The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1915-07-23
DR. COOPER WOULD CORRECT
ERRONEOUS IMPRESSION


Mr.. C. E. Car, Chairman Good Roads
Campaign Conn ittee, Welsh, La.
Dear sir
| understand that certain
parties who are opposed to the bond
issue fer roads which is to be voted on
July eth, il their desire to defeat the
propos ton are making statements to
the effect that should the bond issue
carry, the road building will be turned
over to contractors who will have the
work done by imported labor. Of course
this statement is made primarily to in
jure the chances of the Bond issue;
but there may be those who really be-
lieve such would be the case, so let us
reason a little along this iine. Sup
pose this work is let to contractors;
does any reason ing man suppose that
men and teams can be imported from
other parishes or states that can or
will do better or more work than peo-
pie who live here and have there own
teams? And doesn't any sane man or
woman know that a contractor it mat.
tiers not who he is, is going TO get his
contract completed in the quickest and
cheapest way possible? l understand
the contractors on the CalCaSieu road
had to import men and teams not be-
cause they didn't want to give work
to the resi- dents, but because not
enough resident Mbor was available.
Personally am not in favor of general
contracting all the general contractors
let Sub.contractS and of course figure
to make some money; for instance am
informed that large part of the roads
grading IN Calc8Sieu was let to the
contractors at more than 2Sc per cubic
yard for dirt put in the grade and that
this dirt was actually put in the grade
at from 1912 to 1Sc cubic yard by sub
contractors this being the case see no
reason why the larlsh could not save
the difference instead of its going into
the pockets of contractor.
My idea would be for the parish to
employa thorough competent and ex-
pelienred road builder and put him in
charge of the road building OF the par.
ish. After our roads have been proper
ly surveyed he can tell exactly what is
to be done on every section OF the road
> and should be competent to Judge
pretty nearly the cost CT construction
so that IN the event man wanted to
build certain section of road along his
own farm for instance the superin-
n tendent with the consent of the Police
e Jury might contract for that particu-
= lar section at a price estimated to be
:, what it would cost the parish other
: wise to have , it done by hired labor
: have had little experience as Police
Juror in having dirt handled and
have been able before to have dirt put
in the road for about 10c per cubic
yard when have paid more then tina
the parties who placed the Cirt bull
the necessary bridges without charge
n and am satisfied that Is per cent o
% the dirt that will be put in our road
Is preparatory to travelling can be han
IL died at IL IL cent and less per cubic
le yard and by home folks, | eau see nc
re reason whatever why every man il
Oh jeff Davis Parish who is disposed to d
i so cannot earn many times the amour
of his taxes and at times when hi
time is not actually necessary on hi
Ie farm. Judging from CalcaSieu figure
the putting of the gravel on the roa
he amounted to about 3-5 OF the construt
Of ton this includes the hauling an
be spreading. Now as near as can est
a mate the cost of the gravel f. o, b. a
on the sidings in JET Davis Parish WI
er cost in comparison to the delivery frol
if cars on road bed about as 2 to 81
by that about II of our bond issue Wi
lal 60 for freight and gravel and lumbe
of leaving 100000 to be turned loose
n our parish, And as stated above 81
he no good reason why the larger part
to this may not be elrned by our hon
Use people without materially interferin
is with their usual occupations you ma
of make such use Of this statement
cal YOU see fit.
of Yours truly
is JNO. H. COOPER.