The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-09
Executive Will Pay Visit to Banner and Flat
 Top Today
SEEKS INFORMATION
 ON TRUE SITUATION
Says There Is Nothing Significant in Visit as He Simply Wishes to Get Some First Hand
 Information

An inspection of the Banner mine of the Pratt Consolidated Coal and Iron company and the Flat Top mine of the Sloss- Sheffield Steel and Iron company will be made this morning and this afternoon respectively by Gov ernor O'Neal
 The governor reached mdngham last night and with him were James G. oakley, president Of the convict board; R. B. Evins. his legal adviser, and w. A. Gibson, superintendent Of the convict department of the Pratt company. The party on arrival found Robert c. Brickell, attorney general of the state, who returned yesterday af- ter visit of IS days to Hot Springs, Ark.
 1t Is stated that there Is nothing significant attached to the visit of the chief executive. At Banner and Flat Top state convicts are employed and the governor has long been desirous of looking over the inner workings Of those mines. He and his party will be accompanied this morning by George B, Mccormack, president of the Pratt company, and MT. Gibson.
 -. Oakley Suggested Trip
 Mir oakley stated that the governor had agreed to make the inspection fol- lowing his invitation. Formerly there was considerable agitation in reference to the contract between the state and the Pratt company, and for that req son and especially since the contract is proving a good one for the state, MT. oakley was anxious for the governor to visit Banner. Mir. oakley stated last ,y,,.1,f tIo Dar steadily on the increase. MT. Gibson stated that new coal cutting machinery would arrive this afternoon and would be immediately installed.
 As is known, the Flat Top contract has not been approved by the governor since the recent investigation of the terms of that contract. The governor informed the company that the scale would have to be increased from 421s cents per ton to 45 cents as a minimum. The company re- fused to pay, and on March 15 the gover- nor will notify the company whether he is willing that the contract continue or whether he will abrogate that document. If he decides to take the latter course he will give the company six months in which to make other arrangements.
 The governor states that he has no en- gagement to meet the officials of the Sloss company during his present visit to DlIHlllBndll lie gave Ho lDllIndllbH tS to what he intends in reference to that contract.
 State School Lands "I am simply on a tour of inspection, stated the governor. "There is nothing | significant in my visit. I will go to Ban ner mine Saturday morning, and in the afternoon will cross over to Flat Top. l will return to Birmingham Saturday night and will go Sunday morning 10 Montgomery.
 While here 1 will also look into state school property which I understand is in- volved similarly, though not to the extent of the Mobile sections. I understand that people have taken possession of the state s property in Jefferson, and it was for ,his purpose. as well as the inspection of the mines, that I have come to Birmingham" /"
 The governor stated that he might make a trip in an airship Sunday. He made it plain, however. that he spoke in jest.
 This afternoon in Montgomery, stated he. Berger, the aviator, suggested that 1t would be an honor to him to take me up to the sky in his airshp. I told him that I would leave the city tonight. He well. l told him that l would be de- lighted I will hardly make the flight, however"
 The trip of the governor last night was not advertised, and the usual coterie of friends, politicians and officeholders was not on deck when he stepped from the train. He gave no indication that he was seriously chagrined.