The age-herald., 1899-08-27
TRUSTEES SUSTAIN
 COY. JOHNSTON Sale of Public Lands for Monte-
 vaIIo School. TWO TEACHERS ELECTED
Home Will be Built for President Pe- tersen-Loan of $35,ooo Author
 ized to Complete Buildings
 Thompson Not Implicated

The board of trustees of the Montevallo Girls Industrial school met in Birming- ham yesterday and endorsed Governor Johnston's course in the sale of public ernor to borrow $S5 900 at a rate of interest not to exceed per cent. until the first pay ment was made on the public lands, elected two teachers and reached a decision to build a home for President Petersen, the cost not to exceed 5000.
 Since the reported sale of the school lands in Alabama charges have been made that Governor Johnston had entered into ascom- pact to sell the lands to some big mining company for ridiculously low price. Gov ernor Johnston's letter printed in The Age Herald yesterday morning was presented to the board and the following resolution was passed:
 Resolved, That in authorizing Gover-
 nor Johnston to sell the lands donated
 to us at s per acre. we did so in the
 exercise of our best judgment, working
 entirely to the best interests of the
 school, after having duly and care
 fully considered the report of Land
 Commissioner Plowman, who had care-
 fully examined the most of the public
 lands in the state. The charges made
 against Governor Johnston by the
 press of the state insinuating that he
 had sacrificed the lands, are unfounded
 and unjust We, the board, and not
 Governor Johnston, are responsible to
 the state as her trustees for this schooi'
 for the sale of these lands and the price
 obtained for same.
 Charges have also been made that Sena- tor Charles W. Thompson, member or the board of trustees, was party to the agreement In regard to this matter Sem ator Thompson said yesterday:
 "I have not answered the charges of some of the newspapers of the state duplicating me as being interested with H. F. DeBar- deleben In the purchase of the school lands because I did not consider 1t worthy of notice. I was not in any way interested in the purchase, and have never seen MT. De- Bardeleben but twice in my life to know him."
 Meeting of the TIu teesI
 The following members were present al the meeting of the board of trustees: Gov ernor Joseph F. ohnston, Captain T. S Plowman, Judge Aston, F. s. Moody, Cap tain w. R. Dortch, John w. Abercrombie Sol D. Blach, Virgil s. Baulding, Dr. F. M Peterson, president of the school, Judge Austill and Charles w. Thompson. The building committee was authorized to have presidents home erected at once The plan is to erect a nice building, tht cost of which is not to exceed 5000. Governor Johnston was instructed to ne gotiate loan of $35 900 at a rate of interes not to exceed per cent, to complete tht buildings. until the first payment is made on the sale of lands.
 Miss Mabelle M. Gornley was elected tt fill the vacancy in the faculty caused by the risignation of Miss Cranberry, a: teacher of elocution and physical culture. Miss Mamie Overton, of Louisville, Ky. was elected teacher of stenography an6 typewriting.
 Dr. Petersen spoke most encoura gly of the prospects of the institution.