The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-28
SCHOOL PROGRAM
 CARESFOR 2,0OO
Extensive Building In Bessemer Making Model System, Board
 Of Education Shows
tBEssEMER BUREAU)

BESSEMER, Jan.s 27.-Seats for more than 2,OOO pupils have been pro- vided within the last year for Besse- mer school children under an extensive program of development by the board of education. The letting of several con- tracts recently is generally regarded as among the most progressive educa- tional moves in this locality.
 At the new high school seats will be installed for 800 students, while the negro high school will care for 1,2OO. The reason for the large seat ing capacity or the negro school is that two grammer schools were merged into the high schools. At both of these schools there will be ample room to care for increased attendance for many years.
 Other improvements are now under way at the Jonesboro and Clarendon Avenue schools. which will add to the desk space. While the two new schools ih use by next term, the Bessemer school system will be far ahead in its school building program,
 Coincident with the improvements in the city schools, which have cost in ex- cess of $500, ,O00 ;n the last two years, many rural school have been built near the city At this time there are seven | county high schools in the Bessemer cutoff, all practically new. With the opening of these schools the congestion in the Bessemer schools was greatly re- lieved by the transfer of rural students to the schools outsid, the city.
 Bessemer's investment in new school buildings and equipment in the past two years has been about $25 per cap ita.
 Mrs. Bennett Dies
 Mrs. Mary Bennett, 26. died late Saturday evening at her home at Vir- ginia Mines, after slOrt illness. Flu. neral services were held Sunday after noon alt Valley Greek cemetery, with Huey and Mcconnell in charge.l Rev V. $. Gable Officiated. The deceased IS survived by her husband, J. H. Ben nett.
 Awaits Relatives Arrival
 Funeral services for K. J. Hughes, 70. retired planter and pioneer citizen, will be postponed pending the arrival of brother from Arkansas. His death occurred Saturday afternoon at Bes- semer hospital and followed a short illness. To Call Conference The quarterly conference of the Ma sonic lodges of the Bessemer district will be called at an early date, the time to be announced at the next meet ings of the various units. This is one of the most important conferences on the calendar, in view of the fact that it comes at the beginning of the year and there are expected to be larger num- Der of representatives on hand for the gathering than at previous confer ences.
 Parsons Funeral Held
 Funeral services for J. H. Parsons, who died late Friday evening, were held Sunday afternoon at 2:3O o'clock from the Walnut Grove Methodist church. The deceased was a pioneer resident of the district and is survived by five sons and two daughters Minerva Club Entertains Mrs. J. W. Cochran was hostess to | the Minerva club at her home Friday afternoon, when literary program was held. Jonquils and narcissi were used effectively in the decorations and later the hostess served a salad plate and an ice in the cOlors of the club, orchid and gold.
 Barrie's What Every Woman Knows" was the subject for the after nOOn. fapefS were submitted by Mrs. Herbert Salmon and Miss MOllie Vines and general discussion of the play was held. Mrs. R. O. Sanford was di- rector for the afternoon, there being 17 members present, with Mrs. A. l.. Reynolds as a guest. Business Meeting Called
 Mrs. JOhn Neal, the retiring presi- dent of the Matron's club, called a meeting of that organization at her home Friday afternoon, when officers for the year were elected. A re-or- ganizatiOn of the club was planned and work for the future discussed.
 Mrs. Tom Johnston was elected president. Mrs. Howard McEniry, vice president; Mrs. l.. L. yann, Sr., secre- tary-treasurer; Mrs. Charles Bentley was elected to membership, bringing the total to 2S. There were 20 pres ent at the special meeting and the hos tess served salad, cake and coffee. Entertains At Dinner
 Miss Louise Kemp entertained at dinner Friday, honoring her cousin,