Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1884-08-23
LEyEE BUILDING,

IihC tdhaiiS WV VI
lessees than protecting the people
of the alluvial districts - 1t also
thinks the levee contractors badly
used in being left ont, and charges
that the entire levec fund, goes to
enrich James & McGinty.
Now to get a correct view OF this
matter is a very easy thing to do,
and to show that the State made a
good bargain is just as easy.
Faultfnding is very pleasant, par
ticularly when you don't like the
party with whom it is desired to
find fault. The contract made by
the State with james & McGinty
is as follows:
For levees not exceeding 5 feet
high IS cents per cubit yard.
For levees over 5 feet and not
exceeding : feet high Is cents per
cubit yard.
For levccs over 7 feet and not
exceeding 10 feet high, 20 cents
per cubit yard.
For levees over 10.fect and not
exceeding ii feet high, 20 cents
per cubit yard.
For all levees exceeding ii feet
high, "a cents per cubit yard.
In past years the prices paid for
levee work ranged from 15.99-100
to 26 cents, in 1881 from Is to 26
cents, in 1882 and from u to 81
cents in 1888, showing maximum
price of from two to ten cents per
yard in excess Of the maximum
price allowed James & McGinty,
and this when every bydy had a
chance 10 bid; possibly the injured
levee contractors had an under
standing among themselves to
keep up prices. With a knOwl-
edge of these figures, comes James
& McGinty and bids for the whole
work away down below what has
heretofore been paid. Why, Of
course, they ought to get it. The
report of the Board Of State Engin-
GERS for the years 1882 and 1888
and up to April goth 1884 shows
the average cost of levee work
contracted for since April goth,
1884, to be slightly over "a cents
per cubic yard.
As to taking care of the Peniten-
tiary lessecs and enriching them
with the entire levee fund, that is
a fallacy and unworthy a great
journal. The levee fund is for the
purpose of building levees, the en-
tire levee fund. Under the con-
tract made with James e. McGint y
the levce fund 100000 goes &C
cording to the Picayune into the
pockets of James IL McGinty
But suppose it does, it does so in
return for more levee work done
for that amount than was done in
any year since, and inclusive of
1882. Why this is a matter OF
rejoicing. We get more work
done for the same money than we
have been in the habit of getting.
Would not any individual take
advantage of such an offer? Then
why not the State.
AS 10 leaving out all other con-
tractors, who it is claimed would
do the work for less, why they are
not left out. If they are SO anx-
ious to do it Cor less, let them
make an offer to James d McGinty.
They will doubtless give them the
job and pocket the difference. If
these left out contractors want to
do "A cent work for 90 cents James
d McGinty will surely let them do
it and make that profit of four
cents a yard. fit is claimed that
the State ought to have that diff
ference, let the parties making
such claim show that, if matters
We're as they used TO be, the work
would be done az low as "a cents.
The records show that it has not
been done that low in the past and
it rests with the directors to show
that it would have been III the
future.
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