The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-08-19
s7s,ssa; 1900, s4,4os,222; 1908. sS.22s,-

3T6,332 1900, $4,403,222; 1908. $6,22S,- 554.
 With practically the same population as Alabama, Minnesota is spending more than four times the amount Ala hama is spending for educational pur- poses. Nebraska, with less than one half the population of Alabama, is spending more than twice as much as Alabama. The total population of Ne braska Is not equal to the total white population of Alabama yet Nebraska 8 Is spending three times the amount for the education of it's mixed population that Alabama is spending for its na- tive white population.
 Expended per capita of total popula- tion:
 1880 1890 1900 1908 Alasama ......$ 40 ! .59 5 .59 $1 26 Minnesota ..... 1.70 3.22 3.21 .43 Nebraska ..... 2.45 3.19 4.13 5.83
 Expended per capita of average at tendance:
 1900 1908 Alabama ...............$ 4.30 $10.b2 minnesota ......... lo.OV oo'oc Nebraska ................ 14.00 32.5S
 Minnesota aRd Nebraska have made steady progress in educational work. The shifting of population has shown intermittent decrease in enrolment but there has been no decrease in attend ance and in liberal appropriations of money for educational purposes the growth has been continuous and stable. But, as I have stated, Minnesota and Nebraska are not the leading states of the west in educational advancement. Some of the western states are spend ing more than twice the amount these states are spending. The state of Washington is s10 per capita of popu- lation and 345.47 per capita of aver age attendance; Nevada, $11.S1 on pop ulation and $72,34 on average attend ance California, $S.47 and $6493; Ida ho, .$7.59 per capita of population and $31.54 on per capita of average at tendance. In per capita expenditure Alabama is the lowest in the United States, except Mississippi which is spending 9S cents and South Carolina. s1.O7 New Zealand is providing edu- cational facilities for the children of that country at an expense Of $4.07 per capita of population.
 It has been stated time and again in Congress, in the press and period icals and at educational conventions that the southern states have been very liberal in expenditures for educational purposes and that in this work they have taxed themselves beyond their means. I have just read a paper from distinguished citizen of the south in which it Is stated that tho southern people have done wonderful things more than any other people, for the cause of education. No doubt the writer was sincere in his statement but he had not investigated the question. He had simply taken for granted what he had heard from some other misin- formed writer or speaker and accept ed as the truth. The following sta tistics, from the latest federal reports will show the error of this popular fal lacy.
 True value of real and personal prop erty:
 Alabama: 1880. $42S, ,O00, 900; 1890 $s22.77s,5o4; 1900. $774,6s2,47S; 1908 | $se5,014.2s1.
 Minnesota: 1880, ;7s2,oo 900; 1890 ss1,s51.s27; 1900, $2,51s,s2o.s2s; 1908 $3,343, ,722,076.
 Expended for public schools on each $1.275. 5.6S5,514; 1900, $1,626, ,203,2 ,203; 1908 y2, ,00s, ,56s.e33.
 Expended for public schools on each $100 of true valuation of all real and
 1880 1890 1900 1908 Alabama ...11.7c 14.Sc 11.Sc 30t Minn.--. IS. Sc 24.7c 22.4c 241 Nebraska .2S. Sc 26.5c 27.1c 23
 The state of Washington Is spending 3S.6 cents on each $100 of true valuation | of all real and personal property; Oregon | is spending PIP and Colorado is spending B cents. The estimated value of all req and personal property in West virginis is s125.0 1000 less than Alabama, but West Virginia is spending 3o1, more than dou. ble the expenditure of Alabama on basis of true valuation of all property. From | these statistics, 1t seems that the state of Alabama, by comparison, Is not taxing the people very heavily for educationa purposes. When we consider the greater needs in Alabama, it is showing tha, does little credit to those who dictate public policy in that state.
 I have seen a good deal in the papers