The age-herald., 1901-12-18
ALaban1ians,,0 In shilgton

. Washington, December f7.-(speciaf)- T am convinced that the more active spirits who are seeking to form an offen- sive alliance of all the opposing and in- different clements political against the organized Democracy in Alabama have succeeded in leading former Congressman William F. Aldrich to the mountain top. whence they pointed out to him General Pettus' seat in the United States Senate, though they do not really mean that he shall ever enjoy the hoiiors and dignities of the upper house of Congress, which in essence is the most desirable club in the world" said leading Alabama Republi- can today.
 "Govern>T Johnston Is still in his pur- poses candidate for the Senate and. like the baby reaching for the cake of soap in the familiar advertisement, he won't be happy till he gets it. But 1t suits some of Governor Johnston's well-wishers inside and outside the regular Democracy to encourage a fixed ambition to succeed General Pettus. I do not say that Cover nor Johnston himself Is thus seeking to toy with Mir. Aldrieh, for I know nothing to that effect though it is common talk around the hotels that Governor John ston was partly influenced by MT. AL drich to come to Washington and try to do something towards securing control of Federal patronage in Alabama. This pa- tronage would be a powerful factor in consolidating and perfecting the anti Democratic alliance in the State. This gossip I repeat to you for whatever you may consider it to be worth.
 "Mr. Aidrich is a good man and downright good fellow. He is one of the wealthiest men in Alabama. His net in- come is not penny under s25,OOO year, and it may be twice that sum. He owns absolutely the Mof1tevallo coal mines the most profitable mine in this country for the capital invested; for 1t pays at least dollar ton net profit on it's output.
 Did you ever hear the story of how Mr. Aldrich became the sole owner of the Montevallo mines? Well. he and his brother, former Congressman Truman H. Aidrich acquired the mine Jointly through their late father, who developed the prop erty. It always paid, and the two broth- CTS cleared a great deal of money out of it. Finally Truman Aldrich wished to sell his interest in order to get more capi- tai than he had to join Col. Cornelius Cadle in developing the now famous B1octon mines, and he proposed that his brother buy him out at $150,OOO William A1drich objected to severing his business relations with his brother and begged him to dismiss the subjects from his thoughts, saying they were prosperous and happy together and they ought to re- main so.
 "But Truman Aldrich was persistent He foresaw great things in Blocton and wanted more capital for developing that property. In the end he proposed to his brother to self his Mohtevallo interests for $fO00OO cash. William Aldrich again objected; but his wife, who is one of the most intellectual women and one of the most far-seeing in a business sense, in all the South, prevailed upon him to accept his brothers offer and Truman Aldrich at once received s1oo, 000 which he Invest ed In that noble enterprise of building B1octon in the wild hills of Bibb county, then ten miles from railroad. Thus William A1drich became absolute owner of the Montevallo coal mine. which is another name for gold mine
 An important part of the Montevailo property was railroad three miles long, connecting with the East Tennessee, vir- ginia and Georgia Railroad at the station of Montevallo. When the Mobile and Bir- fningham Railroad was being constructed the company sought to purchase that lit- tie coal road Mrs. A1drich herself answer ed the proposition, saying that they did not wish to sell the road and didn't care to discuss the subject; that they needed the road, and didn't need to sell it, as they had no use for the money 1t would bring by sale. The upshot of all this was