The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-12-21

the removal of the oflces and report ing public opinion strongly in faVor or retaining the offices here.
 Tt Is true" said the receiver yes- terday, that there are 250,OoO acres or pubIic lands in Alabama, but the great CT mart of those situated in North Ala bama are mineral lands which are not subject to entry as homesteads. For the disposition of these mineral lands it requires a special act of Congress. They are entered on the books but they are like so much dead lands as far as the office is concerned
 According to our last report Tor me sscal wear ending June 80, 1906, there were 16S,00o acres of agricultural or homestead lands in Alabama our next report, June 30, 1907, will show about 12S,O00 acres, and the report Tn June. 1908, will, in all probability, show an acreage under 100000.
 Now, here is the point, The unlteo States statutes require the land omees for a State to be located at the eapi, tai when the acreage of homestead lands goes under 100000"
 Colonel WlIey's Position.
 Colonel Wiley presents a forcetul ,,Iea on this point. If the offices were removed to Birmingham, 1t would be only a question of a short time before Inc acreage would decrease below 1OO. 900 and, under the law, the ofices would have to be moved back to Mont SomerV. if Is also presented that the location of the land offices in Montgomery is especially favorable because of an al most duplicate set of books kept in the .fice of the Secretary of State of Ala ibama to which easy access can De hau in the event an error is found or cer- tain informa tion is wanting by the land offices! Montgomery is also pro uounced to be geographically situated 50 that it is easily accessible from eV- cry part of the State and lawyers, who freouently come to the Capital City for the transaction of official business. can easily transact homesteadlng ous- iness here It Is likewise set forth that the addition sto the government building was so constructed as to provide five rooms for the land offices which are now being used Tor these purposes. Also that the greater num- ber of the employees of the land office favor the retention of the office here; that the removal of the offices would entail an expense of at least Sl.OOO which would be useless lin view of the fact that the offices would have to be moved here again in short time
 Advocated By a Woman
 According to a reliable source of in-
 
 of the offices was first carried before the Commissioner of the general land offices at Washington soon after Gen eraI Johnston went into office. The petition was denied. At the solicita- ton of interested parties, who called at the Department of the Interior short time ago. it is said the Depart ment took the matter up and deter mined to ascertain views and public Isentiment. One of these parties is said 1 to have been an Alabama woman of recognized influence and a kinswoman | of General Johnston.
 General Johnston was appointed register to succeed the late Robert Parber The fact that General John | ston was a gallant ex-Confederate sol djer and the father of Gordon Johnston. who was associated with the President las a Rough Rider. is understood to have interested the President In him.