The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-09-29
Transfers 1S,OOO Acres to Syndicate. HUNDRED IT IS FOR
 COLONY OF NEGROES ]. O. Thompson of Birmingham Represents Purchasers. Story Has 1t That Booker washiagtasa Proposes to Establish Another Agricultural school, Modelled After Tsskegee, But He
 Denies He is Concerned
 In Sale.

A deal has been consumated where's by Governor Conner has tranfserred ta a syndicate 1s,o00 acres of his land in Barbour county. This land is located at Conner Station. which is between Eufaula and Union Springs on the Gen. tral Of Georgia Railway It Is rumored that this purchase was made for tha purpose of establishing g colony of mes groes. where all of the branches of agriculture could be taught.
 The purchase was made by T. O.. Thompson. of Birmingham. one of Prea- ident Rooseveit's referees in Alabama, and who has equal place fin the Pres- identiai consultations on matters per- taining to Alabama, with Booker Wash ington.
 The presumption Is that Mir. Thomp- son represents a syndicate which hag long been trying to secure a suitable spot In Alabama for the establishment of vast agricultural school for fAa education of negroes. This could nos be verified, but no denial could be ae- cured from those in a position to know.
 The fact of the sale leaked out through an indirect protest made by citixens of Barbour county, who had an inkIlng Of what the land Is wanted for.
 It is not intimated that Booker Washington is connected with this deal directly. but he knows of 1t and in long distance telephone message to The Advertiser last night said that he had been informed by MT. Thompson that the purchase had been made.
 No4 for Booker.
 Washington authorized The Adver~ User to deny that he. as president ot the Tuakegee Industrial colieso, waa connected in any way with the pur- chase of the land in Barbour county. IEe said 1t was not bought by him of for him.
 Washington said that he had met Mir. Thompson on the street in Tuskeges when he was told of the purchase. He intimated that this was news Q him. T only wish that owned all the land that the newspapers have said I have purchased" said Washington.
 As a moving spirit. or as president of any college that might be estab- lished in Barbour county, Washington probably is not connected, but 1t Is significant fact that Mir. c. w. Hare. legal representative of the Tuskemae school and editor of The Tuskegao News, has been in Montgomery several days. He has been at the Capitol sew eral times.
 MT. Hare was seen by Q representa 
 noon and at first expressed surpriee when asked about the sale. He safd that 1t is possible that the sale has not been made, but would not deny when asked specifically. that he knew of the sale, that 1t had been made and that this was the purpose of his visit to Montgomery. The only thing that Mir. Hare was positive about was that the land was not bought for Booker Washington or his school at TuskeBee.
 Hare WOn't Talk.
 T am not in a position to discuss the matter at all." said Mir. Hare. when asked who the purchasers were and for what purpose the large tract of land was bought. He said that he did not know whether or not a college would be established on the tract of land or not, and declined to discuss the com sideration for the transfer
 Governor Conner was preparing t~ catch the evening train for Birming- ham when asked about the matter. aAa declined, in the hurry. to discuss vno matter further than to ask who ghld any such deal had been made. The land under discussion is owned. or was owned, by the Conner Company. of which Governor Conner Is president ana principal stockholder. s8
 The reticence of those who should know of the sale is looked upon as meaning that the plans are such as win not please residents of Barbol ty. Real estate men in Mon know of the deal, and their und ing is that the property Is to voted to a negro agricultural nal school. Booker Wash name has been mentioned freely von- nection with the sale
 In recent months there have been several stories circulated to the effect that Booker Washington had pur- chased large tracts of land for the es- tablIshment of another negro indus trial school, modelled after that at Tuskegee, but on a much larger scale. Each time vigorous protests have gone up from the counties in which 1t was alleged these purchases were made
 It is believed by some that this is the reason why washington has been reia, gated to the background in this deal There is more than passing signifi- canoe in the fact that Mir. Thompson is the central figure in the transaction.
 Some significance Is also being at tached to the visit which Mayor J. E Hanson, a leading Republican of the South, paid to the Governor a few da.- ago, in which a lengthy conference wa held, of which the Governor declined speak.