77 



Q. All known to the law as the preserve ? 



A. Yes, sir. 



Q. And you say that the land that the Everton company had was 

 in the preserve just as much as the other? 



A. Yes, sir. 



Q. Have you any other explanation to offer than what you have 

 given ? • 



' A. Well, the explanation I gave before — the strong. recommenda- 

 tion of the Governor that the exchange should be effected, was one 

 reason. 



Q. The Governor's message is what did it? 



A. That was one of the reasons; the main reason, as far as I am 

 concerned, is from a talk I had in the Attorney-General's office, in 

 which the Attorney-General interpreted the law of the Hadley act 

 that we should endeavor to exchange whereves we thought it would 

 result for the benefit of the State. 



By Chairman Evan: 



Q. You mean the message sent a year ago ? 

 A. Yes, sir. 



By Mr. Adams: 



Q. Now you say that what was said in the Attorney-General's office 

 had an influence ? 



A Yes, sir. 



Q. Is there any other explanation you desire to make? 



A. None I think of at present. 



Q. X ou think that furnishes all the information you have upon that 

 subject ? 



A. All I have at present. 



Q. Have you ever heard that the Everton company didn't own the 

 lands or portions of the lands which they offered in exchange — that 

 they only had options ? 



A. No, sir, I never did. 



Q. You never heard of such a thing ? 



A. No, sir. 



Q. You don't know whether they owned it or not, or whether they 

 had options ? 



A. They offered a certain lot of land — 



Q. (Interrupting.) That don't answer the question; answer it, 



A. I can only answer it by giving an explanation. 



Q. Do you know whether they were owners or not ? 



A. Nd, sir. 



0, Or had options or not? 



