The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-07-28

curing for the young men and women of the state facilities for thorough educa- ton.
 Aided by your appropriations the nor maj and agricultural schools and the new high school system show remarkable growth. The accessibility of these schools to every part of the state places with in easy reach of all an opportunity for securing advanced education.
 From the increase in ad valorem tax and your direct appropriation the public schools have an increased maintenance of S650 600 per annum, and the further amount of $67,000 per annum for rural school houses. The people have largely taken advantage of the fund for repairing and building rural school houses and of the increased fund for rural education. It is estimated that the rural districts, taking advantage of the 5000 fund given annually to each county for repairing and building school houses-not over $200 being allowed any sehool-have repaired 191 rural school houses and have erected 3S4 new buildings at an estimated cost of S400, GOO, of which the state paid less than S1O0000. Through the appropriation of S2000 annually to the high schools of the different counties, 29 new schools will be in active operation next year, and school property of an estimated value of $435 GOO has been added to the state new impetus has been given toward bet ter and higher education, and higher cit lzenship. and T am suggesting to you that the way to compulsory education looks easy and safe, and I further sug- gest that you do not hesitate in thls matter. No parent with such advantages as Alabama now offers has the right to his family in ignorance.
 At a cost of s5000 you repaired the medical college at Mobile and established 1t as a state institution and appropriated 5000 annually for it's maintenance. You increased the appropriation for the state medical board 5000 annually The for mer offers great opportunities for the medical students of the state and there is no reason why they should not be largely taken advantage of, and I un- derstand that they are The state medical board has done a great work in giving the Pasteur treatment; in innoculating against disease and in environing every part of the state with scientific care
 Courts.
 You have established new courts of law and equity, giving facilities for quick trial in all case and you have placed the judi cial system on a higher basis.
 You increased the salaries of the jus tices of the supreme court, of the chan eellors, of the circuit judges and solic- itors, and you made appropriations for the salaries, formerly paid by the coun- ties, of the justices of the city courts and the law and equity courts
 Forestry, Fish and Game.
 You made the forestry law, which will work great good, 1t is believed, in pro tecting our forests from destruction. Your fish and game laws have proven success ful in the protection of fish and game, and have brought revenue into the treas- ury.
 Soil Survey.
 Your appropriation of S10,000 annually for the soil survey of the state is giv- ing to the farmers better knowledge of the soils and their adaptability to cer- tain crops.
 Live Stock Board.
 Your law establishing state live stock sanitary board and the office of state veterinarian, and the appropriation of 5000 for expenses has been of great benefit in protecting live stock from contagious and infectious diseases, and has done great good in excluding such diseases from our state.
 Military.
 Your increased military appropriation of 5000 has been productive of great good And 1t is my pleasure to report to you that our state troops are in better con diton and morals than ever before. The unfortunate labor strike in the Birming- ham district and the Eufaula riot have proven that these troops are of inoalcul- able benefit to the state. I cannot com mend them too highly as one of the most important factors for the prevention of crime and the preservation of the peace of the state
 Railroad Legislation.
 Your law establishing the railroad com mission and giving it power to exercise certain delegated functions with reference to rates has been sustained by the fed eral circuit court of appeals at New Or leans, and will prove most useful alike to every class of shipper and carrier. This Is something for which the state has contended for 30 years-a contest com menced by Capt Walter l.. Bragg-and when the full extent of the law Is re- alized 1t will prove one of the most equit- able and far-reaching laws in it's bene- ficial results of any of our statutes. Your law making passenger rates 22 cents per mile and regulating the rate on the eight group acts, comprising the 110 articles of common production, consumption and use, are now in effect and are not unjust to the carrier, but & great saving to the consumer, producer and shipper. The farmers, manufacturers and consumers of the state have been given nearly the same freight rate on these articles that has been maintained in Georgia, the Carolinas and vir- gInia for many years In other words. this is not 8 pioneer movement. It is a traleved way; and there is no reason why railroads should come into our state where conditions are so similar and after crossing our state line immediately in- crease passenger and freight rates. Any one now shipping a bale of cotton, a bushel of corn, of peanuts, a ton of fer tilizer, of cotton seed meal, car of lime or brick, lumber, wagons, in fact any article of common production, consump- tion and use can ship same at less rate than formerly.
 The railroad commission acting under a statute you have enacted has secured reduced express rates so that any one shipping a coop of chickens, a crate of eggs, a kid or a lamb, fruit or vege- tables, now pays a less rate. All this will encourage the consumer and multiply the number of producers and prove of great advantage to shipper and carrier alike. It will also encourage manufacture of every kind. It is impracticab1e to man ufacture successfully raw material such as cotton, lumber, iron and steel into ..I@-- L