The age-herald., 1900-09-30
Tn Hotel Lobbies and Elsewhere
sMAN AND RICHEST PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THE WORLD

tendent of Schools Jere Fountain entered into an agreement with Mayor Walter Melville Drennen of Birmingham, State Senator Jones G. Moore of Bibb and Ellis Mccormick whereby he undertook to lease them the school land in question for the purpose of coal mining operations. Yester- day the lease agreement to cover five years was finally consummated. and Superinten- dent Fountains last official act before re- tiring from office was to approve the bonds of the lessees. Messrs. Drennen, Moore and Mccormick give bond to pay 74 cents a ton royalty on all coal mined on the prop erty and to pay $500 a year; the minimum total payment each year being guaranteed at $15OO. Estimated on moderate out put. the beat school will receive 5000 a year, and is likely to largely exceed that amount.
 This section of public school land, which promises to become famous, was lost in the woods, so to speak; nobody wanted it, nobody would have 1t. But 1t is rich In coal, and was every day increasing in real value, whilst all the other sixteenth sec-
 tions of Jefferson were disposed of for "a little O nothing"
 Prof Jere Fountain deserves a statue. This one transaction alone would distin- guish him. Yet he has been one of the
 best and ablest superintendents of schools Jefferson has ever had, and as he goes
 back to the school room he carries with
 him the thanks, good wishes and cordial esteem of all the people of the county.
 
 Birmingham is sorely in need of thor oughly trained women nurses for the sick. All the public feel this need, doctors most of all There are said to be not twenty
 really good nurses In Birmingham, and not more than half that many of the first class. And doctors wonder why a greater number of young women do not become educated as nurses, seeing that the work is whole some, eminently respectable and well paid. Hospital nurses get from s25 to $40 month. together with their board, and private nurses $2O week, with their board. One of the local nurses, an Alabama girl, who is highly esteemed by the doctors and treasured by many an invalid who has suf- l fered, leaves today for the Truro Infrmary. New Orleans. to complete her training. She
 is Miss Mary P Nichols, the daughter of | a good doctor and notable man of Shelby | County, now dead. Miss Nichols has been 1 nursing and studying very closely and very | diligently in Birmingham for two years or
 so, and she has displayed great skill and | aptitude. Her skill in nursing has been enhanced in value by her tender and beau-
 tiful character. Into many and many a | home of Birmingham darkened by suffering l she has gone a white-capped angel of mercy and gentleness, and many brave | heart will bless her alway. Almost every | enlightened home in Birmingham which 1 has been saddened by the protracted illness
 of any of it's inmates has been comforted l by her gentle presence; and almost every | body knows her and she enjoys to a notable 1 degree the esteem of this community. This much is due to this brave Alabama l girl to say. She is one of the multitude l striving to make her own gentle way 1 worthily She has a brother young Dr.
 Walter l.. Nichols, who promises to be-
 come a very successful physician. He also ! leaves Birmingham today going to Balti- 1 more to complete his studies.