The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-05
OPERATORSSEENO VALUE IN K|LbY'S
 PROPOSEDPL
President of MontevaIIo Com pany Thinks It InadvisabIe for State to Go Into Min
 ing Business

Alabama coal operators asked yea terday their opinion of the state plan to buy the Montevallo proper ties said:
 Frank Nelson. Jr, president Bryan Coal Corporation: "Of course it is all right for the state to go ahead ] if 1t wants to go into the coal min- irg business.
 T will say however. that if k does so 1t will regret it for long tine."
 II. k. Mccormack, general man ager of the Pratt Consolidated Coal company. said. If the governor and the state enter into the coal mining business. there will be some valuable experience coming to them.
 "As to state ownership and opera tion of coal mines as a public policy, that is such a broad question that one should not pass on it off-hand. It should be studied from all angles before one comes to conclusions.
 T will say this. however. The governor has . lot more of convicts on hand than he has work for and he naturally. I judge, is looking about to secure employment for them
 LoveIps Objection
 w s. Lowell, president of the Montevallo Mining company, said: T do not regard the proffer Of th4 governor to buy the Monteyallo prop erty for several reasons. In tho first place, do not believe it advisable for the state to go in the coal mining business. Seems right queer that af- ter all the effort to get convicts out of the mines, here is proposal for the state to keep them there.
 State operation of coal mines in Tennessee has upset the coal business In that state time and time again. lt has been the sore spot of the coal ir- dustry there. Whenever coal trade has been dull the Petros mines have served to further disorganize mar kets and embarrass the independent operators. 1 do not believe Alabama wants Petros mine experience.
 Again. the governors offer does not represent the value of the prop erty. It's worth more than the price offered by the governor. The scheduled statement of assets is not adequate.
 Doubts Authority
 Finally I doubt the authority of the state to buy coal mines. Tho act of the legislature passed in the Kill ty administration gave the state the right, as I understand 1t, to lease and equip university coal lands for min ing purposes and this act provided an appropriation of s250,0o0 for that purpose, to be used in case the gov ernor should decide to lease and op- crate university lands. I do not sss where the right of the state to buy coal mining properties has been con ferred. neither do I see where the act mentioned conferred other than the right to lease university lands. none others being mentioned in the act.'
 Henry L. Badham. president Besse- mer Coal Iron and Railroad company: T am not In touch at all with any of the negotiations that have been going on, but if the state goes into the coal mining business I venture to predict that it will not only be for the first time. but also for the last time. I can readily sec, however, that the governors proposal has raised d unique point and one which will cause a great deal of discussion be- fore any consummation is reached"
 Henry T. DeBardeleben and f.. j. Rowe, coal operators. were unwils- ing to talk al this time, preferring to have more opportunity to study the matter.
 Several operators. both steam and domestic, expressed their disapproval of the proposal. One said it would be bad business" for the state to en- ter into the coal mining business in competition with private operators. While expressing disapproval of tho proposal in no uncertain terms soma operators declined to be quoted for various reasons.
 One domestic coal operator said he thought the governor was making q mistake.
 James Bonnyman sata a matter of this nature had to be Dtudied out In it's various bearings bAfare passing an opinion.