The age-herald., 1900-02-13
CARNEGIE TO BE
 SUED BY PRICK There is Very Little Chance for
 Settlement. S21,OOO,OOo IS INVOLVED
Actions May Be Brought in Behalf of the Coke Company on the Ground
 That Carnegie Did Not Pay '
 ss Enough for Fuel

Pittsburg, Pa, February 12---H. C. Prick has retained John G. Johnson of Philade1-. pnia, and A. M. Watson and Wlllis F. Me- Cook of Pittsburg, to enter suit against Andrew Carnegie to recover 100000, as the value of his shares of stock in the Car negie Steel company.
 The suit may be entered next week, and will be the first fierce contest between Mr. Prick and MT. Carnegie.
 Mr. Prick is also said to be preparing a suit in behalf of the minority stockholders of the H. c. Prick Coke company against the Carnegie company, because coke was sold to the steel company too cheapiy.
 While MT. Tricks holdings in the Car negie company are rated as being worth $21 900, ,0OOO, the litigation on account of the many ramifcattons, will involve something Nike $SO,O00, ,O0O
 It will be one of the most important suits ever dnaugurated, as it will bring into com f6at the two greatest steel masters in the world. There is bare possibility that Mr. Carnegie may settle. If he does not the world may learn for the first time how the enormous Carnegie dividends have been made and how tine concern could underbtd an competitors.
 Little Chance for Settlement
 Persons close to Mir Brick say there is no Likelihood of settlement, as the gap be- tween Mr. Tricks demands and MT Car negie's ulbmatum is said to be too wide to cover MT. Carnegie evidently believes thfs, as he has relieved Attorneys F. c. Knox and former Judge James H. Reed, his regular counsel, from this disagreeable task of fighting personal friend. Dalzell, Scott and Gordon have been retained by MT. Carnegie as counsel for the Carnegie Steel Company in this particular case Leading New York lawyers will probably be added to MT. Carnegie's Hist
 Upon MT. Tricks retirement, which was forced by Mr. Carnegie, the latter in- formed his retiring partner that a certain price, based on the book values, and re- puted to be six times the par value of the stock. would be paid for his holdings. The capital stock is $25, ,OOo, 00O. At the reorgani- zation of Carnegie Bros. & Co.,, in 1892, the present Carnegie Steel company was formed
 Mir. Fr.ck,s Interest
 MT. Prick had eleven per cent in the old company or $550000 He secured the same percentage, or sg, 10000 in tine new one, but it Is said he reilnquished five per cent when he retired upon John G. A. Leish- mans ascendency a few years ago.
 At the price supposed to have been of Tered the payment to Mr. Prick would have peen $3000,O00. It is asserted that MT. Car negie's selling idea of the real worth of tine property was about s35O,OOO,OO0. At this enormous figure MT. Prick estimated his stock was worth $21, 900 OO0
 After MT. Tricks efforts for the purchase of MT. Carnegie's shares had failed Mr. Carnegie publicly announced that the value of the property had increased since he had given the option to his partners.
 MT. Carnegie also stated at the time that the proh.s for the coming year would be much larger than they had ever been be- fore When he afterward ofre d MT. Prick s9,e00000 MT. Prick referred to 1 value MT. Carnegie had placed on his stock, and re- fused to take less.
 Failing to come to an amicable settlement negotiations were broken off, and MT. Prick secured the services of three of the best lawyers in the country to prosecute MT. Carnegfe.
 The suit in connection with the supply of coke furnished the Carnegie company by the Prick Coke company will bring out some highly important matters to the man. ufacturing trades. It is asserted that the Prick company sold coke to the Carnegie, concern at prices away bAow the market quotations which Carnegie rivals were forced to pay, because MT. Carnegie and the steel company controlled the coke com pany.
 It will be alleged that contracts providing for a low price on coke were made years ago. When these contracts expired they wepe never renewed, but coke was furnish ed the steel company at the old price re- gard1ess of the market value of the fuel. It is alleged that MT. Prick and the minori- ty stockholders protested without avail.
 Andrew Carnegie and the Carnegie Steel company jointly hold 55 per cent of the stock of the coak company. MT. Prick holds only 25 per cent. MT. Prick protested, on the ground that he and other stock aloiders were being denied earnings that should have been enjoyed by them.
 Some weeks ago it was reported that the Prick company had decided, in view of the Connellsville coal field showing signs of working out," to limit its coal to the Carnegie Steel company.
 The reason for this is now apparent. It is understood from sources that are gener- ally considered authentic that the aCrnegie officials are already figuring on rounding out, the fiscal year with from S40,O GOO to $42, 0,000 on the profit side.
 It is claimed that these figures will be even improved upon the succeeding year, when the contracts will have the benefit of the present high prices, and when the first cost of producing the steel will not be much inflated.
 These figures appear appalling to those who look only at the formal capital of $25, ,0o0,000 but the actual value of the plant and amount of money invested ag- gregate many times that figure.
 Mr. Prick arrived home to-day from Philadelphia, where he had been in con- sultation. with MT. Johnson He was asked about the suit, but wouldi neither admit nor deny that 1t was contemplated. All he would say was: You. know do not dis cuss business matters in the. -newspapers" "Better live. we'll than live long," You