davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-13
observation-disclosures.

William Goforth and Carrie Hansen,
well-known young people, We're married
last evening at No. AIS East Mercury
street, the residence of Mr.. and Mrs. o.
f. Humphrey, brother-in-law and sis
ter of the bride. A large number of
relatives and friends We're present In
honor of the happy occasion. A boun-
tiful wedding supper was served to the
assembled guests. Mr. and Mrs. Co
forth will make their permanent home
in Butte. Rev, E. j. Groeneyeld per-
formed the ceremony.
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-13
Do You Want to Make $500?

We have two brick houses nearly new
and one frame house. Can sell the
three for So, 800, only 1000 cash down
required. Balance on long time at low
rate of interest. Houses have fine
stone Easements and sewer connec-
tons. Never been vacant since built
Rent for SAC month. Fine location.
REYNOLDS & MCDOWELL,
As East Broadway, Butte.
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-13

Visitors to Crystal Springs are treat
ed to very novel sight these days. A
new well is being sunk to obtain a
greater supply of water and the pro-
cess is a very interesting one. The
method is the same as is employed in
sinking oil wells in the Pennsylvania
oil fields, the old walking beam engine
being in operation daily. To see the
machinery working is well worth a
trip to the springs.
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-13
MINING MARKET.
Trading in Local Mining Shares Contin-
ues Good With Advances in Very
Near All of the Dividend Shares.

Several of the Butte plungers have
cleaned up large profits on their long
interests in the copper shares and are
watching the daily quotations with an
eagle eye in the hopes of getting back
in on a heavy break. but judging
from the present outlook they will have
to wait several long months as the
market in general is stronger now than
it has been for months. While many
of the shares are not selling for as
much as they did in May and June yet
they are firmer and one DESTROYS of
making an investment can buy several
points cheaper now than the same
shares can be purchased in October
and November. The Butte & Bingham
Copper Mining company are selling
their treasury stock at 30 cents per
share. This stock will undoubtedly go
to 81 by the first of the year. The lat
est reports from the mines are all that
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-13
The Alice Band and Silver Bow Glee Club
Picnic at Mountain View Park, Sun
day, Aug, 18th, 1899.

For the above occasion the B., A. &
p. railway will make rate of 81 for
adults and so cents for children for the
round trip, Butte to Mountain View
park and return. Trains will leave
Butte at 10 a. m. 05 p. m, 4;45 p. m.
Returning, trains will leave the park
at 2:30 p. M, p. M, II p. m.
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-13

S. ]. Monroe & Co., AZ East Broadway,
have this day been appointed general
wholesale agents for the Kemmerer
Coal company of kemmerer, Wyo., vice
NJ. L. Todd The above named company
will also continue to be the exclusive
retail agents for the same coal. All
business with the Kemmerer Coal COM
pany will hereafter be transacted
through S. ]. Monroe & Co.
KEMMERER COAL co.
P. c. KITTLE, General Sales Agent
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-13
Three Thousand Picknickers.

The B. & M. and B. & B. picnic yes
terday at Mountain View park, west
of Anaconda, took out of Butte about
5000 men, women and children. The
bright, beautiful morning and day
caused many to go who had previously
expressed their intention of remaining
at home The outing was thoroughly
enjoyed by all and the returning pic
nickers exclaimed with one accord that
they had enjoyed themselves to the
limit.
The Alice band and Silver Bow Glee
club will picnic at the same place to-
day.
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-13
A Lost Brother.

Alex H. E. Grant of the Michigan
Central freight office in Detroit, Mich,
has addressed a letter to the chief Of
police of Butte inquiring as to the
whereabouts of Harold Ernest Grant.
The writer states that Harold Grant
was in Butte on Dec. 10, 1894 and that
in that year he was a party to two or
three lawsuits. Alex Grant is anxious
to hear from Harold and would be
grateful to any one who may give him
the address of his brother. If any one
in Butte knows of the missing mans
wherea bouts he will confer a favor on
either Alex Grant, Detroit, or Mrs. Day
of No. 416 West Park street.
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-13
Charities annual benef

Associated Charities annual benefit
Wednesday, Aug. 16. A continuous
vaudeville and speciality performance
by Butte theatrical talent. Curtain
rises promptly at $50 p. m. Augment
ed orchestra Tickets, 81 each lex
changeable for reserved seats, for sale
at Newbros drug store.
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-13

Childrens glasses half price this
month at Butte Optical company's, I
and Owsley. Examination free.
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-13

s25 reward to any one proving that e.
F. Mayer, 40 West Park does not put
in. the best handspring made for 81.
Watch cleaning, s1.50.
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-13

Northwest Coal company, dealers in
wood and diamond coal. Satisfaction
guaranteed. Telephone No. sos.
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-13
Butte Whist Club,

The Butte Whist club held its regular
weekly meeting at Columbia gardens
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-13

Plate and window glass at Butte Art
Stained Glass works.
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-13

California Cafe is the best place to
eat in Butte.
The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-13
0. K. LEWIS & co.
BUTTE, MONT.
NOTED FOR BEST GOODS
An Opportune Sale

When these small Furs
Of ours came the other day
we were in the midst of an
unusually cold spell for this
time Of year, and their sale
was particularly opportune
and welcome. 1t is no Won
der that we have to report
heavy sales for Friday and
Saturday. Monday again,
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-20

lands made in recent years the price was in
large measure fixed by the necessities of
the seller or the anxiety of the buyer.
The Grounds
To the plea which has been made that the
only question was whether or not the lands
were sold at their fair market value, we
emphatically demur, upon the following
grounds
l. There is no necessity shown for the
sale of these lands on the part of the uni
versity.
O. For that the price which other parties
differently situated are willing to accept or
are compelled by their necessities TO accept,
is no proper or just criterion of the value
of this property.
2. Fer that the settled policy of the board
for years has been to withdraw the LANDS
from sale, and, therefore, persons who
would have been probable bidders II tine
lands had been put upon the market had
no opportunity to state what they would
have paid for the same.
A. The lands of the University are by the
law and settled policy of the state exempt
from taxation, and, therefore, the UNIVERSE
ty is at no expense in keeping the same,
and can afford to wait until there is an ap-
Proclamation between the real value of the
property as contra-distinguished to what
needy people will take for their own.
5. In older states it has been for years
acknowledged that the only proper method
of determining the value of coal lands is
upon the royalty basis, and the facts snow
from the most reliable testimony that pheSe
lands upon minimum royalty OF . cents
per ton contain from $500 to $500 worth of
coal per acre.
G. These lands were granted to the state
for the benefit of the University by act OF
congress as an endowment. The present
generation, therefore, have merely a lie IN
terest in the property, and they ought not
to consume the corpus of the estate in Vio-
lation of the rights of the reversioners, the
unborn children of the state, and thus de-
feat the policy and intention of the donor
But If the demurrer is over-ruled, we
have positive evidence that these lands
could have been sold, at any time for years
past at a higher price than $3.50 per acre.
had it been known that they were upon the
market. On this point see the statement or
L. B. Musgrove exhibit B, attached hereto).
We also have an offer from thoroughly re-
liable and responsible parties who are Will
ing to lease that portion of the lands IN
Walker county, Alabama, on the same
terms as Mr. DeBardeleben, to-wit: cents
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-20

per ton royalty for the run of the mines,
with a minimum guarantee of $1,000 per
annum, for a term of twenty years.
On the question of value, in addition to
other evidence, we submit herewith letter
from DIR. Eugene Smith, the state geolo-
gist, Ga copy of which is hereto attached'
marked Exhibit F'); the letter of Mr.. j.
H. Hayes marked exhibit E"); the letter
of Mr. Musgrove (marked Exhibit Bo.
Question of Taxes and Development
Before pursuing further this subject, we
will take up the question of taxes and de-
veopment
1t has been urged that as long as these
lands are owned by the University they are
exempt from taxes and bar across the
path of development in the state. The state
seems to have developed very well without
these lands heretofore, and the question we
submit is one which concerns the interest of
the University alone so far as the question
of taxation is concerned We further SUBJ
nit that it is not within the power of the
trustees or within the scope of their duties
to override and annul an act of the legisla-
ture of Alabama even by indirection upon
the plea that few more dollars may \be
gathered by the tax collector. If these
lands should be assessed, say at the value
returned for the American Coal and Coke
company or S25 900, the gross revenue de-
rived therefrom per annum by the state
would only be one hundred and eighty
seven and one-half dollars.
But the question raised Is an important
one, concerning the relation of the Univer-
sity to the state-why were the lands ex-
empt from taxation? The answer is found
in the decision of the supreme court of the
state in the case of trustees of the Univer-
sity VS. Winston Is Stuart & Porter-1D,
rendered more than half a century ago.
SAYS the court: "What is the corporation
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-20

derived from a lease is what it produces af-
ter it becomes effective, not by counting
the years that had passed before it was
made
Fifth-The governor stated that 1900
res of land had been sold under his pre-
decessors at an average price of ten dol
lars per acre, and that these lands brought
an increase of % per cent If the fact stat
ed by the governor had been true, the ar
gument would have been unsound, since it
is a well-known fact that valuable mineral
properties have increased more than % per
cent above the price which was generally
obtained at the time the previous sales of
University lands were made. But the fact
is that the average price per acre for lands
sold during the administrations of the gov
errors predecessors, not one of whom, so
far as we are advised, ever interferred in
the making of the sale, was fourteen dol
lars and twelve cents per acre, or forty
per cent more than that stated by the gov
ernor so that this sale made at the time
of the most active development of mineral
properties and the prosperity of the min
eral section that this state has ever known,
brought 10 per cent less than the average
price obtained Through former sales, some
of which at least were made during a Pc
riod of great depression.
In fact, the governor himself was inter-
ested with General Rucker in the purchase
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-20

an explanation of the telegram bearing the
same date is hereto attached marked Eek
hibit D."
1t appears that Mr.. DeBardeleben had
sent Mr.. Smith to see Captain Webb, ana
Mr.. McCrossin, his brother-in-law, to see
Mr.. Fits, and somebody had informed the
governor that some proposition to lease
these lands was under way.
Now, Baker creek flows through the uni
versity lands in township Is, range Z, as a
reference to the maps will show, and upon
that creek is the finest natural opening to
coal mines in that vicinity We are in
formed by mining experts, and, indeed, it
would seem self-ev1dent, that a favorable
location for an opening Of a mine Is the
most important point in the economical
mining of coal for two reasons. One is that
where the location is good the drainage IS
natural and the considerable expense of
pumping is avoided The second is that
loaded tram cars can be hauled down grade
and the empties upgrade which cuts con-
siderable and important figure in the cost.
The omission from the lease of this nat
ural opening Of Baker creek, which, by
the way, contained only 800 acres, was like
locking the door to these lands and throw
ing the key away.
Defeated by the Governor
Verify then, Mr.. DeBardeleben did not
positively decline to make the lease, but
was exceedingly anxious to get it. The
lease WAS NtAedheu through int ulNstt lsillL-
ed and illegal interference in the matter by
the governor and he cannot now assert in
defense of this sale a condition of facts
which was created by his own violation of
the laws of the state and the university.
1t is true that the land commissioner was
under no obligation or duty to pay any at
tention to the governors telegram. and this
telegram furnishes him no protection, but
1T does explain his conduct.
Fourth-The further statement was that
all the revenue derived from these lands
had been from one small tract specially val
liable, which has probably aggregated about
fifteen thousand dollars or an average of
one thousand dollars per annum. The fact
is that the average income derived from the
lease of $40 acres of land is upwards of
five Thousand dollars per annum, or 400 per
cent more than stated by the governor. 1t
is quite evident that. in order to make out
a case against the policy of leasing, the
governor went back some eleven or twelve
years before the lease was made, in order
to bring down the average annual income
from that source to an amount that would
belittle it, The test of the annual income
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-20

the American Coal and Coke company's
lands for the further reason that the Uni
versity lands contain the celebrated Pratt
seam of coal above referred to, and this Is
not fact with reference to the American
Coal and Coke company's lands. In other
particulars the lands carry the same seam
of coal.
Another significant fact in regard to the
value of this property is that the Gulf
Coal and Coke company had written Of
fer, backed by guarantee of SlO'OoO IN
checks, which, as we are informed, were
signed by the Sloss Iron and Steel COM
pany, of twenty dollars per acre for these
lands, $40 to be paid to the company and
81 as a commission to the promoter This
company was not Obliged to sell, and de-
clined the proposition. The Gulf Coal and
Coke company's lands are in the same
townships with the University lands, and
have no greater value.
Isolated Tracts i
The subject has also been pressed that
the university lands are in very small
tracts, unfit for leasing, and by reason of
the smallness of the tracts of little value.
We have shown that these lands contain
at least three tracts which are larger than
the tracts leased to Baird & Aldrich, but
the further significant fact Is that the So
called isola ted tracts of lands have in many
cases sold at higher figure than the large
bodies. This will demonstrate that when
an owner of adjacent property is DESTROYS
of mining his own coal and the university
owns forty or eighty or one hundred and
sixty acres contiguous, he will pay very
much more for it than under the usual cir
cumstances attending sales. In these
cases the lands come nearer bringing their
intrinsic value than can possibly be obtains
ed under other circumstances. All THAT the
university has to do with reference to
: these so-called isolated tracts Is to halh
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-20

of GOO acres of land from the University in
1881 the year of the great Barring failure,
which was totally unimproved, and which
was further from a railroad than the Uni
versity lands now are, and paid fifteen dol
lars per acre and afterwards sold the same
lands to the American Coal company for
fifty dollars per acre in their wild and I'M
improved state.
On this point we submit a letter which we
have received from Mr.. ]. H. Hayes, who
made this purchase for the governor, and
attach the same hereto, marked Exhibit
E."
Sprung by the Governor
The meeting of September %, 1899, was
called to order about o'clock p m, and
after dsposing of the question of electing
a professor to the chair of pedagogy, which
occupied only a few minutes, there being
only one candidate, Mr. Forney, the gov
ernor then, for The first time, stated to
the board the object for hich he had called
them together. They continued in session
until about midnight, and the time was
consumed in arguments made by Judge
Richardson against The policy of selling at
ALL and the discussion of motions to post
pone the meeting until full meeting could
be had, and in divers and sundry state
ments many of which were misleading in
their nature, and inconsistent with the real
facts, and made for the purpose of influence
ing an immediate decision without affording
the right of consultation with the absent
members who constituted majority of the
whole board.
1t appears from the statement of every
trustee who has written a card for the pa
pers that ne was personally unacquainted
with the facts; that the statements above
mentioned were brought out prominently
before the board; and that the votes of
those members who actually voted for the
resolution are influenced and obtained by
those statements. Trustee Richardson,
who opposed the sale throughout states
that he had no personal knowledge in re-
gard to the value of the lands, and it is
apparent that other members present were
likewise uniformed in regard to the facts.
To the suggestion made by Trustee Rich
ardson, and concurred in by Colonel SAM
ford that the question ought to be postpon-
ed until there could be a full meeting of the
board, the governor replied that HE thought
a postponement would defeat the sale
1t was under these circumstances that
bare quorum of trustees, ignorant of the
value of the property, and misled by ma
terial statements wholly incorrect, reluc-
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-20

miles of railroad then owned by the COM
pany was fixed at 5000. The improvements
upon the property were separately valued
as follows:
Fourteen one-room houses. -. IS 70
Forty-slX four-room houses. " 8 900
Ihree two-room houses. -. -. -. $50
one store house,. -. -. -. -. -. 200
Two pair small scales and one pair
railroad scales. -. -. -. -. -. 80 200
The rest of the property was personality
and the aggregate value of the lands i'm
provements, railroad, personal property,
including notes and accounts, was fixed at
$S5, 1S2.62.
brought $40 Acre
Since that time the property has been
reorganized. The Southern Railway COM
pany has purchased the two and three
quarter miles of railroad and the Ameri-
can Coal and Coke company obtained the
lands and the Improvements. Some addi-
tional improvements have been made since
the reorganization, but we are informed
that these additional improvements do not
add a great deal TO the value of the inn
provements on this property ait the time of
this appraisement. The gross valuation OF
the improvements referred to was $500 If
we multiply this, say by seven, and fix
the total present valuation of the improve
ments at $25,0O0 We have 100000 as the
price of $500 acres OF land, only $40 OF which
contained coal, or forty dollars per acre
as the price paid for the lands, bad and
Indifferent.
If Mr.. Hayes, who was a stakeholder of
the original company, is correct, that $40
acres constituted the only lands of the
American Coal and Coke company con-
tanning workable coal. The price paid per
acre on this basis is about $780, The in
formation which We have is that the Uni
verslty lands are much more valuable than
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-20

family surrendered their better Judgments
reversed the policy which had been IN force
for years. and which they mad uhaniinou19
re-afiirmed only a few months preViously'
and adopted the resolution by when this
sale was consummated
should the Sale be Set Asidef
Without 'inquiring into the question OF
injury in this connection, it appears tnal d
mere statement of the facts set out apoVe
which either appear OF RECORD or lioii. ".
disputed evidence, would be sufficient 10
condnn The transaction in any court OF law
or equity; and the trustees owe It TO thefh
selves and to the good name ana honol VI
the university that the resolution relerfeu
To should be cancelled and erased IRON IL,
records, because it was passed at an aileseo
meeting unlawfully called and held, ana De-
cause it was obtained by mlsrepreseAe"-
ton of material facts.
If the sale be advisable, the status quo
of TIE parties ought to be restored anu
the proposition considered by the trustees
on its merits in the full light OF all the
facts. $3.50
The committee deems it really super
Auous to state that vindication of the honor
and integrity of the trustees who voted
for this sale is wholly unnecessary. Ihey
acted tr1oon the facts laid before them, ana
the p1ritv and uprightness of their mouVes
is above question. 1t must De re-
membered that they ACT "i|iou'
compensation; that those present.
with one exception, had never peen
charged with the duty of attending to lana
sales; that a majority of the executive COM
mittee, whose business 1t was to look apter
these sales were absent, and that the state
ment was made that one of them who had
prior TO that time made a plain record to
the contrary, favored the SALE
Question of Value
Sundry statements have been published in
the public prints from reputable citizens to
the effect that twelve dollars and fifty cents
per acre was fair market price for these
lands Other statements have been made to
us from equally reputable parties to the
same effect The most of these statements
are from PRISONS who are interested in the
purchase of coal lands; one of them has
been frank enough to say that he has never
seen these lands. How many others are
testifying as experts to the value of lands
they have never seen we are unadvised.
The further fact is that sales of coal lands,
where there was no substantial difference
in the value have vacillated all the way
from four to one hundred dollars per acre.
The real truth is that there is no such
thing as a market price for coal lands. We
dare say that in virtually every sale of coal
The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-20

is reproduced now in our salesroom.
This. the prettiest exhibition Of High
grade Pianos ever shown in the State,
will be interesting to those who con-
template placing a high>grade instru>
ment in their homes. You are cordially
invited to come, whether you intend
to purchase or not