The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-03-28
BATTLE FLAGS ARE BACK IN ALABAMA Stained Banners Cone Unher-
 aided and Unsung EXERCISES TO BE ARRANGED Alabama Federation of Women's Clubs Inausurate Movement to Better
 Conditions of Schools
 In the State.
EXERCISES TO BE ARRANGED


 | Alabama battle-hags, which have been in the hands of the United States War De- partment since they were captured dur ing the war of 1S6O-6o, have been returned to the state. At least so many of them | SIS can be identified have been, the con- signment arriving this afternoon. The arrival of the flags was not anticipated consequently there was no reception. They came in by express and were taken up to the capitol by driver of one of the wagons, and sat out in the hall for long time before any one discovered what 1 they were.
 The box containing the mementoes was handed over to Dr. Thomas M. Owen director of the department of archives and history, and they will not be opened until a programme for their reception is made up.
 The resolution of Congress to return the flags was passed February 2s last, and the following letter was received today by Governor Jelks from William T. Taft. Secretary of War, at Washington:
 Taft's Letter. Sir: have the honor to advise you that under the authority conferred upon the Secretary of War by the joint resolu- ton of Congress, approved February 2s 1905, entitled a joint resolution to return to the proper authorities certain Union and Confederate flags I have caused to be forwarded to you today, by express all the Confederate battle-f1ags that were in the custody of the War Department at 1 the time of the approval of said joint res olution, and that could be identified as belonging to your state or having been borne by military organizations thereof Herewith are enclosed list of the flags transmitted to you today and a copy of executive document No. 16S, House of Representatives. Fiftieth Congress. which sets forth all the information that the War Department was able to furnish on February 16, 1SSS with regard to Union and Confederate flags then in it's custody. A few of the flags that are described in that document cannot be identified at the present time. their numbers or distfn- gushing marks having been lost, and few of the flags that could not be identi lied In 1888 have since been identified and are now returned to the states to which the organizations that bore them be- longed."
 List of Flags.
 The following is a list of the flags re- turned:
 No. 222, battle flag. Fifth Alabama regi- ment, captured by the One Hundred and Eleventh Pennsylvania volunteers at Charlottesville, May 8, 1863. No. 149, flag of Sixth Alabama, cap- | tured by B. K. Davis Twenty-second Mas sachusetts volunteers. (No date given) No. 42, flag of the Eleventh Alabama regiment, captured at the battle of Willis Church, Va, June 30, 1862, by regiment of Col. L. Magiltcn, Fourth regiment, Penn- sylvania reserve corps. The capture was made by Isaac Springer, Company K, and the battle is known in general orders as that of New Market Roads. No. 61, flag of the Eleventh Alabama infantry, captured by Fifty-seventh New York volunteers. (No time given) No. O. flag of the Thirteenth Alabama regiment, captured by Company c, First Delaware volunteers. (No time given) No S47, battle flag of the Fourteenth given)
 No. PAP, flag of the Sixteenth Alabama regiment, captured by A Greenawalt, Company G, One Hundred and Fourth Ohio volunteers. (No date siven.) No. 9S, flag of the Eighteenth Alabama. captured by Lieut.. F. s. Josselyn, Thir- teenth Illinois infantry, at Mission Ridge. November 25. 1863.
 No. 91. battle flag of the Thirty eighth Alabama infantry, captured at Missionary Ridge, November 25, 1868, by the Second Ohio volunteers, which belonged by the way to General Grants division. No. 232 battle flag of the Thirty-eighth Alabama regiment, volunteers, captured at Ressacca May IS, 1864, by Captain Box, Companq D, Twenty-seventh Indiana vol unteers.
 No 25g, battle flag of the Forty-f1rst Ala tana volunteers. by Corporal F. W. Lutes Company D, One Hundred and Eleventh New York volunteers, In front of Petersburg. March 31. 1865.
 No. ss2, battle flag sf the Forty-eighth Alabama. (No date giVen.) No. 534, colors of Clantons Alabama brigade, captured by the Second Indiana cavalry. near Montgomery, April 12. 1865. For Better Education. movement inaugurated by the Ala bama Federation of Womens clubs at It's last meeting, to better the condi- tions of the rural school conditions of the state, and especially to promote the interests of better school houses has chrystalized in the action of an address to the people of the state, in which the purposes and hopes of the committee along this line are outlined. This work was taken up by the ladies at the re- quest of State Superintendent of Educa- ton I. w. Hill. who is advising in every way.
 The committee having the matter in hand is composed of Mrs. J. D. Matlock of Birmingham, chairman; Mrs. J. L. McConaughy, Montevallo, and Mrs. Greenwood Ligon, Mobile. A constitution and bylaws have been adopted and will be sent out to the women of the state and those who take an interest in the movement.
 The address follows.
 Address Is Issued.
 To the People of Alabama: The school houses throughout the state. especially in the rural districts are generally conceded to be in need of improvement both in construction and in equipment for teaching. The Alabama Federation of Womens special object will be to inaugurate a ment in which it hopes to interest every man and woman in the state. Investigations made by the Alabama education committee, under the auspices of the state department of education and with the assistance of the southern edu- cation board, together with those made by the committee of education of the Alabama Federation of Women's clubs in the last few years. have brought strongly before the public the deplorable fact that Alabama school houses are too frequently unsightly, uncomfortable and unsanitary in construction. Besides this. they are seldom adequately pro- vided with the materials and furnishings necessary for intelligent and effective