The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-03-09
Says Educational Matters Are Now
 in Good Shape.
Head of State Department Praises In- terest shown by Governor and oniciaIs in Needs of
 Alabama.

Harry c. Gunnels. State superinten- dent of Education, is an enthusiastic supporter of good schools, and as such is we'll pleased with the results of the recent session of the Legislature of Alabama along educational lines. A considerable number of acts were passed to permit of improved condi- tions in the schools of the State. from the rural school up to the State Uni- versity, through all the intermediate grades.
 The condition of the treasury at the beginning of this administration permitted of greatly increased appro- priations for the benefit of the school, and they were made by the Legisla- ture before 1t adjourned. Superin- tendent Gunnels declares 1t as his be- lief that in the counties which have levied the local tax. the schools can be maintained without tuition at least seven months. and if there are dispen- sary funds to be appropriated to the schools in addition, the schools can be maintained. at least eight or nine months.
 Mir. Gunnels places the total appro- priation for the benefit of the common schools, with the constitutional three mill tax, under the increased assess ment valuation of the State, and the direct gift to the schools made by the recent Legislature at probably s7.- 000,o00 within the next two or three years.
 Discussing the legislative enactments concerning the schools yesterday. su- perintendent Gunnels said:
 ssThe friends of education in Ala bamas should be under great obiiga- tons to Governor Conner for the de- cided stand he has taken for the bet- torment of all of our educational fa- cilities. He has gone further and worked harder to build up complete system of schools from the country schools through to the colleges and university than any Governor the State has ever had.
 Run Seven Months of Year.
 "The Legislature has increased the public school fund s30o.0o0 for the year ending September 30, ls0S,, and s350, ,000 for each year thereafter. This increase, with the annual increase which will come from the constitu- tional three-mill tax under the new revenue laws, should give the public schools almost $2,000.000 within the next two or three years.
 'Tn the counties which have levied the local tax, the fund will be suf- fcient to run all the public schools at least seven months. In the counties which have dispensary funds and the local tax funds, the schools can be run absolutely free of tuition for eight or nine months.
 .grhe legislature has also passed bill appropriating s67,oo0 annually to aid in the building and repairing of rural schoolhouses. This Is one of the most important school measures which has been passed by the Legislature. The rural schoolhouses in Alabama, as A rule, are not only H reflection on the community in which they are To- cated, but are absolutely unfitted for school purposes. It Is estimated that seventy five percent, perhaps, of the rural school houses cannot be made somfortable during the winter months under the school house law, each county of the State is allowed $1,00t annually, but no district can be allow ed more than $20O. Under no circum- stances shall the amount gwen by the State exceed the amount which has been raised in bona fide subscriptions by the community.
 Under the law, applications for aid fin building or repairing schoolhouses should be made to the county superin- tendent of education. The county board