The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-05

March IT, 1776-Howe Evacuated Boston,
 PATRIOTIC EDUCATION The position which Alabama occupies among her sister states, being the lowest in literacy, is deeply deplored by the Daughters of the American Revolution in Alabama, an organized body of pa triotic women.
 To relieve this condition in at least small degree is the object of our state society in establishing school in one of the rural districts of the state This movement has met with the hearty ap- proval of all our Alabama Daughters, many of whom in the past year have la bored faithfully for this cause I will digress here to say that we have cause for congratuation in the report of Su- perintendent of Education William Fea- gin for 1914-1915, in which he says a new era has opened up for education in Ala bama. He says: 'So antiquated have been some of our laws, and so hide bound our constitution, that Alabama has been referred to very generally by those living without the state as the most backward commonwealth in the unon.'
 The tabulations of the Russell Sage foundation seems to have confirmed this unenviable characterization; but be that as it may, powerful though silent forces have done this work, and today the most powerful educators in the nation are de- claring that probably no general assembly at any one session ever passed more con structive legislation than was written upon the Alabama statute book in 1915- local taxation, compulsory education, bet ter supervision.
 But to return to our school Our state conference has made no provision for our investiga tion of a location for this school and While have, with our former state regent, Mrs. J. V. Allen, visited two rural school districts of the state, have not had the authority granted me to make this important decision. I wrote Superintend- ent Feagin for advice as to loca tion
 At the meeting of conference in Mobile it was voted that we should equip the Aldridge school with manual training for the boys and domestic science for the girls, provided the necessary building and teacher would be given for the equip ment. After a consultation, the com- rttee decided not to use the funds for the extension of the school we did not have sufficient funds, as it would require about s60c l wish to thank the Daugh- ters and regents, especially for their hearty cooperation and interest in this work, in every instance when it has been necessary to communicate with them re- garding the work they have responded with assurances of assistance and loyal support.
 MRS. w. G. MONTGOMERY.
 Report of committee on graves of Rev olutionary soldiers:
 James Caldwell is buried in the ceme- tery at old Davisvile, in Calhoun county, Alabama, one and one-half miles south of Iron City Station, F miles east of An niston, on the Southern railroad. His tomb is built of brick, about feet long, 61s wide and feet high. The shingles of the roof are in a bad state of decay most of them rotted and gone. A plain marble tablet is let into the wall of the tomb, bearing this inscriptions
 Sacred to the memory of James Cad well, who died October ?, 1S47. in the nine ty-eighth year of his age. He was sol dier of the Revolution"
 No information could be gained con cerning this old soldier. It is said that he came from South Carolina His name and state indicate that he was of fine lineage. Fort Strother chapter of Ox- ford is anxious to restore the old sol dier's tomb.
 Buried in the northwestern part of Cal houn county. in the Baptist church cem- etery, in the old Rabbit township, Samuel robert, Revolutionary soldier, pensioned June l, 1S40, at the age of S7. He was, liv- ing at the time he was pensioned in Ben ton county. now called Calhoun county. His descendants are still living in the northwestern part of the county
 Buried in Perry, County, Alabama Capt. John Blackburn, who served as captain under Francis Marion in S. C. battles He lived to be 105 years old. It is said by his descendants that his wife was the only sister Of South Caro- lina's noted statesman and senator John Caldwell Calhoun. His great great grandson Is living in Gainesville, Ga and many of his descendants are living in Alabama and Georgia
 MRS. w. w. WHITESIDE.
 Committee on patriotic spots and me morials:
 During the two years preceding 1915 there was a. marked interest shown not only by the D. A. R., but also by pub- lie officials in the markin of historical spots and raising funds for memorials. As in the case of Horseshoe Bend" At the conference of 1913 reported five memorials and graves marked by d | ferent chapters in the state. In, 1914 .;. more through the same medium At this conference I have little to report, no new work along these lines having been done l have sent MT. Owens book, containing the names of revolutionary soldiers buried in every county, to one
  this book of the graves in their respec- tive counties, and asking that they To- cate same and mark them if necessary and believe that they will be active, and that something will be accomplished to report at our next conference in 191G I Was informed by a member of the An nlston chapter that between Anniston and Ialladega there were several old soldiers buried under one slab. Upon investiga- ton find that they were soldiers of general Jackson QS12). Mrs. Hooper of Birminsham, nonmember of the D. A. R society, reports revolutionary sol dier, name Amos Rascoe, born in Ken lucky, near Mammoth Cave I have ex- amined MT. Owens book but do not md the name recorded. The nearest or ganization is in Selma. and I have re- quested the chapter to investigate and re- port Mrs. Robinson also reports a rev. olutlonary grave of one of her ancestors and perhaps others, near Demopolis am endeavoring, with her assistance to arrive at something definite in order to place the work in the hands of the local chapter. There is so much work of this kind to be done all over the state that l sincerely hope no regent will feel that she has left undone, at the close of hcr administration, the work set forth for the chapters in the opening clause of the constitution.
 One of the greatest memorials the chapters throughout the state are en- deavoring to establish is mountain school' in one of the most needy counties of the state of Alabama. Most of the