The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-01-13
NORTH BIRMINGHAM
 CASE DISMISSED Cannot Amend Affidavit On Which Defendant Is Arraigned MAKING SOIL SURVEYS
Death of Rufus N. Rhodes Makes An other Vacancy on Alabama Edu- cation committee-Judge Pear
 son Has knotty Problem.

Montgomery. January 12.-(Special.)- The supreme court has dismissed the petition of G. W. Sparkman, contest ing the right Of the council of North Birmingham to exercise jurisdiction In territory taken in at a special election, there being no reason to believe that the extension was not legal and right How ever, since that time the town of North Birmingham has become part of Great CT Birmingham, with all its lines and boundaries.
 In dismissing the case against W. H. Moore of Birmingham, the supreme court denies the right of a solicitor to amend an affidavit upon which a defendant is brought to trial. Moore was charged in warrant with violating the prohibi- ton laws in that city. On demurrer the affidavit was not sustained and to rem- edy the defect the solicitor put other matter in it. This was not right, tho higher court says, and the prisoner is discharged. Trial may not result upon any part of a showing of this kind which has not been sworn to, is the ruling. State soil survey. Soils of five counties are now under going investigation by the soils depart ment of the state. working with the de- partment of agriculture. They are Tus- caloosa, by Messrs. Winston and Latt- mer; Pike, by Messrs. Tharp and Lett; Mobile, by Messrs Manadier and Can trell; Dale, by Messrs. Hearst and Cam eron; Clarke, by Messrs. Waldrop and Avary. Over half the soil area of the state has been surveyed to this time. six counties being completed last year. The state has not spent any year yet more than one-half of its appropriation of Slo,- 600 annually.
 For the Hookworms.
 By direction of the state board Of ex- aminers for the health department, this department will be represented at the hookworm conference at Atlanta by Dr. w. H. Sanders, stste health officer. Dr. E. M. Mason, an attache of the depart ment, will also go along.
 New Life Company.
 The Georgia Life Insurance company of Macon will enter Alabama January 15, Ledbetter & Basket to be state agents at Montgomery. These gentlemen come from Rome. Ga. and Chattanooga, re- spectively. This company. organized in Aprll, l9UJ, naS Cdpltdl Ol P4sVVVsVVV NhV surplus of half as much. D. F. Amerine of Montgomery is supervisor of the casu- atty department in the state.
 Rhodes and Bush.
 The death of Gen. Rufus N. Rhodes of Birmingham leaves two vacancies on the Alabama educational committee recently made, and, strange to say, both as re- suit of the death of prominent Birmina- ham citizens. The other is Col. T. c. Bush, who passed away suddenly several weeks ago. General Rhodes was always a good friend to education and educa- tional progress and a short while ago gave his approval to a movement for general state conference on education. Colonel Bush was also hard worker for the cause and gave his time and money without stint to it.
 The committee now stands, with the two vacancies, as follows: Harry c. Gun nels, state superintendent of education, chairman; Hervey W. Laird. Montgom- cry, executive secretary; Dr. B. J. Bald win, Montgomery. treasurer; Edgar Gard ner Murphy. Montgomery; I. W. Hill, OpelilSa; c. c. Thach, Auburn; John W. Abercrombie, University; w. w. Screws, Montgomery; Erwin Craighead, Mobile; R. E. Pettus. Huntsville; John T. Ash- craft, Florence; S. J. Bowie and pr. J. H. Phillips. Birmingham; J. A. Moore. Marion, and H. s. D. Mallory. Selma Tho organization has in view much active work for the current year.
 For Early Primary.
 Hugh Merrill, well known lawyer of Hefin, Cleburne county, who has been attending the sessions of the supreme court this week, is anxious for an early primary. He was among the anti-amend- CTS. His brother, Walter Merrill, who was an amender, Is also for getting the primary over and done with right away The latter is in the race for the state senate from the district of Cleburne, Clay and Calhoun and is ready to have the Talladega, also an amender. is for late primary, holding for date no earlier than summer, August being about right. He takes no stock in the fear that to put it of go long will bring about more strife and contention.
 Looking For Trouble.
 A number of foreign corporations are looking for trouble in Aiabama. Of sos last year only 1e7 have paid the BIO license which gives them the right to do business in the state. Under section 3063 of the code of 1907 no contract made by any company falling to pay the license is valid and neglect of this is likely to be em- barrassfng.
 Mail Car squabbIe.
 Government experts are at work in the offices of the Louisville and Nashville