field by the Illinois Central in operating the new branch road.

In 1906 a contract was entered into with the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad Co. (q. v.) and its subsidiary companies by which the Illinois Central obtained, for a long term of years, the use of their tracks between Winfield and Birmingham, which gave the latter company a connection between its St. Louis-New Orleans line and the Birmingham mineral district.

In 1907 the company made trackage agreements with the Southern and the Northern Alabama Railway companies for the use of their lines between Haleyville and Jasper, a distance of 40 miles. About the same time, arrangements were made for the construction of a road from Haleyville, Ala., to Corinth, Miss., 80.23 miles, under separate charters in Alabama and Mississippi, and land was secured for the erection of a modern freight terminal in Birmingham. The charter in Alabama was issued under general laws to the Alabama Western Railroad Co.

On December 16, 1907, the portion of the new line between Corinth, Miss., and Red Bay, Ala., 41.97 miles, was put in operation. The rest of the line was completed and put in operation on April 19, 1908.

In June, 1899, the Illinois Central bought the entire capital stock of the Central of Georgia Railway Co. (q. v.), but the latter property is operated separately.

REFERENCES.-Railroad Commission of Ala., Annual reports, 1900 et seq.; Poor's manual of railroads, 1899 et seq.; Annual report of the company to Ala. Public Service Commission, 1915.

ILLITERACY COMMISSION, THE ALABAMA. A permanent State executive commission, created by the legislature, February 9, 1915, "for the removal of adult illiteracy in Alabama." It is composed of five members, both men and women, including the State superintendent of education, who is ex officio a member, appointed by the governor, "for their fitness, ability and experience in matters of education, and their acquaintance with the conditions in the State of Alabama and its various communities." It is a body corporate "with all the powers necessary to carry into effect all the purposes of" the act creating it. Its officers consist of a president and a secretary-treasurer, elected by the commission from its membership. The latter officer is required to furnish bond in a reputable bonding company, in such sum as the commission may designate, for the faithful performance of his duties, and he may be removed from office and a successor appointed by the commission at its discretion. The members receive no compensation for their services nor expenses of any kind out of the State treasury, but may be reimbursed out of any funds which may come into the hands of the commission from other sources, for their actual traveling and other necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

It is the duty of the commission "to make

research, collect data looking to the obtaining of a more detailed and definite knowledge as to the true conditions of the State in regard to its adult illiteracy, and report regularly the results of its labors to the governor, and to perform any other act which in its discretion will contribute to the elimination of the State's adult illiteracy by means of the education and enlightenment of illiterate persons in the State. It is empowered to adopt such additional rules and regulations as may seem expedient for carrying on its business, but it must expend the funds coming into its hands in a manner and for purposes "in keeping with the general purposes" of its creation.

Pursuant to the provisions of the act, on March 25, 1915, the governor appointed as members of the commission ex-Gov. William D. Jelks of Birmingham, James B. Ellis of Selma, Miss Mary N. Moore of Athens (now the wife of Bishop H. McCoy of Birmingham), and Mrs. W. K. Linscott of Mobile. The commission organized on April 2, 1915, by electing ex-Gov. Jelks as president, and William F. Feagin, superintendent of education and ex officio member of the commission, as secretary-treasurer. The last-mentioned officer was authorized to select for each county at least five citizens to serve as a county subcommission; to solicit donations for the furtherance of the movement; and to appoint a field agent to travel over the State in the interest of the cause. The commission requested the governor to proclaim the first Monday in June as Illiteracy Day and to appeal to the citizens of the State to observe it. The proclamation was issued on May 5, and Illiteracy Day was generally and enthusiastically observed throughout the State. In preparation for an active campaign, the commission caused a careful analysis to be made of the United States Census reports for 1910, the results of which were published in a bulletin entitled "The problem, the plan, the proclamation of the governor." The publication and wide circulation of this pamphlet produced a profound effect among the people of the entire State; and, together with the personal appeals made by the secretarytreasurer, resulted in a very liberal subscription of funds with which to inaugurate and carry on the work. A field agent was therefore appointed, and active work begun among the teachers and other interested persons in the different counties. In furtherance of the work, four pamphlets were issued by the commission and given general distribution; and as a means of stimulating interest and of obtaining additional funds, "Button Campaigns" were conducted in many of the counties, cities, and towns throughout the State.

The first city campaign was conducted in Union Springs, and the first county campaign in Autauga County. Similar campaigns subsequently were made in Montgomery, Eufaula, Huntsville, Opelika, Dothan, Anniston, Gadsden, Talladega, Selma, Mobile, Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, and Bessemer in the order given. The general effect of these campaigns, aside

from the funds realized, is thus described by the commission in its first report:

"Men and women of intelligence above the average being brought face to face with the astounding figures printed on the button, openly confessed they were ignorant of educational conditions in the State. A desire for information was stimulated, resulting in a general awakening of the public conscience as to Alabama's duty in speedily remedying existing conditions.

"The subject of illiteracy was uppermost in the minds of the people; it occupied a prominent place on club programs and was discussed with telling effect from the pulpit. As the light was thrown on the subject, commercial organizations began to realize its economic significance and entered without reservation into the spirit of the publicity movement.

"The more striking effect of the campaigns was their general influence in preparing the minds of the people for better school facilities a need that could be met only by giving them the right of local taxation. The campaigns truly paved the way for the great local tax victory of November 7, 1916."

Genesis of the Movement.-The germ of the idea which eventuated in the illiteracy campaign in the State and the creation of the Alabama Illiteracy Commission was planted in the minds of the members of the delegation of Alabama educators to the annual meeting of the Southern Educational Association, held in Houston, Tex., November 30-December 2, 1911, by Mrs. Cora Wilson Stewart, county superintendent of education of Rowan County, Ky., who told of the work being done in the mountains of Kentucky in the effort to remove illiteracy. An invitation to visit the State and address the Alabama Educational Association was extended to her, and on the evening of April 5, 1912, she spoke to an audience composed of more than 2,000 teachers and citizens. "Her address was one of the most inspiring ever delivered before the association," says the report of the commission. "The seed sown in the hearts of the teachers is today bearing fruit in the lives of many of our good people, who, as children, because of circumscribed conditions, were denied the educational privileges to which every child is entitled."

"During the spring of 1914," continues the report, "the co-operation of the county superintendents was enlisted in a movement to secure a complete list of illiterate white children between the ages of eight and twenty years. The work was done during the month of July when the biennial enumeration of school children was made. The results were inaccurate in some respects, due to the difficulties necessarily encountered in such an undertaking.

However, it served the purpose for which it was intended; it brought the general public to a full realization of the fact that the 'mill of neglect' was busy each year grinding out a new crop of illiterates. It did much to stimulate the public conscience to a full realization of the necessity of a compulsory attendance law, which was enacted

by the Alabama Legislature, September 15, 1915. In addition, it created a sentiment favorable to great movements which were about to be projected.

"The executive committee of the Alabama Educational Association, at its annual meeting in November, 1914, adopted as a campaign slogan for the year, 'Illiteracy in Alabama-Let's Remove It,' and set apart Friday night, April 2nd, during the 1915 meeting of the Association to be observed as Illiteracy Night.

"The program of the evening was participated in by Dr. P. P. Claxton, United States Commissioner of Education, who discussed general educational conditions in the United States with special reference to illiteracy; Mrs. Cora Wilson Stewart, of Rowan County, Kentucky, who told of the progress of the work in Kentucky; and the State Superintendent, who spoke of conditions in Alabama and outlined definite plans looking to the gradual reduction of illiteracy.

"On February 9, 1915, prior to the above named date, a bill authorizing the creation of the Commission for the removal of adult illiteracy having been passed by both houses of the Legislature, was signed by Governor Henderson."

Commissioners.-William D. Jelks, presi den, 1915-; J. B. Ellis, 1915-; Mrs. Mary Moore McCoy, 1915-; Mrs. W. K. Linscott, 1915-; William F. Feagin, secretary-treasurer, ex officio member, 1915-.

Field Agents.-Mrs. E. D. Thames, 1915; J. B. Hobdy, 1915; Miss Esther R. Foster, 1915-.

PUBLICATIONS.-Report. Apr. 2, 1915-Oct. 1, 1916; Literacy and illiteracy in Alabamabiennial census for 1914 (Sept. 30, 1914, pp. 32, copies issued, 20,000); The plan, the problem, the proclamation of the governor (May 10, 1915, copies issued, 5,000), a comparative, statistical study by counties; Elimination of illiteracy in Dale County (July 19, 1915, copies issued, 25,000); Exercises for Alabama adult schools (May 1, 1916, copies issued, 10,000). a textbook in reading, writing, spelling and arithmetic sold at 10 cents a copy, or furnished free to illiterate pupils unable to pay for it.

See Education; Education, State Department of.

REFERENCES.-General Acts, 1915, pp. 80-81; publications listed supra.

IMMIGRATION, BOARD OF. See Immi

gration Commissioner.

The ex

IMMIGRATION COMMISSIONER. ecutive officer of the State immigration board, authorized March 4, 1907, and abolished by act of February 11, 1915, the records and duties of the office being transferred to the department of agriculture and industries. The commissioner, though in charge of the administrative affairs of the immigration department, was under the supervision and control of the immigration board, by which all questions of policy and procedure were to be decided. He was appointed by the governor for a four-year term; was required to furnish a surety bond of $5,000; and his salary was $2,400 a year. It was his duty to encourage the immigration to the State of desirable persons by means of published circulars of information, handbooks on the resources of the State, and the promulgation of compilations concerning lands available for settlement. He was also required to make to the governor an annual report of the workings of the department, which should be printed as other State documents.

Soon after the creation of the department in 1907, Gov. Comer appointed R. H. de Holl as commissioner. He went to Germany at the expense of the Tennessee Coal & Iron Co. and brought back about a hundred immigrants. However, rulings of the Federal authorities had the effect of destroying the efficacy of the law for similar efforts, and Mr. de Holl declined further service. The office remained vacant until the appointment of Robert H. Walker, October 19, 1910.

On April 24, 1911, an act was passed which appropriated out of the general fund of the State $5,000 a year for the encouragement of immigration. With this sum work went forward to 1915, when the office was abolished, and its activities added to those of the department of agriculture and industries already existing on the subject. It is proper to add, however, that the new duties under the act of 1915 are to be performed by the commissioner under the general direction of the State board of horticulture, of which he is a member.

Immigration, Board of. The ex officio board, mentioned above, consisted of the governor, as chairman, the commissioner of agriculture and industries, and the immigration commissioner. It was empowered to make arrangements with individuals, firms or corporations for promoting immigration, and might send an agent to any part of the United States, or to foreign countries, for that purpose, provided there should be no expense to the State. It was made a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not less than $1,000, for any person, firm, association or corporation to bring or cause to be brought into the State, any immigrants from any foreign country in any other way than through the immigration board. With the exception of the commissioner, the members of the board served without pay.

The establishment of this board was the

first official step taken by the State toward stimulating immigration after the old office of commissioner was abolished by the code of 1886. Shortly after its creation, the Attorney General of the United States rendered certain opinions concerning the national immigration laws, which so limited the operation of the State law as practically to nullify it, permitting nothing more than the advertisement in a general way of the State's resources and advantages for settlement. No personal inducements or dealings with possible immigrants from abroad were permitted.

Operations Under Old Law. The first formal encouragement of immigration in an official way was required as a part of the duties of the bureau of industrial resources, created by the constitution of 1868, but which was abolished in 1875. The first specific agency provided to carry out the mandate of the constitution was the adoption of an act of February 11, 1875, which empowered the governor to appoint a commissioner of immigration and a board of commissioners directors for the encouragement of immigration, without conflicting with the Constitution and laws of the United States. The number of members to constitute the board was not specified, and no funds were appropriated for its work, which it was expected would be financed by contributions from the various counties desiring new settlers, and donations from corporations and industrial companies in need of more skilled laborers. Provision was made for the establishment of an "immigration depot," at Mobile for the care of immigrants until called for by the parties contracting for them.

In pursuance of this act, Gov. Houston appointed C. F. Seivers, commissioner of immigration, and A. Murdock, F. H. Herndon, Price Williams, D. Clopton, B. M. Woolsey, G. G. Lyon, W. H. Chambers, J. I. Foster, Daniel Coleman, J. R. Hawthorne, L. M. Stone, E. S. Shorter, S A. Fordyce, and W. V. Chardavoyne as a board of directors. The board took up its work at once, held several meetings, and planned a campaign of publicity for settlers, both in America and abroad. But for reasons which are not apparent in the records, the next legislature repealed the law, and passed a new act, approved March 7, 1876, which empowered the governor to appoint a commissioner of immigration, who was authorized to designate two assistant commissioners, all to serve without salaries or other expense to the State, and to secure their compensaton from per capita commissions on contracts for the sale or lease of lands to immigrants, to be paid by the contracting parties. It was the duty of the commissioners to collect and disseminate data and information as to the resources, products topography, prices of lands for sale or lease, wages and demand for labor, with a view to obtaining new settlers and investors from desirable classes of people outside the State. They were expected to constitute themselves a general clearing house for information of all sorts which related to the settlement of