The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1898-02-04
DAM NEWS.
Items or interest About Big
Sandy Slackwater.
The Continuous Contract Sys-
tenn What il Is.

The Continuous Contract Sys-
tenn What il Is.
In the construction OF the Public
Works Of the United States. which
consists OF Custom House, Fortifi-
cation, River and Hsrbor improve
ments, etc, il has been the custom
to appropriate specified sums, not
in themselves sufficient to complete
the projects, and depending upon
future appropriations for continu-
ing the work after II bad been
started. The method was and is
very unsatisfactory as It has not
been pOss under small allot-
ments to economically contract or
otherwise carry on the work in
hand. Much damage results to a
structure left incomplete from ex.
pOsure to the elements. There is
also considerable expense incurred
in preparing for a renewal OF oper-
atioEs and in closing the same when
funds have become exhausted.
Not Infrequently the money be-
comes available very late in the
season and throws important work
that requires a low stage Of water
well into the winter. These draw
backs, while in no way brought
about BY the Engineer or Superin-
ttndent, are frequently charged to
him by the thOughtless and it IL
due TO him that better system has
been largely adopted, the continu-
Gus contract system. This, in brief,
is as follows: .
Suppose that 1t Is proposed to
build system OF locks and dams
on river, say the Big Sandy. We
all know what that means under
the old system-a number Of small
appropriations, swfully hard to Sc
cure, doled out over long period
OF years. Under the new system
1t means few lines OF Legislation
about as below:
"FOr continuing the Improve
ment Of Big Sandy River, fifty
thousand dollars, prOvided that the
Secretary Of War may enter into
contract for such materials and
work as may be necessary to CON-
plete the present project ofimprove-
ment, TO be paid for as appropria-
tiOns may from time TO time be
made by law, not exceeding In the
aggregate three million, nine hun
dred and ninety-eight thousand
dollars exclusive Of the amount
herein appropriated; prorided fur.
ther that in making such contracts
the Secretary Of War shall not OBJ.
ligate the Government TO pay in
any one fiscal year, beginning July
| l, 1899, more than twenty-five per
centum OF the whole amount au
ihorized to be expended"
! Under such a law sufficient mon.
ey to purchase the lands and make
the surveys necessary to an intsllI
gent preparation Of specifications
and plans is all that Is required tbs
first year. The last three locks or
the Kanawha, six on the Mononga
hela and four on the Ohio have
been contracted under such a Law
and the cost has been reduced sur.
prisingIy. The time Of completion
will be reduced many years. The
fight on Big Sandy should be to put
as many locks and dams a. prac
ticable under contract under the
continuous appropriation system
not far enough TO start one or more
dams under the old system. II
once contracted there IL no danger
as to their early completion; the
United States always keeps it,
word. Let US start under the con-
tract system, Messrs. Congressman,
even il we have 10 start with bare
ly sufficient to buy the sites and
make the plans.