to Mr. Vanderbilt to say
that if lie needed $2,000,000 or $3,000,000 in
cash in order to take care of that check,
these millions were at ills disposal with
out charge for interest and without securi
ty, for the commodore had at that time
available funds in plenty.
But Mr. Vanderbilt replied that he had ,
no need of funds, and that he had, in fact,
on deposit as much again as $6,i»00,000
against which his check was drawn. That
was in the mid-eighties, when $6,000,000
meant much more than they did to capi
talists engaged in large financing 15 or
20 years later.
A Romantic Story
As curious an experience as the New
York Central ever had is contained in the ;
history of its relations to a raiuroad com- I
pany which is now an integral part of
its system. That is the railroad line
which runs from t’tlca, N. Y., through
the heart of the Adirondack woods,
stretching onward until at last Montreal
is reached. When the proposition was first
entertained by Dr. W. Seward Webb it
was spoken of by all railroad managers
as chimerical. No one believed that a rail
road which bisected the Adirondack woods
could earn enough to pay operating ex
penses. Able railroad mfi said that while
this railroad might earn something oy
carrying bread and butter to the Adiron
dack camps and hotels in midsummer, it
could riot look for any business for at
least six months of the year, since none
but a few trappers and hunters were in
the Adirondack^ in the winter months.
Not Vanderbilt Road
As Dr. Webb was a son-in-law of Wil
liam H. Vanderbilt, and as he was in one
way identified with the Vanderbilts, for he
was president of tlie Wagner Sleeping Car
company, the presumption was strong
that tie was undertaking this Adirondack
railroud construction really In the inter
est of the Vanderbilts.
The presumption was without founda
tion. Dr. Webb then began u career as a
\'
Happy Hours Away from Home
A pleasant rail ride to the port of Savannah, Ga.
Through trains, large, easy and well-ventilated
coaches, parlor and sleeping cars, via
CENTRAL OF GEORGIA RAILWAY
Thence a joyous sea voyage. Vying with up-to-date hotels, the ships in
this service are equipped with state-rooms de luxe, cold and hot, salt
and fresh, tub and shower baths. Table d'hote service furnishes
choicest delicacies of northern and southern markets. Best table
waters. Through tickets to Eastern resorts.
ROUND-TRIP FARES FROM BIRMINGHAM
Including moal> ami berth on ship
New York .$43.20 Baltimore . .$35.50
Boston.... 48.50 Philadelphia 40.30
30-DAY FARES
New York. $41.35 Boston.$44.20
Proportionately low fares from other pointe.
For all detail*, berth reservations, etc., ask the nearest Ticket Agent.
D. T. Black. City Passenger and Ticket Agent,
2010 First Avenue, Birmingham. Ala.
Wittichen Coal & Transfer Co.
T
Coal by car or ton. r
Phone Order your winter supply early, a
4 A specialty made of car N
5 Load coal hauling-. s
1 F
Yard Avenue B and 16th St. E
IS. C. Ellin, Malinger C. P. Wittichen, Pm. R
no ARftJfFV The Nerve, Blood and
"K* fiDiTlIj I 9 Skin DiseaseSp2jialis
CoiiMiillniinn mill KiuuiiiiiitiiMi i<icp
I Gniiruntpp Lifelong Cure Arrv«MiN Chronic ainl
Private UiM‘UM'.« uf Men uud \\ omen, feueh Aa
Varicocele
Hydrocele
M riciure
tiled
txtui. rrlioea
fcltllisMluUft
1,«.*ach ami
Uritlnn
IIIiwmI aait4
Skin
IllNcaRri
«) pliMIx
Lual AlaiMiauwd
i’ eitiale
U nknrM
Uvrr,
Kidurr and
ttladder
Charges reasonable: terms made t6 suit patients
convenience. All medicines famished without extra
charge. Hours U to 7. Sundays y to 1. Call or write
DR. J. S. ABNiitf, specialist
KooniH 4tllT*.‘l-4, Fourth Floor* Fur lev Ifulldlnft
Corner itd Ate. and -Dili M. Elevator entrance :.*d A t r»
railroad constructor upon his own initia
tive. Rater he expanded his railroad in
terests through his purchase of the Rut
land railroad, and his control of a line
extending from Ogdensburg, N. Y., to the
main line of the Rutland, near Burling
ton.
Mith his own money Dr. Webb built the
Adirondack railroad. But it was easier
for him to secure the funds than It was
to conquer some of the awful difficulties
which were met with in building that
road in the winter season. The construc
tion of the road through gigantic snow
drifts, often wdth a temperature of 30 de
grees below zero, and the original devices
and quaint apparatus which were neces
sary if some of the difficulties were to be
overcome, have caused this railroad to
pass into tradition as a constructive
achievement fully as great as that by
which Napoleon conquered the Alps.
An Unexpected Result
After the road was completed and con
nections were established with Montreal,
Dr. Webb's judgment was vindicated. To
the astonishment of railway men the line
proved to be a fairly profitable one, and
the business has been constantly increas
ing. It created a winter as well as a
summer business. In addition to that i
the construction of this road hastened the i
arrangements which resulted in the pass
ing over to the control of the New York
Central of the very important Rome,
Watertown and Ogdensburg railway sys
tem. That system had, through the con
struction of a line along the south shore
of Rake Ontario to Niagara Falls, ajid also
through traffic arrangements with lines
stretching westerly from Niagara to Chi
cagO) become a true trunk line. It was
a real and heavy competitor for certain
kinds of freight with the New York Cen
tral.
Had it not been for Dr. Webb’s au
dacious venture in building the Adiron
dack railroad, the probabilities are that
some years would have passed before the
Rome, Watertown and Ogdensburg sys
tem came into the New York Central fam
ily.
The building of this road also led to the
purchase by the New York Central of the
Rutland railroad system—a purchase
which was later shared with the New
Haven railroad. So vast and unexpected
were the consequences of an enterprise
undertaken solely on his own account
and carried on with his own money by Dr.
Seward Webb. He was for a time pre
sumably “land poor.” but the highly
strategic position of this railr'oad and the
opportunity its construction gave for the
New York Central to secure a direct
through line to Ottawa, justified the New
York Central In buying the road from
Dr. Webb, and at a price which fully
recouped him for Iris large expenditure. 1*
is not unlikely that but for the construc
tion of this road through the Adirondack
wilderness, the gigantic consolidation
plans of the New York Central would not
now he so far along toward completion
as is the case.
Mamma Overhears
From the St. l.ouis Republic.
“Say, pop, why do they call it mother
tongue?"
"For the best of obvious reasons.
Willie. Son. I’m afraid you're not % a
good observer. Now scurry off to bed
before the explosion takes place."
To Die Very Quietly
From the St. Louis Republic.
Drummer—"Anything gcing on to
night?"
Hotel clerk— 'Th-huh. But its just a
quiet, private affair. The Wilson-Won t
Make-Good club is going to disband in
the hall over the engine rouse."
IT IS COOL AND COMFORTABLE IN
THE GREAT NORTH WOODS AND
LAKE COINTRY OF WISCONSIN
\ND NORTHERN MICHIGAN.
Hundreds of inland lakes and streams
with gamey fish, and delightful summer
resorts equipped with all conveniences
necessary for the full enjoyment of the
vacation period.
T>*e finest of fishing, bathing, boating,
yrehting. golfing and tennis, or you may
take automobile tours througli the adja
cent country where the soft balsam of
the pines pervades the air.
Madison. Waukesha, Lake Geneva. Mil
waukee, Green Lake, Devil s l^ake. Mani
towish, Woodruff Eagle, River, Gogebic,
and hundreds of other resorts and camp
ing places are reached by the direct lines
of the Chicago and North Western rail
way from Chicago. Printed matter and
full particulars on application to
F. C. Bl’SH, Traveling Agent.
Birmingham. Ala.
*-o-15t.
Round Trip
Excursions
Via
SOUTHERN
Railway
Premier Carrier o’ the Scnlh
New York .$41.35
Boston . $44.20
As birr y Park .$40.40
Atlantic City .$39.15
Asheville .$15.35
Hendersonville .$lb.35
Lake Toxaway .$17.25
St. Simons . $13.50
Atlantic Beach .$13.50
Tybec .$13.50
Ule of Palms .$13.50
SPECIAL OCCASIONS
Baltimore. Md. .... ..S31.75
Or. sale August 1. 2. 3; limited Aug. 15.
Asheville N. O., 0 .otl.i5
On .sale July 17, IS. !9; limit July 30.
Rlaclc Mountain. N. C.$12.20
Ridgecrest. N. C. $12.20
On eeltf July 15. is. 25, 28, 30. Aug. 1,
5. 8. 11, 12. 18: limit 15 days.
For All Informaatiou Write
H. COXWELL
District, Passenger A$ta|
(TARIFF ALONE WILL
NOT PUT CRIMP IN
THE COST OF LIVING
The Trusts Have Become so
Strong That They Must
Restore Competition
WORK NOW FALLS ON
M’REYNOLDS’ FORCE
Far-Seeing Democrats Point Out That
When Prices do Not Drop Ef
forts Will Be Made to
Discredit Party
By C. E. STEWAJt/
Washington, July 14.—(Special.)—Will
the high cost of living he affected by the
tariff reduction which Is now sure to be
brought about by the passage of the Un
derwood bill? Will the necessities of life
be brought down to a price within reason
so that the man who daily labors for the
support of his family may get a breath
ing spell?
There can hardly be any question out
what this will be the ultimate result.
Tariff reduction will open the road to a
healthy competition, which has been more
or less stifled by the protection wall. But
the high protective tariff, while the pri
mary cause, and the original and prin
ciple factor in making commodities dead*,
is not the only bar to competition. Behind
this wall of high tariff there has been
erected in the >ears of its existence,
breastworks, and alter the main wall has
been taken and overthrown by the as
sault of the Underwood hill, the breast
works must be reduced by the depart
ment of justice. l.ese breastworks .ire
the great Musts which have grown and
fattened behind the tariff wall, and which
lave now berome so powerful that they
no longer need the tariff wall, only Inci
dentally. Tf the wall tvas torn down, and
the battle stopped at that point. It would
make little difference to them. They
would continue to control prices. Prob
ably not so fully and as effectively as
formerly, but control them sufficiently to
make the dirtVror.ee to the ultimate con
sumer immaterial.
What Baltimore Platform Says
The democratic party recognizes this
fact. That they recognize it, is proclaimed
In the platform enunciated at Baltimore.
Ttyat instrument says:
“The high cost of living is a serious
problem in every American home. Tb. *
republican party, in its platform attempts
to escape from responsibility for present
conditions by denying that they are due
to a protective tariff. We take issue with
them on this subject, and charge that ex
cessive prices result in a large measure
from the high ‘arlff laws enacted and
maintained l»v th;i republican party ard
front trusts and commercial •onsplraoiea
fostered and encourage by such law's, ana
we asesrt that no substantial relief can be
secured for the people without import du
ties. on the necessities of life are materi
ally teduced, and these criminal conspira
cies broken up.”
Thoughtful leaders of the democrat:
party, therefore, do no lock for immediat e
relief to the people following the passage
of the Underwood bill. This Is merely the
first step; the work must continue and
that work will not lie so much legislative
as It will be administrative and the final
success of the undertaking to restore le
gitimate anl wholesome competition in
the United States must come through toe
legal departmc.it of the government.
Closely Interwoven
The protective system, and the gigantic
combinations which control tin* commer
cial life of ills country are so closely In
tel woven tmhat the operation of restoring
! business to a normal condition, and plac
ing trade on an equitable footing must be
g<ow or harm might come to all classes
of industry. Plus work ot the department
of justice is cut on: for it, but it will have
to be slow' and i ninstalling. Those who
have so long enjoyed the privileges of
monopoly which they hove been years
creating under th.* protective system are
rot going to surrender it without a strug
gle.
They have the rower, some of them, and
also the Inclination, to do many things
that will have a tendency to depress busi
ness and make it appear that this depres
sion is bro ught about by the change In
the tariff laws. Many superficial people
will believe this, and will condemn the
democratic party. TT temporarily factofie •
[are closed down, and men thrown out of
employment, which may happen, and un
less unprecedented luck fal’s to the lot
of the demon at*, will happen it wilt al1
'be charged awairst the tarifT bill. Every
thing possible vill be done to create public
sentiment ug tins! this measure ond .he
I arty which maced it. it will be pointed
out that tli-* promised .eduction in the
cost of living h'is not taken place as
I scheduled. »nd with m*pv people this ar
gument will pr.tve t Ifectlve.
People Must Exercise Patience
But if the peopl-- wlH exercise patience
and glv€* atrndr time foi the full remedy
to be applied, th* teller that was prov
ided them in tne democratic platform will
be finally obtained. The only way this can
be done is the final and complete dissoli -
tion of the “criminal conspiracies’—the
ij*st line of trenches ,vhieh will continue
the fight for their existence after their
front line of defense, the tariff wall, is
broken down.
I'hc year following the enactment of tb
Men’s Half-Lined Suits
Cut to These Prices:
All Fancy Worsteds, Cheviots, Homespuns and Blue Serges
$15.00 and $18.00
Suits . $12.50
$20.00 and $22.50
Suits . $15.50
$25.50 Suits . . $19.50
$28.00 Suits $21.50
$30.00 Suits $23.50
$32.50 Suits $24.50
$35.00 Suits $27.50
Men’s Separate Trousers, Entire
Stock of Fancy Worsteds and Cheviots, at
20% Discount
Straw Hat Price-Cuts
In Full Swing Today
Men’s Straws, all shapes and braids:
$5 Knox Straws, $3.75
$4 Knox Straws, $2.75
$3 & $3.50 Straws, $2.25
$2 & $2.50 Straws, $1.50
$7.50 & $8.50 dfcK
Panamas MJ>O.UU
$10.00 AA
Panamas ■ •vvi
“SSL. $10.00
1922-24
First Avenue
.
tariff law, and the currency bill will sec
great actfvty on the part of the depart
ment of justice to complete the work be
gun by the House and Senate. The Under
wood bill will have discharged its func
tion, and McReynolds will take tip hi*,
and until he completes his task permanent
and effective relief from the high cost of
| living cannot be realized to the fullest ex
tent.
The greatest advantage, and perhaps it
Is a good omen that the luck—if it may
properly be called luck-*of the democratic
party has hanged. Is the fact that from
present indication a banner crop will
again be produced by the country this
year. If this really comes true, seats on
the stock exchange may go down to two
lor a quarter and the country will only
smile and continue on the road of pros
perity.
Plucky Pedestrians
A postman of Hartlepool who retired
lately has not achieved a record by his
forty-one years of service and estmated
160,000 miles of tramping to deliver 0,250,
000 letters and parcels. A woman beat
this hollow, says Tid Bits. Mary Jack
son. postwoman of Hilston, must have,
trudged a quarter of a million miles be- .
tween 1839 and 1J60, during which time
she never missed a day from sickness
or took any holiday. Only Sundays off
duty in her half a century spoilt her
continuous record, and these were not
her fault. Delivery was experimentally
suspended for those four days, and Mary’s
own comment was that the persons re
sponsible were a pack of fools. She
left at her death a useful sum to the
Wolverhampton Hospital.
In 1851 an old Cornish fishwife of eigh
ty-four, named Mary Callinack, walked
from Penzance to London to see the
Great Exhibition In Hyde Park. The
distance is nearly 300 miles, and it is
no wonder that the old lady created n
sensation and was noticed by Queen Vic
toria. She had vowed to call upon the
Lord Mayor before returning and sin
carried out her intention, but, of course,
was not permitted to walk back home.
A very' difficult walking feat was ac
complished in 1820, when a well-known
pedestrian named Lloyd undertook for'
a bet to walk thirty miles backwards In
nine hburs. This he succeeded in doing
with fourteen minutes to spare, on the
road between Bagshot and Portsmouth.
One of the most remarkable walking
tours ever accomplished was that recent
ly completed by a blind man named
Schubert Nichols. He Is ail Alaskan
miner, and his blindness was caused by 1
the incessant glare of the powerful sun
on tiie snow ft elds of Northern Alaska,
lte walked, followed his dog team, from
the mlddlo fork of the Koyukuk river,
north of the Yukon, to Seattle, Wash
ington—a distance of 1,600 miles, cross
ing no fewer than five distinct ranges of
mountains. His trip was not without its
arventures. either. At one time the ther
mometer registered about fifty-four de
grees below* zero, and lie lost two of his
toes from frostbite. He had on, two
occasions a pack of wolves to contend
with. One pack succeeded in killing and
devouring one of his team dogs before ho
I could drive them off with his long lash.
It Never Fails
From the St. Louis Republic?.
Multimillionaire—'st can't understand
it. No matter how good and benevolent
I try to be. it seems nobody ever says
a good word about me.”
Mis wiTe (colloquially)— 'Never mind,
dear, you're not dead yet. fee patient;
some day they will.”
AUGUST EXCURSION
*24.75 im/I OIOHi:
AMI R FTTH A AIG, 1-2-3
1,1 >1 IT 15TII
SOUTHERN RAILWAY
That’s
My
Brand
I,—....j
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