The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1909-04-17
Joint neeting.
Police Jury of Ascension Parish and Town
Council of Dona!GsOnyilIe.
Donaldsonyil1e. La.

ward: ID. A. Wepp, elghth ward y. U. Weber
clerk. Pesent: Town Council-Gharles Maurin
mayor; James Won Lotten and William Dill
first ward; D. Israel. Jr., and B. ]. Vega second
ward; w. D. Park and ]. E. Blum, third ward
r. Henderson, clerk.
On motion of Mayor Maurin President Reus:
and Clerk Weber, of the police jury. were chosen
as chairman and secretary, respectively. of the
joint session.
Chairman Reuss stated that the object of the
meeting was to open and act upon the bids for
the lease of the Jacksonville barrow river ferry
franchise. The following bid was opened. and
on motion of Mr.. Wei, seconded by Mr. Israel
and carried, ordered read and received:
/ Donaldsonville, La, April IA, 1909.
To the President and Members of the Police
Jury, Parish of Ascension. La, and to the
Mayor and Members of the Common Council
of Donaldsonvi1le, La
Gentlemen:-On March q and 80, 1909, ad-
dressed you the following communications:
i March ID, 1909.
Representing parties who desire to establish
and operate a hfst-class ferry here, between
/ Donaldsonyille and Darrow, am authorized to
make you the following propositions:
| My clients to have a franchise ferry priv
llege for ten years for nominal compensation,
say One Dollar, under the terms and conditions
OF the existing ferry contract and tolls, eiminat-
ing from the latter all free list, excepting school
children attending schools in Eonaldsonvile.
who they propose to cross at half rates or issue
4 10 tuGIu SCuOOl t1ckSJS good 4u CROSSINGS or
for 20 scholastic days, for ST. said tickets to be
i used only on school days and when the children
are crossing to actually attend school and not
| to exceed two crossings on each school day
/ Ny clients guarantee to place in service,
within ten months, or sooner, from date of sign
ing of contract, new steel double-hun boat
with sufficient room space and double cabins, one
for white and one for colored to accommodate
/ two hundred passengers and six vehicles, and
propelled by strong and sufficient steam power.
Minor details to be mutually agreed upon
| without unnecessary delay. ] would request that
/ you give me prompt reply, as my clients wish
| to lose no time in perfecting arrangements for
March 80, 1909.
| THE counter proposition which you offered
me on Sunday, March %, of bonus of Four
Hundred Dollars per year in lieu Of the tolls for
| school children, was submitted by me to my
| clients as had agreed. My clients have author
/ lied me to make you the following proposition:
| The parish and town to pay bonus of Six Hun
/ dred Dollars per annum during the existence of
the contract to be paid monthly by the police
jury and town council. or the proposition as
originally offered for the school children.
The lessees Of the ferry reserying the right of
disseminating service at any time during the life
OF the contract should the police jury and town
council fail to pay said bonus monthly, promptly
betwe the 1st and 10th of each month. a
The boat to be placed in service to be as fol-
lows: Length of boat to be between rs and so
feet. width between "a and IS feet equipped with
SO to so horsepower boiler 81 IL feet. Ten-inch
cylinder and Al to stroke. Two cabins, one for
white and one for colored. between to 10 Is
to 80 feet. Vehicle space on front deck to be "a
"a, and sufficient space on either side of boiler
room for two vehicles. one on each side. Hull
to be of steel, double or catamaran model.
The schedule of time as now in operation to
be slightly modified to conform with recent ma
rine regulations.
Contract to be made in my name with the
privilege of assigning same upon my assgnees
I propose to furnish bond to the parish and
town to the amount of Five Hundred Dollars
signed by Mr.. Adolph Meter until such time as
he can be replaced by some security company as
a nj r1Va mr. n
faith in the premises.
Hoping you will act on this matter without
delay
In reply to your recent advertisement for bids
on this matter. / now renew the propositions
contained in the two foregoing letters and speci-
fcally describe the boat to be placed in service.
as follows:
Catamaran tyne, twin steel hulls. Length over
decks. seventy-eight feet. Beam thirtyfour feet.
Depth of hulls under decks, five feet. Space on |
decks for passengers, $40 square feet. Machine |
equipment will consist of one pair non-condens- /
ing engines 10 inch bore Of cylinder by a stroke
piston. One Scotch boiler 81 feet diameter by IL /
feet long and all necessary appurtenanees making /
complete and frst-class ferry boat with such /
service as will equal if not be superior to any on
the Mississippi river between New Orleans and /
6. : 4. GoNDRAN.
Mayor Maurin stated that in view OF the bid /
submitted by Mr.. Gondran being at variance
with the advertisement requesting said bids, he +
would suggest that the legal adviser of the /
parish, P. III. Gilbert, who was present, advise as
to whether the joint body could act upon the1
bid. Mr.. Gilbert advised that he had consulted |
with Mr.. Gondran, the proposer, who had as /
sured him that his clients would accept the I
responsibility OF the legality of the contract and
would therefore advise the joint body to accept |
the bid. Mr.. Gondran, who was present, assured /
the joint body of his opinion as to the legality of
the bid, and stated that he would accept the con-
tract if the same were awarded to him today. A |
general discussion then ensued as to the advisa-
bility of disposing Of the matter at this meeting
or to postponing it for future action and read
vertisement. Mr.. Tobias. of the police jury, adj
dressed the Joint body, stating the matter had
been delayed long enough. and as nothing could
be gained by any further postponement, and the
advice of the legal adviser being to the effect
that the police jury and town council could
safely enter into The contract with Mr. Gendrar.
he would, therefore move that Mr.. Gondrans
bid, the only one before the joint body. be &C
cepted.
Mr.. Tobias then offered the following reso-
luton:
Whereas. Mr.. G.. A. Gondran having this day I
for himself his associates assigns, submitted
bid for ferry privilege and franchise between
Donaldsonyille and barrow in answer to adVer-
tisement for bids for same, and being the only
bid subn tilted to the town and parish
Be it therefore ordained by the police jury of |
the parish of Ascension and the town council Of
Donaldsonyille in joint session. That the mayor
of Donaldsonvi1ie and the president Of the police
jury be and they are hereby authorized and EN-
powered to enter into contract with the said
Gondran or his assigns, all in conformity with
the conditions and terms contained in his two
propositions, and with bonus of $500 as asked
for in lieu of tolls for school children.
The resolution was seconded By Mr.. Aranitage
and on call Of the roll was adopted BY the fol
loving vote: Police jury: Yeas-Renss. AucoIn,
Tobias Well, Armitage. Gonzales Webb nays
none. Town council: Yeas Maurin, Won Lotten.
Dill, Israel. Vega, Park. Blum; nays none.
There being no further business before the
bo1y. the joint session. on motion. duly seconded
and carried, adjourned. c. c. WEBER.
Secretary.