The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-04-06
ALLEGATION ENCOURAGED.
MT. E. s. Ball Disucsses Propositions
 as Presented.

The Montgomery delegation which went to Birmingham to present the proposition of Montgomery to the Board of Trustees of the Alabama synodleal College for Men. to locate that institution in this city, returned last night, feeling very much en- couraged over the situation
 The proposition of Montgomery was sub mitted to the Board at its meeting in Birmingham yesterday by MT. Bradford Hardie. an elder of the Central Presby- terian Church. The merits of the Mont- gomery proposition were argued by MT. Fred s. Ball, an officer of the Perry Street Methodist Church It was said by those who returned from Birmingham that the argument of MT. Ball was clear-cut and forceful. members of the Board uniting in saying that his presentation of Mont gOmery's claims was the best that was made on the part of any delegation.
 In an interview last night. Mir Ball said:
 'The Montgomery delegation Is very much pleased with the situation as It de- veloped today. While six bids were pre- sented to the Board, only four of them came within the requirements of the Sy nod, viz, at least $25. 600 In money and site for the Institution. Florence and Montevallo submitted propositions, but they. did mot come within the require ments.
 We believe that the proposition pre- scented by Montgomery. taken all In all money, choice of three sites, and an op- tion on fine farming lands. was really the most attractive proposition presented for considerat tion. when taken in connection with Montgomery's location, the size of the city, and its other advantages.
 The bid of Anniston Is about the same in money as Montgomery's, but this mon ey is payable in five yedrs, though 1t was claimed by the representatives of Annis- ton that fully half of the sum could be made available in cash. Anniston offers forty acres for site within the corpor- ate limits of the town and an option on some other property at price not named. There was no 'clear-cut option on any distinctly farming lands.
 "The BesSemer people claimed that their bid IS equivalent in value to $50,000, but careful analysis shows that this is an exaggeration It was claimed that they offer about $S2, 600 in money subscriptions, but this is not quite accurate, because So,OOO Is figured in the shape of a rebate on lands to be purchased for $10,000 Fur thermore, in the other subscriptions there Is one in land valued at $500 and another down the actual money subscriptions to about $26,OO0. practically the same as those of Anniston and Montgomery The site offered to be donated by Bessemer Is only ten acres, which Is valued at only S500O.
 The other eligible bid Is from Selma, which offers S30,100 in money, available In two years with per cent interest on the deferred sums which, 1t is claimed makes the proposition equivalent to spot cash. ten-acre site worth $5, 900 ls also offered along with some special concessions re- garding electric Tights and gas and also brick for construction purposes. Selma offered no option on farming lands, but its representatives declared that suitable lands could be obtained adjacent to the college site at prices ranging from s25 to $50 per acre.