The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-24
.BLOCTON SECTION SHOWS ENTERPRISE Is Rich In UndeveIoped Mineral
 Resources PEOPLE ARE PROGRESSIVE Thirty-two Towns and Camps Com pose the Busy community-schooIs Are Flourishing-Rie High
 School is Proposed.
PEOPLE ARE PROGRESSIVE
BY WALTER HARPER.

Blocton, May 3-(Special.) )-Blocton is the most complex city in the state of Ala bama In what is known as the blocton division, including a radius of about seven miles, there are 32 towns, villages and mining camps. There Is in this ter- ritory an estimated population of 5000 more than a third of the total population of Bibb county. The last school census shows school population of more than 1200.
 The heart of the community is West Blocton, Bocton No. l and Smith Hill Clustered about these three central mu- nieipalities are a surprising number of villages and camps nesting in the hills They are not apparent to the casual tour ist, but lie undiscovered In the pie turesque hills, on the mountains sides and in the valleys
 Coal Mines.
 The region is honeycombed with coal mines, giving employment to the army of men and bringing wealth to the commun- ity.
 The coal deposits here are practically inexhaustible, insuring permanency to the towns and the community institutions for generations to come
 k It is conservatively estimated that 5O0, O00,000 tons of coal are yet unmined. It is stacked up in the hills, layer under layer to an unknown depth.
 Two-thirds of the total tax valuation of the entire county is within the seven mile radius of Blocton.
 Marble Deposits.
 Within a few miles of Blocton there is a known deposit of marble that is thought to be as fine as any in the world. The deposit is said to be inexhaustable and in good shape for handling This valu- able property will be developed when these busy people find the time and the railroads get the opportunity to furnish the transportation facilities This will add another very important industry to the community and valuable asset to the great Birmingham district
 Every time I make an advance in the great industrial and agricultural fields of Alabama l am overwhelmed with the amazing possibilities. No state in the hiiAVh hdS q LII iSIltSl pIOSptCl LOT ln6 1u- ture, and no one appreciates this fact less than the man who dwells in the midst of it.
 Wealth of Timber.
 Besides it's mineral the Blocton section has an immeasurable wealth of timber and close at hand are rich agricultural lands that alone insure the permanency of the community.
 
 Looking to the social and business up- lift of the district the influential business and professional men of Blocton and it's environs have recently organized the Git izens' league.
 The objects of the organization are to improve the educational and social in terest, awaken more interest in business cooperation and advertise the adyantages of the section.
 The good people of the community, and there are as many here as in any section of like character admit that the north end of Bibb county has suffered from a bad and unjust reputation.
 Population Mixed.
 The population is made up of all classes of people. Some of them are necessarily ignorant and to certain extent irrespon- sible. That unfortunate acts have oc- cured to reflect on the community is not oui Pi lsiHS, Dul lle SOOu ptOPo WHO are largely In the majority should not be made to suffer. They are law-abiding, progressive and highly respecta ble. These are making commendable efforts to ele- vate the general tone and advance the common good, and their labors In this direction command the consideration of the people of Alabama.
 West Blocton, Bocton No 1 and Smith Hill have large graded schools with strong corps of teachers. The attendance for the term Just closing has been very large In all three institutions.
 Big High School.
 These three municipalities now have on foot movement for the establishment of one large high school centrally lo- cated. The intention of this Is to relieve the present congestion in the public schools and to extend the high school