The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1906-12-08
n. |. SOUTHERN CANAL
A Few Interesting Points of its
History Contract Time Limit
Expires Christmas Day.
Questionable Management Handled
the Field Work Till Now.


dates fixed December 25th. 1906
as the extreme limit for the CON-
pletion of the New Iberia South
ern Canal by the contractor. The
people Of this city should have
had a Christmas present this
wear that would have made the
occasion memorable for years to
come, had the contractor lived up
to the letter and spirit Of his ob-
legations; but, as matters now
are, it is a physical impossibility
for such blessing to fall upon
us. Whatever may be the results
it IS quite certain that this Christ
ms gift will be considerably de
layed in its delivery.
The Board of Commissioners of
the New Iberia Southern Drain
age District, Mr.. Leon Lemaire,
president, signed contract with
+. 5. Hoyt, on April 18th, 1905
for the cutting of the canal from
this city to a connection with Bay
on Carlin, some three miles above
its mouth. BY stipulations in
the agreement liOyt was allowed
two months in which to perfect
his arrangements to begin the
work, and a further condition re
quired the contractor to complete
the Canal IN eighteen months.
This fixed the final delivery OF
the canal for December 25th,
1906.
HOyt gave bond for the faith.
full execution of the contract in
the sum of $4,000, with Mr.. u
w. Thomas, of Fort Dodge, Iowa,
as surety, who deposited with the
President of the board collateral
securities more than covering the
amount of the bond. HOyt lost
valuable time in the start. not
outstanding his many brilliant
promises about working night and
day, and employing two dredges,
etc. The City Administration
now changes, June II, 1905,
and Mr.. Rene F. Delahoussaye
succeeded Mr.. Lemaire as presi
dent Of the drainage board, with
the new city council acting a.
commissioners.
As time wore on, surface indl
cations pointed strongly to a for
fixture of contract by ROyt, by 8
failure to commence the w0rl
J within the specified time. There
was great relief to the apprehen
! sions Of our people, however
when Hoyt appeared on the scene
on Saturday, June "a, 1905. ant
started the dredging machine
which still stands idle in Mr.. Pas
cars pasture, to work. notwith
standing the heavy and stead!
rain then falling. This work wal
done for no other purpose than t,
prevent the forfeiture of the con
tract, which would have occurred
: on the next day, had he not made
the start.
The following Monday Hoy
l appeared before the board O
commissioners, requesting permits
sion to make charges in the per
sDnel of the contractors. Thoma
: was also present and stated tina
he was b ,re TO protect his inter
= ests and would take up the cor
: tract himself If necessary to :ha
q end.
: On the following Thursday til
= BOARD met again. A report o
4 that meeting, published in thes
Z columns, gave the following infol
4 nation on this subject:
4 "One of the principal feature
4 Of this meeting was to have Leel
( the hearing of Messrs. Hoyt an,
\ Thomas in reference to matter
\ pertaining to the execution o
4 their contract. As neither of th
X gentlemen were present or reLre
K sented: and the Board believin
\ that they are not sincere IN thei
K efforts to fulfill their contract,
\ resolution was adopted ilstluctin,
z the attorney of the Board to FL
!. suit against the contractor an,
! his bond to annul the con.rac
aud execute upon the bond"
Later, Thomas assumed the ez
ecutiOn OF the contract, vestinI
I