The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1907-06-01
why There We're No Bids to
Build the Locks.


ence between Col. A. d. Vega and
Mayor Chas. Maurin of Donaldson
vile as "parties of the first part, y and
one of the most prominent and re-
sponsible contracting companies in
the United States. clear and specific
reasons have been brought to light as
to why no bids for the construction OF
the Bayou Lafourche locks were re-
ceived in response to the recent adj
vertisement of the joint committee OF
the Atchafalaya and Lafourche basin
levee boards.
Col. Vega, leading merchant and
public-spirited citizen who takes a
great interest in the lock question,
wrote to the contracting company be-
fore the date set for the opening OF
bids and asked whether it was their
intention to submit proposal for the
work. They answered that it was, but
that there was some doubt concerning
the method of payment, and perhaps
they might conclude not to bid after
all. When it transpired that no bids
were submitted, Mayor Maurin stated
to the representative of New Orleans
afternoon papers that there was s'some-
thing behind" the absence of propo-
sails. Upon seeing him quoted to this
effect, the company with which Col.
Vega had correspondent wrote to the
mayor substantially as follows:
"We note by the New Orleans pa
pers that there is some mystifcation
as to why there were no bids for the
| construction of the Lafourche lock on
the date fixed for the receipt of tenders.
49,. We think an explanation is due to
you and to the board of commission
ers that our chief reason for not bid
ding at this letting is because of the
| method of payment for this work pro-
| vided for in the contract. The con-
tract provides that the contractor is
to be paid in notes of the levee board
each note being for not less than $780,
/
ting the notes-in fact, financing the
| job-on the contractor, and few con-
tractors are willing to take this bur-
den. We consider the construction of
this lock as particularly difficult, and
in some respects hazardous piece of
work, and the burden of conducting
1 ic %iasn AZ
out assuming the task of providing
funds through the fotation of paper
which requires the guarantee of some
responsible financial institution.
"Fhere is difference of legal opin-
ion as to whether or not the building
OF the locks is an unlawful diversion
of taxes dedicated to the building of
leVees, and while satisfactory evidence
is obtainabie as to the authority of
the board in this matter, the very fact
OF the question being raised would
lead most financial institutions to
| decline handling the paper. AS
| the total amount of the issue is
limited, there is a question whether
the proceeds from the notes author
lied for issue during the next few years
| will meet the expense of construction.
Ii it does not, there is no provision in
the contract for the remuneration of
the contr actor. In order to get proper
bid from reliable contractors we think
En
provide for neg otiating their paper SO
as to supply the necessary funds for
the construction of the locks, to be
paid in cash to the contractor on es-
Inmates as the work progresses. Il is
not fair to ask any contractor to f.
nance this work as is proposed by the
contra act as at present drawn.
"We would very much like to bid
on this work If the payments are ar
ranged for In cash, as is most always
the case in large contracts. Our rea-
sons for not bidding are as stated in
this letter. We hope that the arrange
ments for the payment of the work
may be so readiusteo as to justify us
in putting in bid.''
This is a straightforward statement
from practical business men as to the
defects in the contract offered by the
levee boards, and it is now In order
for these bodies to do what lies in their
power to repair the deficiencies and
put the matter on a basis that will
justify capable and responsible con-
tractors in competing for the work of
building the locks. The correspond
enee has been forwarded 30 Gov.
Blanchard, and it is to be hoped and
expected that he and the members OF
the levee boards will be able to devise
plan by which cash payments can be
made as above suggested. In this
event there should be no trouble in Sc
curing satisfactory bids for the con-
tract. The point as to the appropria-
ton of funds by the levee boards for
the construction of locks being a pos
sibly unlawful diversion of taxes
dedicated to the building of levees"
has already been carried to the SUI
preme court and decided in the mega
tive, hence it need give nobody any
uneasinesS.
The Gonzales Depot Case Argued.
In the district court at Baton Rouge
last Monday Judge Brunot listened to |
arguments of counsel in the case of |
the Louisiana Railway and Naviga-
ton Company vs.. the Louisiana Rail- |
way Commission, wherein the railroad |
company seeks to estop the enforce
ment of an order of the commission |
that the plaintiffs depot at the village |
of Gonzales, in this parish, shall be
located on the south side of Nau