The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1907-05-25
no BIDS RECEIVED.
Contract for Construction of Locks at Dom
aldsonville Goes Begging-Method
of Payment Not Satisfactory
Vavae Ro.r,Is A., rr,.,, A .,,i,


Of Payn snt Not Satisfactory
Levee Boards 40 Try Again.
A meeting OF the joint executive
committee of the Atchafalaya and La
fourche basin levee boards was held
in New Orleans at noon last Tuesday,
the 21st inst, for the purpose of open
ing bids for the construction of locks
at the head OF Bayou Lafourche.
Chairman J. S. Brady presided, and
there were present D. 8. Foret and
George Lorio, of the Lafourche board,
and Thos. Beary and Honore Dugas,
of the Atchafalaya board. Governor
Blanchard and quite large number
of citizens from the various parishes
interested in the construction of the
locks were also in attendance. the As
cension delegation being constituted
as follows: Mayor Chas. Maurin, Col.
A. D. Vega, 5. Goette, j. j. Lafargue,
Il. N. Sims, DIR. W. NJ. MEG alliard,
Meyer Meter, G. Kline, F. K. Sims,
D. D. Dalferes, Robert Dill, B. J.
Vega, G. G. Weber, G. A. Gondran
and DR.. S. v. Vega, of Donaldson
vile; Hon. Fl. C. Braud, of Burnside,
and Col. G. D. Gondran, of Belle
Helene.
After calling the meeting TO order
Chairman Brady stated that no bids
had been received under the revised
plans and specifications prepared by
the board of state engineers.
Hon. r. n. Sims, of Donaldsonville,
who is a strong advocate of the lock
project, expressed surprise that no
bids were submitted and said he could
not understand the reluctance of con-
tractors to undertake the work. The
locks have been promised time and
again, and there seems to be no good
reason why they should not be con-
structed without further delay.
Gov. Blanchard expressed himself
freely, saying that in as much as locks
have been decided upon it is but fair
to all concerned that they be erected
at once, and that the task is not of
such gigantic proportions that it can
tent contractors. He asked for copies
III GIlS Olu okuo ACH SpOClAOobEOASS dl1u
promised to personally look into the
matter and ascertain if, under the law,
some new plan could not be devised
which would make the contract more
attr active to bidders.
F. A. Middleton, attorney of the
joint committee, stated that he had
consulted the attorney general when
the specifications were prepared, and
that the latter agreed with him that
there could be no change in the method
of payment under the law. If the notes
of the joint committee were negotiated
below par the members of the commit
tee could be held responsible for the
difference, and if they offered these
notes above the specified rate of inter-
est, they could be held responsible for
the additional interest.
r. M. Butler, of Terrebonne parish,
made brief address in the interest of
the proposed inland waterway from
Morgan City to New Orleans, via Hou-
ma, stating that the accomplishment
of this project would provide Bayou
Lafourche with fresh water. while dis
pensing altogether with the construc-
tion of locks at Donaldsonville. The
levee boards, however, under the terms
of the state constitution, can not I'M
dertake the construction of such
system of navigable canals as pro-
posed by Mr.. Butler.
It was finally decided to readvertise
for bids for the construction of the
locks, and in the meantime to en-
deavor to formulate some plan of ar
ranging the method of payment SO as
to render the contract more attractive
to bidders.
Several of the members of the two
levee boards were in attendance at the
including Capt. V. Maurin,
of Donaldsonville, president of the
board.