The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-03-17
Well-Kno7Dn AlQbQnidns
 In Birmingham Yesterday
ny WALTER HAnPER.

Harry C. Gunnells of Montgomery, state superintendent of education, was in Blr- mingham yesterday on business connected with his office. He stopped at the Hotel
 Iii,nap.
 'The present school term in the, rural districts of Alabama will be the longest in the history of the state" said Mir. Gunnelis 'The state fund is larger than ever before and most of the counties have supplemented the fund with the mill tax authorized by the legislature. Forty three of the 67 counties have assessed the special tax and it helps wonderfully in improving the efficiency of the rural schools.
 seThe county high schools that have al ready been established and are running are sivins general satisfaction and prom ise to become very valuable. The attend snce in most of them is comparatively small on account of the high standard required for entrance. The nigh school commission placed the entrance require nasnt high for the purpose of stimulating the smaller schools to higher ideaas.
 When this principle is fully appreciated by the teachers and pupiis in the rural schools there will be 8 general effort, 1t is believed. for greater efficiency.
 Tt will, of course. take time to work out the full plan of the county high school, but those behind the work are con- fident that the good results will be far- reaching and effective.
 There was never time in the hisr t1A more thoroughly aroused over the import anee of education"
 Huey Ia Optimastic
 sThs good fellowship established be- tween the people of Ressemsr. the msm- bers of the state railroad commission and the railroad officials vho met in a friendly conference yesterday is bound to result in much good to the town" said T. T. Huey of Bessesner, who was in Birmingham yesterday.
 While the commission nor the railroad officials promised anything while they were in our town the citizens of Besse- mer feel that the final results of the work begun yesterday win De handsome and commodious union depot that will
 
 There is general impression. know, that Bessemer has but little railroad pas senger traffic on account of it's proximity to Birmineham and the electric railway connection. This Is not true, and I am sure the visitors in Besssmer yesterday were impressed with the true situation.
 Many people coming to RirTninGham from points on the Blocton division of the Birmingham Minerai line set om the train at Bessemer and in returning they use the electric line back to Bessemer. Hundreds of people come to Bessemer from the Blue Creek mining sectson every week anu it is often the case that acoree ana scores of people have to stand out in all sorts of weather waiting for the train becauss the depot accommodations are | inadequate.
 "Thc same is true of the other sta tions in the town. "Bessemsr really needs better oepot accommodation and tho oitisans of the | town are tn earnest in their efforts tc | get it. We hope the railroads will see | their way clear to give the uesired i'm | provements at an early date The bus | inesa men of Bessen,er appreciate the 1 straits to which the railroads have been put in the past few years, but 1t Is be- lieved that the business of Bee!emer viii l auIN0Tike lS2SOtoh@o ~Af>Ssse-4~S'S -o@ betterments."
 Bsukhsad Tn Tewn
 Senator J. H. BAnkhead and his son | John H. Jr., of Jasper, were in Btrming- | ham yesterday, They were registered ai l the Morris hotel
 | Tho senator expressed himself Rs be-
 jnr well satisned with the prospects fol
 his reelection to the aenatorahip and hil | son. who is mana ging his fathers cam
 paign, Is equally optImistic.
 genator Bankhead may remain in towr | for q day or two.
 MT. Bankheed, Jr.. stopped long enougi | to say a good word for his home town "Jasper. at all timas one of tho busiea' | towne in the state, Ia moving ahead rap l idIy in all lines of development. "rhe Jasper Coke ovens, recently pur
 chased by the Drennens of Birmingham
 vho operate the coal mines at Paios. srt
 heinR put in shaps and will be lightet
 in a short whilA There are 20 of thea
 ovens located inside the corporate limit
 Inf Harper. Coal for coking will be brough u., from Che mines at PAlos.
 "The relighting of thia battery will givt .nuiovmeht to . numb4r of laborers ant
 stjmuiste activity in this quarter of thu town"
 Fer n1vsp InpRevsnent | W. P, Lay of 0adsden vas in BivminG-