The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-04-27

in the formative period of child's char acter will not feel that the country has gone backward in this change.
 In the South.
 But l would more particularly refer to the developemtns in the south as to con ditions which have attended education as provided in the public schools of the southern states and the wonderful pro- gress which has been made in the efforts of our people to reduce the percentage of illiteracy It is hardly necessary to refer to the time when interest first began to develop in connection with the public shools in the south, more than to say that the impoverished condition of the southern people following the civil war prevented for a time the southern states and communities thinking of any thing other than to gather themselves together for the heroic struggle which they faced, as they contemplated the fact that life must be begun over again under the most distressing conditions of poverty. The south has not always been behind in matters of education barring the establishment of public schools. Dr. J. L. NJ. Curry in speaking upon the topic Education in the South Before the Civil War said:
 In proportion to the population, taking man for man, negroes excluded from the population. the south sustained larger number of colleges with more professors and more students at a greater annual cost than was done in any other section of the Union. The same was true of it's academies and private schools. In the matter of public schools sustained by taxation and free to all who choose to attend, the south was far behind the north in the provision for universal ed- ucation. No plans adequate for universal education existed
 He further states in his address: When the confederate soldier furled his flag at Appomatox there was not southern state that had it's system of public schools but now in organic law and in statutes universal education is recognized as paramount duty. The newspaper press gives effective and intel ligent support; party platforms incorpor- ated public schools in the political creeds; state revenues are appropriated; local communities levy taxes-and scarcely a murmur of dissent is heard in opposi- ton to the doctrine that free government must stand or fall with free schools
 Tt must be remembered that these words were spoken 23 years ago-when suppose that Dr. Curry, with his optl- mistic views as to the provisions that would be made for the education of our people, could hardly have believed that such strides would be made as have been witnessed in the last decade.
 You will probably on this occasion be more interested in the changes which have taken place for the past two de- cades in the southern states.
 A ew Statistics.
 "The enrolment of pupils of all ages in the public schools increased from the year 1879 to 1902 nearly 300 per cent Alabama for instance, in the year 1870 had Al, 3l2 en- rolled in the year 1902, 365, ;-and there was corresponding increase in the amounts expended for public schools. Alabama in 1870 expended s370,000, and in 1902, s1,O57,905 It is quite interesting also to hote that there has been marked \ decrease in the percentage of male illit- kerates in the southern states since lSSO \1Eor instance, in Alabama the percentage Aas been reduced from 49 per cent. to lG per cent; Tennessee, 36 per cent to 20 per cent; Georgia, AS per cent. to % per cent; North Carolina, from 46 per cent. to 2 per cent
 nAs an evidence of the increasing abil- ity of the southern states to better care for the uneducated, 1 call attention to the assessment of property in this state, which increased from 1880 to 1903, 12O per cent We have reason to believe that the south has just entered upon it's industrial development, and that very great im- provement will be made in the agricul- tural interests. You have but to note that in the year 1880 there were only 5S4,0O0 cotton mill spndles in the south now we have 6.900000. If you could have visited this section of Alabama thirty years ago. you would have seen a sparse ly settled country, apparently devoid of any prospects for the future, as against this marvellous, vigorous city of but few years growth, with the wonderful miner- al development surrounding it.
 r What We Will See.
 f,,tf.. ..tl. cation we will see the development of bet ter citizenship higher conception of civic duties. a better understanding of the needs of the state, and power to dis criminate as to character and capacity Of men seeking office. An educated cleo torate is what every state needs and must have. Education gives us an higher con- ception of the rights of others and thus a better understanding between employ CTS and employees.
 .erhe legislature of Alabama has taken cognizance of the condition of child labor and has placed some restrictions on the employers that will be helpful to that class of labor. There is yet more to be done in that line. This legislation means better educational advantages for that class of labor.
 We hope through your presence and encouragement to be stimulated to great CT exertions in self-help. That Is the great object 10 De obtained Tn per1ectlng and enlarging our school system. We care but little for outside aid beyond good wishes, kind suggestions and words of encouragement. Any kind of pecuniary aid that would lessen our determination to see to 1t that ultimately every one of school age should read and write and be aided to further advantages that would best fit them for their respective fields of labor. would be hurtful.
 Local Taxation.
 i "The present constitution of this state permits local taxation for school purposes and I believe the sentiment is being built up to that end. Direct aid by ap- propriations from the United States treasury would, I fear, be harmful--and sooner or later, would interfere with the splendid systems that prevail In the diff ferent states. Valuable aid In the way of donation of lands to the states has been given in the past and I think would be helpful in the future to the extent of the governments resources in its own ership of lands within the different. states.
 Ut may be that the people of Birming- ham are charged with being materalists by those who are only familiar with our city and district in a general way. The fact that from house top in the city smoke can be seen ascending from twen- ty-four furnace stacks, and the existence of sixty-one coal mines with numerous ore mines near these furnaces, all within the limits of this county, to say nothing of the steel and rolling mills and various manufacturing plants. would make it