The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1909-09-03
BUILDING OF
MODEL RJhDS.
Statewide Project Making Excellent
Progress-Parishes to Bear
Comparatively Little of Cost.
LABOR TO BE DONE ENTIRELY
BY CONVlCTS.
state Engineers to Supervise Work.
Baton Rouge-New Orleans Road
Under Construction.
TiaeS-Democrat.


Though the good roads movement
was only started during the present
gubernatorial administration, much
has already been done in ,h4 way OF
providing additional and better high
ways for the State. 1t is proposed to
line the State with model roads, COM
paratively little of the cost of which
is to be borne by the parishes. The
labor will be done entirely by con-
victs. State engineers will map. de-
sign and level the roads and supervise
the construction, and the expert
knowledge of road building will be
furnished by experts from the govern
ment Bureau of Good Roads.
The Statewide road plan consists of
this: First, the engineering work will
be done by and under the direction of
the State Board of Engineers. This
is to be free of cost to the parishes
interested except as to the actual ex-
penses of the engineers while engaged
on the work. Second, the expert
knowledge of road building will be
furnished by government experts
whose services are contributed free
by the government. Third, the actual
construction will be done by convicts
the parish through which the roads
are to be built to pay the cost OF
maintenance of the convicts while al
work, which experience shows VII
not exceed at the highest $40 con
vict a ronth in parish. That in
cludes board and lodging and guard
ing the cOnvicts. They are bOunti
fully fed and well taken care of, ani
the people among whom they have
worked are pleased at the humane
treatment given them and their splen
did condition.
De Soto Parish was the first to g,
into the good roads movement thor
oughIy. One road, two miles long
running into Mansfield from the east
has already been constructed and an
other one has been started. The frs
was done by means Of private sub
scrirtion in Mansfield and the secont
will be, too. Governor Sanders, VIII,
inaugnrated the movement, is high il
his praise of the people of De Soto.
Il One of the most notable individua
projects Of the Statewide good road
plan will be the road between Batol
Rouge and New Orleans on both side
Of the river. The first work will
probably be done on that strip of tn
read from New Orleans to Chef Mer
teur 1t is planned to start fou
convict camps to work at once, on
: at Baton Rouge on the east bank, on
at Port Allen in West Baton Rouge
one at New Orleans and one a
!. Gretna.
a, Four experts have been furnishe
by the Good Roads Bureau. Georg
s. Cooley, a man of ability, energ
and pleasing address, has been al
signed as head expert.
Meetings for the purpose of pr
noting the good roads movemer
have been held in many parishes an
will be held all over the State. The
. have been conducted by Governc
Sanders and with much success. Th
most important so far was the NEE
ing at Baton Rouge, Aug. 2. to rails
money and devise means for q quic
!. construction of the Baton Rouge-Ne
Orleans road.
The railroads will aid the NOV
= ment by carrying material for th
roads free or making low charges.
II If Governor Sanders expectation
are fulfilled he says he will finish tt
Baton Rouge-New Orleans road du
ing 1910.