davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-20
EXHIBIT B.

Jasper Ala, Dec. 16, 1890
Hon. Sterling A. Wood, Secretary, Birm-
ingham Ala.
My Dear Sir: In answer to your inquiry of
December 9Th, 1899, will say that I know
the University lands in Walker county, re-
Gently sold to the Sloss-Sheffield syndicate,
and I class them among the best coal lands
in my county. I have personally examined
a good portion of same and have stood
ready, with consent of associates, for some
years, to purchase at an advanced figure
above amount they were reported to have
been sold for-$12.50 per acre and our only
reason for not pressing the matter was the
fact that we understood the lands were not
on the market for sale.
1T is true that myself and associates have
purchased tracts of land from the state and
University, at different times, and have
paid as high as $25 for some of the lands
per acre; and class these lands, or por-
tion of same, as carrying more tonnage per
acre than the lands we paid s25 per acre for.
You are correct in your statement that
these lands are located University lands)
in what is locally known as the Amer
lean Coal company district, near the mines
of said company, and 1 feel perfectly safe
in stating that the lands decided to the
Sloss- Sheffield syndicate by the University
are much more valuable, and carry much
more coal per acre. than the lands decided
to the Sloss-Sheffield syndicate by the
American Coal and Coke company.
An extension of the railroad down Bakers
creek would give the University lands some
advanta geous locations for opening mines
and | feel quite certain different tracts of
this land could be leased to advantage: be-
Sides the Warrior river is not too far away
in the event of Improvement of the same
for navigation, to furnish transportation
for coal mined from these lands.
was in New York the greater portion of
this year representing, in partr-the interests
of the Gulf Coal and Coke company. the
lands of which were included in the Soss-
Sheffield deal. These lands were included
in said deal al $40 per acre, and the prospec-
tus issued stated that the Gulf Coal and
Coke company owned 25.G5j acres of land,
when, in fact, that company only owned in
the neighborhood of 1900 acres; and the
excess in acreage was the land belonging to,
and under the control of, Governor John
ston e. w. Rucker, the University and
others; the same, I believe, being represent
ed in the deal behind the option in the
hands of MIR. Worthington.
Tt is true that Governor Johnston was in
New York, and attended and participated in
the meetings at which the organization of
the Sloss-Sheffield company was set in mo-
ton. and he also knew that the price agreed
to be paid by that company was to average
$40 per acre or $500 900 for the q, 900 acres of
land sold. Yours very truly,
(SfgneO l.. b. MUSGROVE.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-20

to defeat the opportunity of leasing the
lands. Captain Webb promised to call
meeting of the committee, of which he is
chairman, or The entire board, l have for
gotten which, for the purpose of eonsid-
ering Mr.. DeBardeleben's proposition, stat
ing at the time that ne thought the board
would net allow the governor to defeat
their policy to lease the lands. My recol-
lection is That I called a second time when
he renewed his promise, but I am not GER
tain as to this. Some time afterwards, but
not great while, I saw Judge William
Richardson in tine city, and informed Mr..
DeBardeleben of the fact that he was here
and was a member of the board, and asked
him If [ Should try and get a conference
with him and Captain Webb about the
proposed lease. lie replied mo" That he
was not going to erect coke ovens as he
intended on the lands of the Gulf Coal
and Coke company near the University
lands, but would change the base of his
operations to the southeast, in the fork
of the two Warrior rivers, and, therefore,
would not want the lands belonging to the
University. He had abandoned The idea
of leasing the lands some time before the
meeting of the board at which the resolu-
ton was passed authorizing the sale to the
lSloss-Shefiield Steel and Iron company.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-20

with reference to lease which was pro-
posed to be made between Mr., Fl. F. De-
Bardeleben and the University of lands
belonging to the University; and as no
fact connected with the transaction came
within my knowledge, either as a secret or
III confidence, 1 deem 1t but just to all per-
sens interested that l should comply with
your request.
AT Mr.. DeBardeleben's request, and as
his attorney, l called to see Captain James
f. Webb of this city and proposed to buy
or lease certain of the UNIVERSITIES lands,
and was informed by him that it had been
the policy of the board to lease but not to
sell lands. He also informed me that Mr..
W. C. Fits, who had the matter of leas-
ing in charge, was expected in this city
the next day, so l wired Mr.. Fits to call
at my office, which he did the next day.
When l informed him that Mr.. DeBardele
ben wanted to lease a tract, consisting of
about 3.400 acres is my recollection, in
Walker county, and near other lands leased
from the Gulf Coal and Coke company, he
told me the matter had been called to his
attention, and exhibited a lease contract
already prepared, stating at the time that
some of the numbers of the land were not
included The lease contact covered prac-
tically the terms upon which Mr.. DeBardel-
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-20

chen wanted the property, and I told him
1t was all right, 1 supposed, but CT course
Mr. DeBardeleben would have to examine
it before executing 1t. When informed Mr..
ReBardeleben that he could get the lands,
but rhe contract of lease would have to
be rewritten so as to include the whole
tract desired, he informed me he mad
learned that the numbers not included
were Intentionally omitted, and that he
wanted me to try and get tine whole tract.
At this time he told me ne was very anx-
ious to lease the property. L afterwards
saw Mr. Fits and told him that Mr.. De-
Bardeleben wanted the whole tract: that
the numbers omitted furnished the key to
the entire tract and that If they were omit
ted the lease would not be near so valu-
able. He informed That they were
omitted by Instructions from the governor.
and that he could not include them unless
directed by the board of trustees. l then
called on Captain Webb again and ex-
planned to him that Mr.. DelBardeleben was
very anxious to lease the entire tract but
that Mr.. Fits would not include that por-
ton of the tract furnishing natural open
ing because he had been directed not to
do so by the governor, whose instructions
he felt bound to obey unless otherwise d.
rected by the board. I also showed him
by reference to the map that the numbers
omitted furnished natural opening to the
balance of the tract, and to lands recently
purchased by Mr.. DeBardeleben, as we'll
as to lands owned by the American Coal
and Coke company, or to General q. w.
Rucker, in which was informed Governor
Johnston was interested, and inquired If
the board was going to allow the governor
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-20

We do not deem it necessary to reply to
the insinuatiop that the motives behind
this investigation are Interior and foreign
to the declared object of the commission
which was put into our hands. 1t is sufh-
cient to say that at the meeting OF the
three committees of your society which
was called to be held at Montgomery, every
member present, several of whom were per-
sonal friends of the governor, expressed
the opinion that the committee ought to be
appointed for this purpose. The private
secretary of the governor was present and
expressed the same opinion. We have
given this matter our time, our best
thought and attention. We have not been
afraid to say that the governor disregard
ed the law, for he did. We have not been
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-20
EXHIBIT e.

Birmingham, Ala, Dec. Is, 1899.
Hon. Sterling Wood, Secretary, Birmng-
ham, Ala
Dear Sir Replying to a request of your
committee for a statement in regard to the
University lands, and the American Coal
and Coke company's lands in Walker coun-
ty,. Alabama, recently conveyed ito the
Sloss-Sheffield Steel and Iron company, I
desire to state that l am well acquainted
with these properties. In 1891 l purchased
from the University of Alabama, through
it's land commissioner, Hon. A. c. Har-
grove the six hundred (60O) acres of land at
America, Ala, which constitute the most
valuable property of the lands of that COM
pany, ait fifteen dollars t$15.0O cash per
acre. This land was bought in my name,
but Gen. E. w. Rucker and Governor Jo-
seph f. Johnston furnished the money and
in fact, paid directly for the lands, and the
purchase was made for them. These lands
were Immediately afterwards, or upon the
formation of the American Coal company
conveyed to that company at 0 price OF $50
per acre. No improvements were on this
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-20

property or adjacent to 1t at that time.
Mr.. Pink Jones also sold to the company
eighty acres at the price of $40 or S25 per
acre. These two purchases, together with
the University lands purchased constitute,
in my opinion, all the workable coal on the
American Coal and Coke company's prop
erty.
l was a stockholder in the original Amer
lean Coal company.
The main body of the University lands
sold to the Sloss-Shefield company is, in
my opinion, quite as valuable as the pur-
chase made by me above mentioned.
Yours very truly,
(Sgned) J. H. HAYES,
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-20
EXHIBIT r.
University of Alabama, December 10, 1892
Hon. Sterling A. Wood, Secretary, Birmlng.

University of Alabama, December Is. 1899
Hon. Sterling A. Wood, Secretary Birmlng-
ham, Ala:
Dear Sir:-In response 10 a request of
your committee, representing the Alumni of
the University of Alabama, for information
in regard to the coal lands of the Univer-
sity, recently included in a deal made by
the governor of the state to the Sloss-Shef-
field Coal and Iron company, l desire to
state that I was one of a committee of
three. A. c.. Hargrove, Burns Moore and
myself, to select lands. under the act of
congress Of 1884, and as a member of that
committee 1t became my duty to do the
principal amount of work in the selection
of that land l was at that time, and had
been for ten or twelve years previously, the
state geologist, and in the discharge of the
duties of that office l became acquainted
with the best mineral properties of the
State. / was engaged with the others all
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-20

price per ton, and how much he is to mine
per day, etc. The lands 1 mention are in
Walker county, south of the Georgia Pacific
railroad, and mixed up with a considerable
acreage of school indemnity lands, all of
which are in the same trade.
Yours, etc,
(Signed) JOSEPH F. JOHNSTON,
Governor and ExOficio President of Board.
Hon. w. C. Fits, Land Agent, Iusca-
loosa Ala.
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-20
EXHIBIT D.

Montgomery, Ala, March 16, 1899.
Dear Fits
have just wired you not to lease any
lands in township 16. range 7, at present.
I am negotiating a sale of that land, SUBJ
ject to the approval Of the trustees, and
will know in few days whether # viii
ripen. Let me know If any one is applying
for lease now on that land, and at what
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-20
EXHIBIT C.

Birmingham, Ala. December s, 1899.
Sterling A. Wood, Esq, Secretary, ETC.,
Birmingham, Ala:
Dear Sir:-I am in receipt of your letter
of the 7th instant, informing me that the
committee, of which you are secretary. had
directed you to inquire Of me the facts
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-20

are h neB hoos
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The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-20
HOTEL ENXPIF2E9

CITY
elite
the PERFECTION of s CUISINE - 1890 -
o
adsta
ARITY COST tt
n II
W.
The morning news., 1899-10-19
AFTER AN ERRING WIFE.
Husband Charged Her with Theft
in Order TO Secure Her Return.

in Order to Secure Her Return.
Nellie Small, an inmate of a house on
McDonough street, was arrested by De-
tective Shea yesterday morning on war
rant sworn out by her husband, James c.
Smith a railroad man living at Thomas
vile, charging her with the larceny Of $50.
The woman was detained at the station
house for two or three hours, when she
reached an agreement with the man she
had wronged and was released.
1t is said that the woman comes of re-
spectacle people herself. but a year of vice
has sufficed TO efface almost every vestige
of comeliness that may once have been
hers. Neither in appearance or manner
does she now differ from any other of her
class, and shows the effect Of dissipation
and vice rather worse than most of them.
She was married to Smith five
or six years ago and has had
two children born to her by
the marriage. She Gains that Smith was
crueS and jealous and year ago she left
him. Coming to Savannah she took up her
abode in the house in VIII ch she was found
and arrested by Detective Shea. Her hus
band, after time found out that she was
in Savannah and leading this life, and
coming to the city succeeded in Inducing
her o return with him t. Thomasvile
She stayed at home quiet and peace
fully for a s'iorl time. but The habit of
vice had been nstilled inlo her and its
poor and tawdry luNurles enchanted her.
The habit ad become tco ing to break
and for the second time she lefC her hus
band and came u Savannah AMI the life
of 81 anne. This was about a month ago.
''At that time" it has been said, her
hair was as black as the shadows at mid
night" With the aid Of a half dollars
worth OF peroxide she changed the color
until il more nearly resembled the rays
of the setting sun. The raven iresses he
fNC
other colors that found a place on her
head, ranging through most of the shades
between yellow and black, but the yellow
was the color intended and the one that
prevailed. The rest of her make up was
along The same line.
1t s rather improbable that the woman
is Actually guilty of the crime with which
she was charged by her husband. and she
strenuously denied IT, It is rather prob
able, on the other hand, that the charge
emanaEed from his desire 40 have the wo-
man return to his home and was the
pToducg of the wild infatuatiou he seems
| To feel for the mother of his children even
| in her present degraded and corrupt con-
! dition. This infatuation may have had
! some physical foundation when he first
| knew her but il is evident that ST there
is one now il exists only in his memory
! and neither in the f~ce nor the form of
| the woman.
She refused in the most positive terms
| 10 accompany him to ThomasVille and he
dist lssed the warrant and secured fler
! di'dlarge. Then she went back TO The life
/ she had been leading before. II is diff
! cult 10 see JUST what impeilcd Smith to
! take SO much trouble 10 recover the wife
who had Wronged him So bitterly, unless
il be that his love is proof against nverv-
/ rlugy Ard when the woman is once seen
il Is 0iite as difficult 10 sec just why this
| shCulf be or could be possible
The morning news., 1899-10-19
TO PHOTOGRAPH THE METEoRs.
Camera Club VIII Make Observations
for Harvard College.

The Savannah Camera Club viii make
Photographic observations of the Noyem-
Der meteoric showers for the Harvard Col
lege observatory. The observations viii be
made under the direction of Superintend-
en- Ashmore of the public schools, whose
interest in astronomical studies and whose
thorough knowledge of astronomy are
known throughout the South.
The meteoric showers win take place
Nov. 10. IA. Is, Is, and II. The maximum is
predicted for November 15 at lSh. Green
wich mean time, when the most impor-
tant observations viii be made. Photo
graphic observations Of the display will
be made at all of the great Observatorios o.
the world and by volunteer observers
wherever they can be secured, aud the
facilities for the observations are aVaila-
be.
The observations to be made are of two
kinds. The first is to obtain a continuous
record of an the meteors that appt ar
within some definite area Of the sky. The
Sc ord cfass of obserVat ons IS Intended TO
locate the radiant or point from which
the meteors seem to come The obserVa-
tons viii be conducted between
midnight and dawn during their
five nights the showers are visible.
The shower of November, 1898, was wide
ly observed throughout the world The
display this year is expected to be mu II
finer. AS another may not occur again in
thirty years great pains are being aiken by
the Harvard and other ObservatOries 10 So
cure the best possible observations. Inc
coming shower is periodical return Of the
great star showers of November. 1893, 1885
and 1866. That of 1888 was
the most brilliant known. a DIS
tnguished astronomer, Lewis Swift,
of Lowe Observatory, Cal, says: THE No
teors fell like flakes Of fiery snow or
moderate snow storm 1t was estimated
that at least 10000 were seen from any
one point and this all the way from Green
land to Patagonia" What the coming dis
play will be remains TO be seen.
The Photographic observations to b.
made by the Camera Club and which viii
be forwarded TO the Harvard Observatory
will be an interesting feature Of the clubs
work. Preparat tions will be made early next
month for the observations which will
probably be from two points several miles
apart.
The morning news., 1899-10-19
TO Bic INDICTED TODAY.
Commission of sheriff Sweeny Has
Been Forwarded by the Governor.

Commission of sheriff Sweeny Has
Been Forwarded by the Governor.
The commission of Sheriff Sweeny will
arrive this morning, With its arrival aud
the induction into office of Mr. Sweeny
win terminate the brief incumbency of
Coroner GOette, who. since the deoth of
Sheriff Roman. has been the sheriff and
jaior of Chatham county, as wen as its
coroner. and has attended to the duties
Of all of these Offices
The delay ia the ISSUANCE Of the com
mission 10 the officer elected by the Coun-
ty Commissioners had become annoying
to that body ana yesterday morning at
the instance of Chairman Dale, the ceSk
Of the board sent a telegram TO the Gov
ernor asking immediate action and the
immediate forWa riding of the commission
when issued. Within short time the
answer OF the Governor to this telegram
was received by Capt. Dillon It read:
Atlanta, Ga, Ocf is, 1S99.-John r. Dl-
Ion, Clerk. savannah: Commission of
sheriff issued ana forwarded today
"A. d. Gambler"
The commission will arrive this morning
at the latest. and Sheriff SweenY will be
sworn in by Judge Fa.ligaut at some con-
venont hour during the day The commits
sion win be for the term intervening be-
tween The present ume ard the election
of the successful candidate to fll the un-
expired term of Sheriff Roman. II is gen
orally understood that Sheriff Sweeny viii
have no opposition az this ele . on, and
that his induci,o on into office to-day viii
be virtually until the regular election for
county officers, In October of next year
The business of ihe office of sheriff has
suffered no Inconvenience during the tenn
pcrary interregnum. The writs that have
come ia have been served by the coroner
The morning news., 1899-10-19

One Of the most interes ting exhibitions
ored woman in Walsh & Meyers show
window, rocking Ieisurely. dressing ani
undressing an infant. Crowt's flock about
the windows and are very m och interes ted
in what the old mamma is - - to. Mrs.
Fleck, representing the ArnA Knit ng
Minis, is experimenting this den 'ons ration
of knit goods for both ladies' am children
and shows the particular advantage Of he-
manufacturing over all others.
She will be here two weeks and u e hours
of the show are from 10 to and 10 cv-
cry day Walsh & Meyer are the special
Of Arnold's knit go Sds.
The morning news., 1899-10-19
WANT MORE SCHOOLS.
COIOFed People to Hold "a Mass Meet
ing so Discuss the Situation.

ing so Discuss the Situation.
A circular has been distributed among
The colortn people. calling attention to
mass meeting of The colored citizens to be
held at the ODD Fellows Hall, on Harris
street, TOMS hi at s o clock.
The circular states that the meeting is
in the interest," of education. and that The
purpose is to discuss the school situation
as it relates to the colored people. every
body who is hlterested in better school
facilities are exI ected 10 be present" SAYS
the circular "pl ans will be suggested by
some of our leann ng men to take the chill
drsn out Of the streets" The circular is
signed by j. c. Simmons, as chairman of
the committee
There are several hundred colored chill
dren on the streets because they are shut
out of the Schools said Simmons 10 a
Morning News repoF ter yesterday. "The
meeting viii probabYy take steps to start
a subscription TO secure funds with which
to erect a school hous1 to be turned over
20 the Board of Educa4ion for the benefit
of the colored Children
The morning news., 1899-10-19
state Fair, AtE1nta.
Low Rates via Central of Georgia
RAILWAY

$500 round trip for tick,As to be sold
Oct -24-26-2S-91 and Nov. and 4, linn
tied returning five days from date of sale.
Above rate includes one admit sion to fair
grounds Also tickets will be sold Oct. 16
10 Nov. A, inclusive, limited rel urning un.
til Nov. 6, at one fare for the round trin
plus 80 cents admission to the fat r grounds.
The only line with double daI. y service
and solid through trains to Alfalfa Eke-
CANT sleepers by night parlor cars by day.
Ticket Office, 107 Bull street AMI Union
DeDot.-ad.
The morning news., 1899-10-19

"Graybeard omNl me Of dyspepsia"
Nervous dyspepsia"
81 did not suff ar continually. but had
four or five atacts every year. AT such
times my suffering. was intense. 1 almost
despaired of life, ths'gh the doctors did
what they could for II e.
Last spring l began to take Graybeard
I improved from the rst and have mad
but one attack since-.th at was the lightest
ever had. Graybea I'd is the only thing
that has made me feei ike myself" Mrs
S. E. Clary, Greensboro. Ala.
Graybeard is sold at Il v best drug stores
for $1.00 a bottle Mode only by Respess
Drug Company, proprietA"s.-ad.
The morning news., 1899-10-19

people in the country are very busy just
now anyway. The farmers are finishing
up their cotton crop. the naval stores men
are finishing up their years work and the
lumbermen are TOO busy to leave their mil 8.
Two OF three months hence there VIII lie
less activity in The country and the p ople
viii have ample time 10 take in the Dewey
ealehrat on. even should Il last week.
The morning news., 1899-10-19
National Export Exposition, PR lIn-
deIphia, Pa.

The Ocean Steamship Company will A en-
at Savannah round trip tickets Tuesda IS
and Thursdays Of each week. until Thur1
day, Nov. 23, to New York aud Philadel .
phia, at round trip rate of $2S.S5; final
limit OF tickets thirty days from date OF
sale. For further information and reser-
vations, apply to w. G. Brewer. No 1o7
Bun street. Savannah.-ad.
The morning news., 1899-10-19
Wheeler.

This refers 10 the celebrated imported
Wheeler ginger ale Of Belfast Ireland: it
is the best. IT is tonic, as well as a de-
ltcious beverage. Lippman Bros, import
ers.-ad
The morning news., 1899-10-19
GETTING IN LINE TO VOTE.
Republican Meetings Being Held in
All Of Within Districts.

The colore1 cS mcuc Is taking time by
the forelock, politically speaking. and Is
preparing to get in line at The next cleo
ton. District meetings are being held in
al of The districts.
The Fifth district held a NEE ing at
East Savannah a few nights ago. y mass
meeting Of the First and Second districts
was to have been held tonight at Harris
street han, but has be, n postponed on ac-
count Of an educa .ional meeting to be he'd
there, until next Tuesday night
The purpose of the meeting is said TO
Oe The urging Of col1red young men 10 pay
their taxes aud register Among the talk
ers at the meeting will be l.. NJ Pleasant
r. w. White, John c. Simmons. r. A.
Bourke, l.. B. TOomer and the kid Ora
tor" John II. Toomsr