The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1915-05-22
THREE CONCRETE SPANS
CAN Be BUILT FOR
$4,000
iNsuRING STRUCTURES AGAINST
DAMAGE BY HIGH
WATER.
MUCH Of NECESSARY MATERIAL
ON HAND
Water, Sand, Gravel and Fuel Found
in Abundance at Proposed
Sites,

The project of bridging Thompson's
creek is one that ia just now receiving
a lot of attention in both East and
West Feliciana parishes, Messrs. w.
S. Yost and j. A. Rodick, employed re-
spectively as plumber and construction
superintendent at the East Louisiana
Hospital for the Insane at Jackson,
have given this matter much careful
attention. After having gone into the
situation thoroughly and after having
made number of tests as to the
nature of the banks and soil at the
different fords, they have come to the
conclusion that this treacherous stream
can be successfully bridged for sum
not to exceed $4,000.
These gentlemen state that two
propositions are offered, either of which
may be carried to completion for the
above-named sum. One is to build one
bridge at the present ford commonly
used in going to Jackson. The other
| is to build a series of three smaller
bridges, one to be located a little north
of the commonly used ford, another
across the west prong of the creek,
and the third to be placed across Rag
branch. This latter plan commends
itself for the reason that the bridges
would be SO placed as to obviate the
necessity of travelling through the i'm.
mense sand beds that are found at
many places along the bed Of this
|creek.
All of these bridges will be con-
|structed of REINFORCED concrete, which
will make an everlasting structure.
They are to be Of the type known as
the Girder Type, with fat arches, and
the foundations are calculated to carry
a load of six thousand pounds per
square foot. The one to be erected
over the east prong will be three hun
dred feet long and the one over the
west prong will be two hundred and
eighty feet, while the one over Rag
branch will be one hundred feet. All
will have wing walls at each end.
The situation has been gone over
very thoroughly by Messrs. Rodick and
Yost of Jackson and they are confident
that the project can be carried out
successfully, and at very nominal
cost.
The plan seems reasonable enough
when one thinks of the larger quaint
ties Of material necessary for the
erection of the bridges being already
on the ground, and In inexhaustible
abundance. The sand and gravel of
Thompson's creek Is recognized as q
very ideal material for construction
work, and there Is an abundance Of
water and fuel at all three of the sites.
All that is left to be purchased are the
steel and cement.
A meeting Of citizens was held In
st. Francisville, recently, and COM
mittee composed Of Messrs. w. B.
Smith, Albert Soule, A. H. Moses, G. M.
Lester and F. o. Hamilton was ap-
pointed to confer with committee
from Jackson, at the proposed sites of
the bridges. The town council Of Jack
son, at its last meeting, adopted a
resolution inviting this committee to
make it's visit on May Oath, and also
extended an invitation to the individ.
ual members of the police jury of East
Feliciana Parish.
After making the visit the West
Feliciana committee will report back
to citizens meeting, after which the
problem of financing the undertaking
will be considered.
The proposition that Thompson's
creek can be successfully bridged for
sum approximating $4,000 is OF such
paramount Importance as to make II
matter of wonder why there should be
any opposition from any quarter.
The benefits to be derived from a
successful elimination OF this plan are
go numerous and will accrue to so
many different people of different Sec
lions that the people OF the two par
Continued on page FOUR