The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-13
BLOCTON PUTS
 UP GOOD FRONT
STATE HIGH SCHOOL COMMISSION IS GREETED BY NEARLY 2oO0 SCHOOL cHiLDREN-DAY IS A MEMORABLE ONE FOR TOWN.
B. fd..D. CULLEN

Blocton, March 12.-(Special )-The visit of the high school commission to Blocton was marked by the magnitude of the crowd of children and the brlllianey of the showing made by Blocton for the location here of the Bibb county high school
 The reception committee of about q dozen met the commission at the depot and from their carriages showed them hundreds of school children massed on the bank above the depot The carriages then took them to Smith Hill showing them the school building there, then back to No. 1 school and on to West Bloc ton.
 In the meantime the children aug mented by hundreds more who arrived on the trains from neighboring towns had been marched toward West Blocton Where the drive and walk meet the children were halted and waited until the commissioners came back. The cafz riages containing the commissioners were stopped and all the children passed in review before the governor, auditor and superintendent of education. Conserva-
  dren in line at 12O0 and some say even 2Q00.
 Later the children were massed in front of the opera house, while the commis- sioners visited the West Blocton school building. On their return Superintendent H. c. Gunnels and Auditor w. W. Bran don spoke to the children from the bal cony of the opera house. Then while the speakers and older people went in- ciHa ho nhtIdrap mt n the naVil- ion, where free lunch and lemonade were served them.
 A game of baseball was started, but rain interferred at the end of the second inning, when the score stood 4 to l in favor of the Outlaws over Piper.
 At the opera house the exercises were opened with prayer by the Rev. Harry Wheeler. Dr. George w. Randall then proceeded to present the claims of Bloc ton to the high school This he did in a remarkably able manner, leaving out no point of vantage. and failing to stress no point. His talk was fine and was fully enjoyed by all present.
 Following him Superintendent Gunnels made short talk, aptly replying to some of pr. Randall's points. Governor Conner was next on the pro- gramme and made a very able presenta- tion of the aims and ideas of the people n regard to the school system of Ala bama. He said that the rich county of Blob must not stop at a 5000 house, but must build larger and better to &C., commodate the large number of pupils here.
 Auditor Brandon followed Governor Co., mer and enlarged on the talks of his pred ecessors and branched off largely into anecdote and story.
 | All the stories were frequently inter- rupted by enthusiastic applause, and the audience seemed in accord with the 1 speakers.
 Blocton presented a good front, put up I a good fight for the school on her merits | and if she does not win, it will be through | no ia ut of her citizens. | The raising of the necessary amount 1 to secure the school will be done at once. | But little trouble Is anticipated in this | respect, however, as all the people are in | earnest. and all believe that the commits
 sion will give the school to Blocton, pro- l vided it 'raises the dough-"