The age-herald., 1899-08-26
= JOHNSTON WRITES
 IN EXPLANATION
 -S--'S. e,,'sss',' .s Gives Reasons for Sale of School Lands
 to DeBaFdelNben. HE JUSTIFIES HIS COURSE Thinks a Fair Price for the Property Was Secured. REVIEWS THE ENTIRE MATTER Casts a Sur at H. 0. Reynolds and Compliments Himself Over the Hon. esty and Fairness Which He Attributes to Himself
REVIEWS THE ENTIRE MATTER

Johnston has prepared the following letter, which will be presented to the board of trustees of the Montevallo Industrial school at the meeting to be held in Bir- mingham today, explaining the recent sale to H. F. DeBardeeben of mineral lands donated by the government to the school:
 August 26, 1899. Gentlemen of the Board:
 At your last meeting on the 4th of July you adopted this resolution: Resolved, That discretion be given the governor to sell mineral lands to Henry F. DeBardele- ben on terms as follows: $2,50o cash, giving option until December 1, 1899, at s per acre, and on time to be agreed upon" I have thought it proper in reporting my ac- tion under this resolution to state all the facts connected with the selection and dis position of these lands In order that there may be correct memorial of the same.
 Act of the Legislature
 About the time the grant was made by congress the legislature passed an act which was approved February r, 1899. authcriz- ing the governor to appoint commissioner to examine the public lands in the state subject to selection, and recommended to
 
 selected for both schools; a salary of $2,- OOG was provided to be paid by the state and refunded by the two schools. Some friction arose as to the appointment of this commissioner; some members of each board seemed to fear that some injustice in the selection or division of the land might be done their school, and for this reason and to arrest all apprehension of injustice called the trustees of both schools to meet meet in my office at Montgomery on the 14th day of March, 1S99
 At this meeting l stated to the joint ses- sion that it wah my determination to see that absolute equality in the selection and apportionment of the land should obtain and that I was ready to concur in any action they thought wisest to accomplish that result. After a full conference and discussion between the two boards, in joint session, it was decided practically unani- mously that each board should select d commissioner who should cooperate in se- lecting speedily the most valuable lanos subject to selection, and when 5000 acres had been selected by the two commission CTS that the two boards should again meet and determine the best and fairest plan to divide these lands between the two schools. It was believed by all that two commissioners could do the work better and at less expense, and in less than half the time that one could. Each board agreed to pay the salary of It's own commissioner, $50 month, and the time was limited to October l. about six months It will be seen from this action that neither of the ea;o prejudice the rights of either school in the division of the land, as they were without any power in that regard whatever.
 A k for Bids
 Before this meeting took place wrote to the principal coal companies in the state informing them of the grant by congress and requesting their aid in selecting the most valuable vacant public lands, and stating that they would probably have an opportunity to buy any that lay contiguous to their properties at fair prices. Replies came from nearly all the companies stating In substance that they knew of no desira- ble lands except one or two, where small tracts were named. These replies turned over to the commissioners.
 Not the slightest effort was made by me, or by any one with my knowledge or con- sent, to dispose of these lands, nor was any action taken by the board, but some of the press of the state began to allege that the lands were to be sold to some great corporation for less than their value and practically lost to the schools. I gave no heed to these statements except to cause the commissioner of the land office at Washington to be informed that the state ments were absolutely untrue.
 During this time and about the 20th of April I received a letter from Mr. H. c. Reynolds, then president of your school, stating in substance that it was urgently necessary to sell these lands in order that suitable buildings might be erected for the enlarging demands of the school. He sug- gested that syndicate be formed to buy the lands, invited me to join 1t, and stated that he was ready to put in BIO 900 himself To this letter I replied: Under no circum- stances can be party, directly or indi- rectly to the purchase of any lands from the state on any institution of which I am a trustee. I would not want to purchase unless I could make some money and if I could make any money it would be at the expense of the trust estate. I cannot be in the position of both buyer and seller" I also stated that feared all this talk of a sale might complicate getting the lands at all After this letter I heard nothing more in regard to any sale of the land un- til the board met on May 10 at Montevallo. when proposition of Mir Pinckard to buy an option was submitted by MT. Flow man. After a full discussion of the value of the land the board, upon motion of Judge Aston, without any conference with or suggestion from me, passed a resolution authorizing me to sell the lands to MT. Pinckard at $ per acre, one-fourth cash and balance in one. two and three years. with per cent. interest.