The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1915-05-01
MOVEMENT ON FOOT TO BRIDGE TH0MPSONS CREEK
Experts Say Permanent Structures May Be For
$1OO00-Committee Appointed to Confer
With East Feliciana Citizens

A meeting of citizens was held at the |
court house in st. Francisville, Satur.
day morning, to meet committee from
Jackson, to discuss, informally, the
proposition of building bridge or
bridges over Thompson's creek between
Jackson and st. Francisville.
Mayor Briant acted as chairman OF
the meeting and Elrie Robinson as
secretary.
The Jackson committee was COM
posed of DR.. ]. w. Lea, w. s. Yost and
u. A. Rodick. These gentlemen stated
that they have given the matter of
bridging Thompson's creek consider
able study, and have made excavations
along the creek banks to determine the
character of soil, and had found that at
certain points a soil of sufficient
strength to serve as foundation for
piers had been discovered
Mr.. Rodick stated that two PROPOSE
lions offered themselves. One is a
single bridge to be placed at the Jack
son ford. The other is series of three
bridges. Should the three-bridge plan
be adopted the bridge over the main
creek would be placed farther up the
creek, but not so far as to make any
Improbable difference in the distance
between st. Francisville and Jackson.
Another bridge would be placed over
the west prong Of the creek, a short
distance away, and the third over Rag
branch. The three bridges could be
connected with a causeway to do away
with the present heavy sand beds.
Should the three-bridge plan be adopt
ed 1t will be of greater advantage to
West Feliciana than the single bridge
from the fact that the bridges will be
so located as to give access to the
people of the fifth ward of that parish
It0 these DrluSeS.
The type of bridge proposed is the
girder bridge, built Of reinforced steel
and concrete. Mr.. Rodick stated that
either of these projects could be COM
lpleted for $4,000. The one bridge will
cost as much as the three smaller
bridges would cost, on account OF
greater length, the formation of the
banks Of the creek and the big sand
bed between the two prongs Of the
creek near Jackson.
These propositions were talked over
lin an informal way and seemed to meet
with the approval of all present
Mayor Briant appointed Messrs. W.
lB. Smith, Albert Soule, A. H. Moses,
G. NJ. Lester and F. O. Hamilton as
committee to confer with committee
of East Feliciana citizens. This COM
mittee is instructed to visit the site of
the proposed structures, gather all in
IlUTIUdIlOH dllu udtd pOSSlUiC, do WOii 90
to look into the matter of financing the
proposition, and to report to another
citizens meeting to be called when the
committee Is ready to report.
DR.. Lea and Mr.. Yost Of the Jackson
committee are both well known to the
citizens of both parishes. Mr.. Rodick
is civil engineer of many years ex
perience. He has been engaged in
building bridges in both this country
and in Mexico and has full knowledge
of the difficulties to be met with In
building permanent structures over
Thompsons creek He has been en-
gagged at the East Louisiana Hospital
> for the Insane for some time, where he
supervised the erection of the power
house and the superintendent resi-
. dence.