The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-06
GOOD WORK FOR . THE RURAL SCHOOLS State Has Given S99,595.52
 for Buildings
MANY APPLICATIONS IN
Many Country Schools Are Being Built and Others Repaired With Funds From the Tag Tax With
 Little Home Help.

Montgomery, March 5.-(Special )-Since March 2, 1907, when the rural school house law was passed, the state has , donated to the rural districts of the several counties of the state for the pur- pose of repairing and erecting school houses the sum of $99, ,595. .52. In order to secure this aid from the state it is neces- sary for the people to raise locally not less than the amount appropriated by the state, and the state can not give more than $200 to a district during any one year. et
 The figures in the office of the state de- partment of education indicate, including the amount donated by the state, that nearly $400,O0O have been spent for erect ing and repairing school houses in Ala bama since March 2, 1907. The books of the department show that 72 rural school houses have been repaired and 4S5 rural school houses have been erected.
 Under the rural school house law 5000 is appropriated annually to each coun- ty for the purpose of repairing and erect ing school houses, but this appropriation is dependent upon the net proceeds of the
 
 tag tax.
 On March l, 1909, State Auditor Brandon informed the department cd education that sufficient funds had accrued from the tag tax this year to justify the state superintendent of education to approve warrants to the amount of $500 for each county. Many applications have been filed during the past six months from the various counties of the stategand the department ol education is 7 ding out warrants amounting to s12,15g the pur- pose of repairing and ers Ing school houses. The fact that onlf 300 is avail able now does not mean hat the bal ance of the appropriation for each coun- ty, s4OO, will not be available this year. In fact, 1t is believed by Superintendent Gunnels that the balance of the appropr- ation will be available within the next 60 days.
 Boys Interested.
 Commissioner of Agriculture J. A. Will kinson is receiving reports of the or ganization of many corn clubs about the state. There have been clubs at the sev- eral schools for some time, but now the communities are taxing it up to get all the growing boys to take'up and push the growth and the development of the corn industry These clubs do not, however confine study to corn, but to all kinds of crops, including investigation of soils, crop rotation, seed culture and Improvement, and, in fact, every line of work that will fie them to pe better farmers than they are, or their fathers were. MT. Wilkin- son is receiving encouragement from all parts of the state and has been commend ed for the Inauguration of the move ment-
 For School Improvement.
 Miss Sara M. Clark, corresponding sec- retary of the Alabama School Improve ment association, Is sending out lot or literature seeking to increase and foster interest in the school improvement work in all parts of the state. It Is noted that there will 5s place on the programme for this work at the meeting of the state education association at Birmingham, April and 9. All teachers and prin- cipals who can are urged to be present and help out along this line.
 In a blank for this purpose 1t is urge1 that each local association file with its county association before March 10 re port of the work done during the year. ii there is no county association then the report should be sent direct to Mrs. J. D. Matlock, president of the state associa- ton, at Birmingham. Each local organi- ration Is entitled to send It's president or a representative to the annual meet ing iii Birmi iagham, April and 9. In ad- dition to the officers mentioned above there are the following for the state: Mrs. H. c. ounnels, Montgomery. treas- urer; Miss Mary Forney. Montgomery, re- oording secretary, Mrs. Erwin Craighead, vice president Mobile, Mrs. Matlock lives at Birmingham, which is the general headquarters.