The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-11-20
.lIDc 0p[n[n llIT UIUu u LHLD uUt DECISION WITHHELD Large Crowd of Coal Operators
 in Montgomery. WAS A SIMPLE CEREMONY Waited on Corona Coal Company for Some Time, But Muserove and
 Ryan Decided Not to File a
 Bld-vlsltors Leave.
WAS A SIMPLE CEREMONY

1 Montgomery November 19.-(special)- this morning was a very simple and un- ceremonious process, and the bidders might as well have used the malls for any good their personal presence could do. Shortly afternoon each man laid his bid on the desk of the private secretary in the front office. Then Judge Carmich- ael came in from the back office and ask ed if all were in. Then there was a walt for the Corona Coal company's bid, it be- ing known that L. B. Musgrove and J. R. Ryan of that company were in town and thinking of bidding. A half hour was whiled away and then it was concluded by the officials that they would let the others go and if Musgrove's bid came in within a reasonable time they would receive it, assuring those present that ab- soIutely nothing would be given out before it came in. The others modestly suggested that 1t would be better to let all get in before any were opened, and that they would wait on the Corona peo- pie 2 while longer. After another wait Judge Carmichael announced the bidding closed and the Corona company was not .in.. Mir. Ryan made his appearance soon after and let it be known that the wait had been for nothing as he had no bid to file It Is possible however. that the company had sent it's bid by mail, as there was one with no mark on it re- cefyed in that way.
 MT. Percy Was Curious.
 MT. Percy of the Tennessee company
 <-fo fIao bids could be opened there where all were present, as it would satisfy their curiosity and give them all chance to laugh at those who get left He did not wish any discussion, but just to know what the bids were. This raised strong hopes among the crowd that they would find out something before they left Mont gomery, but the suggestion was not adopted, and the judge took the bids into the back office where the governor and the board were assembled to open them. This proeess was at once begun and the operators informed that nothing would be given out about the bids until the con tract was awarded. However, they were invited to remain till the o'clock train, and if the board ran across anything in any bid that needed explanation the bidder would be invited In to explain t.
 Not counting the bids supposed to have come by mail, there were eight handed in as follows: The Tennessee Coal, Iron and Railroad company, the Sloss-Shefheld Steel and Iron company, the Pratt Coal company, the Tutwiler Coal and Iron company, the Little Cahaba Coal com pany, the Bessemer Land and Improve ment company, T. H. and w. M. Spen- cer, A. J. Kelley. Whom MT. Kelley rep resented could not be ascertained
 Large Crowd Assembled.
 There was quite a crowd assembled in the governors office, quite the largest crowd of mining magnates who ever got together in Montgomery on one mission. It was in striking contrast with the scene five years ago when the present contract was made at the bottom of the labor mar ket, and there were only three bidders. The gentlemen present were Walker Percy attorney, and P. J, Rogers division superintendent of the Tennessee; J. C.. Maben, president; John P. Tillman, att torney, and T. c. Culverhouse. superin- tendent of the Sloss; T. T. Hillman pres ident, and Erskine Ramsey of the Pratt | Coal company; G. B. Mccormack of the | Woodward Iron company; T. H. Spencer l of the Echols and other companies; E.. M. Tutwiler and M. Adler of the Tutwiler Coal and Iron company; A. J. Kelley, | Joe Smith and Hugh M. Morrow of the Little Cahaba Coal company; L. B. Mus grove ana J. f. ftyaH oi lhs Ooi oha Soai and Iron company; W. s. Lowell of the Bessemer company; Jones G. Moore of the Birmingham Southern railroad.
 MT. Mccormack of the Woodward com pany did not put in a bid for that com- pany as had been anticipated.
 VIII Be Several Days.
 Nothing will be known of the contents of the bids for some days Some of them uera quite heavy in appearance and evil dently went into a long bill of partic- ulars. The members of the board and the governor are not experts in mining terminology. and Assistant Mine In- spector James Hillhouse is here to give them any information on vexed and little understood points taht may arise. Some of the operators returned at 3:S0 and the others on the later train.
 AnnncEC lNIHR EASE