The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-11-21
LEyEE BUILDING.

10 The Editor of tho Demortat:
The gentleman who has taken upon himself
The herculnan effort u vlndtcntn thp policy Of
Ievee 0r other contractors I'll take work FOR
Iess than the cost of construction, "wle IL
not execute tho work themselves with tbeir
own individual muaci,," must Indeed havo
very little sympathy for tho Interoats VI the
laborlng Glasses. not 10 speak VI tho tior
chants who furnish them With supplies.
Last year Ieyees had been contracted for at
prices varying from fiftean to twenty cents
per cubic yRtd. payable IN leYee district
scrip and State levee warrants respectively.
The latter for ten months Of tho year are only
worth saventy-ivs cents on dollar. while
the former ean only be negotiated nj aacr-
Ace. ~ know " some n thla sort ~ scrip
which belongs III ono Of the low piif9 con-
tractors 90 DO in the hands Ut n rertHln broker
aa n collateral security FOR oan baFed ut
less than sixty cents on dollar, and paying
mn tlstirotls rate of Interest for Its uaa
with the extremely high prices 1T prpyi
siOns, to which II tu be added I y, Tie cost w
transportation. np well 40 the expense 81 em-
pluylnR cooks walters. baker, wood chop
uars and A team tn haul wood aud water.
etc the boarding uf tho men Will not cost
IeHa than slxty-ilya cents day per enpifa,
"wthout turkey and mushroom aauoe. hut
assuming that contractors receive twenty
four cents In warranta that ls only equal to
eighteen cents LII cash. Tho hestintoimea con
tractors rpnceslR that tho highest number 81
cubic yards nf liver earth that nan lie Whaned
In n tell-Foot levea will not average more than
eight Yards to tho hand. Thus II will be seen
tint One mana iahor VIII give nj ~. from
which must TO deducted tot his board sixty
five cents This leaves the contractor only
Beventy-Dinn eanta. with which ne has 70
IinuIdata q debt Or 81 duo t, his man Az well
sa stindry other rspensna not above nnhner-
ated But low price innn knows how 10 a.
IT.. He was there bins "
It will cost any contractor who has reason
able outfit not less than $500 To build suitable
uuarters to Accommodates $50 lahorera. all Ut
which, after the work Is completed, may he
considered dead loss - the contractor.
Another but not tho least expense. ls tho
naying Ut mems parahgna. many ~ whom
never remain long enough 81 the works 70
refund 1t. The champion q low price men
assIres liz that the Board nf State Engineers
ID composed III honorable gentlemen, who are
opposed To rings and capitalists. To this
admit they arc. In my opinion, "likn fmaar
wife" He also deiie9 mo. OF any other pnl-
apn. u namc onn or his class who has not
paid hIs hands and complied with his con
tract Now, I do not wish ~ ha lerRnn-
al, but Will med lily refer him To-
the Dpnrd OF Statc IgnEineers for M anawer.
whom ha haa hnspHtt sreh with his native
hlarney. and who will continue In future rs
well aa In thn past tn compel every contractor
to fully comply with tho spirit ~ wolf ~ tho
letter Of his contract until every eycfescence
Or funHoua n removed from the pnth of every
honest professional contractor.
Unlike those who have t. employ others to
make their bids who arc equally aa ignorant
az they are themselves some Of tho iattef
elaas are now reaping the rewards ot thNir III
competence. A InNTRArrOR.