The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-12-21
WOULD MOVE
 LAND OFFICE Birmingham is Taking Steps to Secure It. GEN. JOHNSTON FAvoRS IT Quiet Efforts Making to Take It
 from Montgomery.
 - Arguments Are Advanced Fro and Con on subJect-Congressman Wiley Asks Department to Hold
 it mp.

Birmingham is trying to steal the United States land offices from Mont gomery.
 A we'll defined movement, originating in Birmingham and endorsed by Gen eral R. D. Johnston, register of ths local land offices, having for it's pur- pose the transfer of these offices iron, the Capital City, has been brought to the notice of several of Montgomery s citizens.
 On being advised of the efforts to have the offices removed, Congressman A. A. Wiley of this district. immediate ly filed. telegram directed to the Uni- ted States Department of the Interior, setting forth the reasons why Mont gomery should ever retain the land of- Aces and requesting that no action should be taken until he is given ! hearing.
 From information gathered. Birm ingham claims the land offices on the allegation tht it is to the interest and advantage of the people of that part of the State to have the offices locaed thers.
 Montgomery people insist that this is not a reasonable excuse for the re- moval. especially in view of the many reasons why the land offices for Ala bama should remain here. Most im- portant among these reasons is that at least two-thirds of the homestead lands in Alabama are in this territory.
 Gneeral Johnston Talks.
 '"rhe movement for the removal of the land offices to Birmingham was in- augurated about three months ago by severl corporations and abstract com panies of Birmingham, seconded by the counties of that part of the State said General Johnston yesterday. "They pe- titioned the department and the appli- cation was denied. Recently the ap- plication was reconsidered by the De- pertinent of the Interior and received a letter a few days ago from the department desiring to learn my views on the subject and to secure an ex- pression from me as to public senti- ment in the State.
 T have written the department a letter endorsing the removal Of the oflces," continued General Johnston, but cannot give out the letter for publication as it has probably not reached the department by this time.
 Tt Is to the best advantages of the people, having most dealings with the land office, for the offices to go to Birmin gham. There are 250, ,000 acres of public lands in the State and 2O0,- 900 acres are north of a line drawn east and west through Calera. The matter of removal not having been open for public discussion so far I did not undertake to express public sentiment"
 General Johnston is a citizen OF Birmingham. His family resides in Birmingham and he frequently leaves Montgomery Saturday evening to spend Sunday with his family. He received his commission as register of the land office last May, not long time after the consolidation of the Huntsville and Montgomery offices.
 But General Johnston was not the only official here to whom the depart ment addressed a letter requesting views on the subject. Nathan H. Alex ander, receiver of public moneys, re- ceived a letter from the department last Saturday, in which the same ques- tions were put to him as those which the register was asked to answer.
 Opposed by Alexander.
 The receiver replied with a lengthy communication, unalterably opposing