The age-herald., 1901-01-25
ARBITRATION OF
 THE DIFFERENCES
Litigation Over the University
 Lands to be Settled
A PROPOSITION SUBMITTED
Sloss-Sheffield Wants Matter Settled. Executive Committee Names pr. Eugene Smith to Act for
 the Trustees.

A movement has been set on foot to bring about a settlement of the litigation growing out of the university land sale to the Sloss-Sheffield Steel and Iron Company made by Governor Johnston in the fall of 1899
 It will be recalled by readers of the Age Herald that a majority of the trustees of the university, at a special meeting held in Septembtr, 1899, authorized the Governor to sell 44SO acres of university coal lands to the Sheffield Steel and Iron Com pany. Governor Johnston, under these in structions, executed deed to the lands described and received from the Sloss-Shef- field Company $56,OOO in payment therefor Much dissatisfaction developed over the sale, and at a meeting of the trustees, held in December, 1899, the land sale was declared to be illegal by reason of the fact that the meeting of the trustees at which it was authorized was irregular.
 Governor Johnston paid the $56,OOO re- ceived for the lands into the treasury of the State and notified the trustees of the university of his action. The trustees de- clined to receive it, and it is now in the State treasury.
 About a week ago Chairman James D. Webb of the executive committee of the trustees of the university received a com munication from Sterling A. Wood of the advisory board of the Alumni Society, stat ing that the Sloss-Sheffield Steel and Iron Company desired to bring about an ami cable settlement of the litigation pending between the Sloss- Sheffield Company and the university, and that the company would submit propositions upon which such agreement might be based.
 On the receipt of this communication Captain Webb telegraphed to the other members of the executive committee ask ing them to come to Birmingham to con- sider these propositions. Captain James E. Webb of Birmingham, Daniel Pratt of Prattville and T. C. Mcclellan of Athens constitute the executive committee. They met here yesterday and received the prop esition from the Sloss- Sheffield Company. That company offers to agree to either one of three things-to execute quit-claim deed to the university lands, or to ex- change lands of equal value for such uni versty lands included in the sale as might be necessary to "body-up'' both the uni versty lands and the Sloss-Sheffield lands, or to leave the whole matter to a commit tee of three-one to be named by the trus- tees, one by the Sloss-S Sheffield Company and the third to be selected by those two.
 While the committee realized that it had no power to act in the matter, it designated pr. Eugene A Smith to represent the trust ees in an investigation under one of the propositions submitted by the Sloss-Shef- field Company. If the arbitration commit tee comes to an agreement it will report to the executive committee and the latter will request Judge Stansel, president pro tenn. of the board of trustees, to call that body together.
 It is understood that T. H. Aldrich will represent the Sloss-S Sheffield Company on the arbitration committee, and he and Dr. Smith will select the third man.
 When the Legislature reconvenes 1t will be asked to pass bill appropriating $56,O00 for the purpose of refunding the purchase money paid by the Sloss-Sheffield Steel and Iron Company for the lands in question.