The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-23
D|SPENSARY SUITS
 BLOCTON CITIZENS The Profits Now Amount to $100O Every Month MAKES AN ORDERLY TOWN Before lnstaIment of Dispensary In West Bocton Criminal Docket Was
 Great, But Now 1t Is Com
 paratively Small.
MAKES AN ORDERLY TOWN

Blocton, December 22.-(Special) After being exempt from taxation for a period of three years the merchants of West Blocton will probably be taxed for about a year to pay the debt incurred by the erection of a school house. The tax, however, will be very slight, as the money to be raised is only s2500.
 The district of Blocton is divided into several sections. two of which are in corporated. West Blocton comprises the business part of Blocton proper and Smith Hill is thrifty settlement about quarter of a mile from the station.
 Bbb Is Dispensary County.
 Bibb county, in which the district is To- cated, is a dispensary county. There are but two dispensaries in the county, one at each of the above named towns. The dispensary at West Blocton has been in operation for three years and has been such a great financial success that it has kept up the city, thus freeing the citizens from taxation. The net profits from the dspensary are 5000 a month half of which goes to the city and half to the county. The county devotes its share to the enhancement of the public schools and for keeping up the roads and bridges. The good use to which this money has been put is demonstrated by the fact that five important bridges have been built at cost of over $9O,0O0
 So far as the city of West Blocton is concerned, the efficient police protection, public water works and advanced im- provement of the place speaks for itself.
 Dspensary Beneficial.
 In order to get some light on the moral benefit of the dispensary system a special correspondent of the Age-Herald inter viewed a number of citizens and from the opinions expressed there is no doubt that it is very beneficial at least so far as the Blocton district is concerned Merchants, miners and every class of citizen. when questioned, spoke in glowing terms of the moral effect of the dspensary.
 E. w. Reynolds, mayor of West Bloc ton, said While l understand the dis pensary in some places has created blind tigers, I do not know of any here. I consider this one of the most orderly towns in Alabama. The branch of the county court which was established here years ago is now practically useless. Be- fore we had the dispensary the docket at that court was exceedingly large, while now it is significantly small"
 Thrifty Town.
 J. B. Davie, one of the prominent mer- chants of West Blocton, practically re- iterated the mayors statement, and in speaking of West Blocton said Besides having an orderly town, we have a thrifty one. Situated as we are on the dividing line of the agricultural and mining fields, we are making great strides. The mines are all working full time and the farmers have raised the best crop in years"
 John Gilbert, the chief of police, said: 'We have an orderly town and one to be proud of. Before the dispensary was here it was no uncommon sight to see drunken men lying around the streets. Now however, 1t is very rare that an ar- rest is made at all.'
 The dispensary is under the manage ment of A. C. Lagrove, who is very pep ular with the citizens Sober and indus trious himself, he conducts the business in such way as to call forth public appreciation and praise. MT. Lagrove has had the management since the dispensary was installed" and will probably hold it until he sees fit to resign.
 Has No Church.
 One of the peculiar features of West Bocton is that it has no church. All the churches of the district are in Blocton proper, which is not incorporated.
 It is understood that the Tennessee Coal. Iron and Railway company will put some of their property on the market. If they do so 1t will greatly add to the size of the town. When the mines opened up in the district some twenty years ago it was never dreamed that the development of them would be so far-reaching IS it proved to be. Common store houses were erected which, however, are giving place to buildings of brick and stone. Before many years have past all the relics of the original mining camp will have be- come a memory, and in it's place will be one of the best cities in Alabama.