The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1917-07-13
COL, W l. STEVENS STATEMENT
TO THE POLICE JURY OF
i. JEFFERSON DAVIS PARISH


tain report made by committee of three who are attacking
1.-THE Police jury tile road contractors the material used and
my competency as an engineer feel that because OF tins
land the noorey that has been given that you are entitled
Ito statement from me as we'll as are the public to full his
tory of the entire transaction to the end that the general pub
lie may be better able to Judge the merits and dement's OF
this agitation.
When | made application for this work you gentlemen
were well aware of the fact that not licensed civil en-
gneer but you Investigated my record engineer and
my training as suc and knowing my record architect
which of the branches Of engineering and which re-
ires considerable engineering you entered into contract
with me to supervise the work of the building Of the roads OF
this Parish.
Immediately after having entered into this contract with
you proceeded to do the work necessary by surrounding my
self with competent engineers and helpers.
If you will pardon my personal references, would
fer you to the letters which addressed to the President
o your Body on July 14th 1916 by Major Frank NJ Kerr
who was then Chief State Engineer and to the letter of Hon.
w. Atkinson who at that time State Highway Engineer
both of which letters this report and mark Exhibit
I'A" and "B".
Since this agitation have caused my attorney Mr.. John
D. Robra to communicate with Mr.. Duncan Boue the pres
ent head of the State Highway Department. with view of
obtaining from him expression to his opinion of my fit
ness to which Mr. BOue has answered Mr. Robira and you
can find his views expressed in that letter. which is hereto
annexed and made Exhibit "C
stranger to you at the time that entered into
this contract We had then just completed the building of the
Court House of this Parish and relations of the
most pleasant character and understood that the public
shared the pride and the confidence in the fact that this build
ling erected at minimum cost with the very best of
tera You gentlemen were we'll aware of the fact that
was not licensed Civil engineer but nasmuch the law does
mot require you to employ licensed engineer and your
fdence in such that you believed better qualified
supervise the work for the Parish than many of those who
licensed you gave me the contract and have from that
,lCfI
that at its completion would still merit the confidence of
your Body and Of the people Of the Parish The only ques
ton that the jury seemed to consider at the time was the
method of handling the work 1t was understood that was
mot to remain the road altogether but give the road
work such personal supervision became necessary and to
see that the specifications pans etc. carried out and
because OF this condition it specifically specified in my
contract that was to employ competent experienced licensed
Ien9meers to perform the work. which have done In order
do this and insure the performance of the work in the most
skfu and approved manner secured from the State High
way Department. the services of Mr. Raymond who was rec
commended to the most proficient available man. and
who released for the Jefferson Davis work on one wear
leave OF absence Mr. Raymond at the time of his employ
ment finishing the model road between Broussard and La
tayette IN the Parish Of Lafayette and his ability as road
builder was not only aested by the State Highway Depart
ment but the officials and citizens of LAFAYETTE for whom he
was working In this connection had my attorney Mr. Ro-
bra address letter to the President of the Police Jury of
both OF whom answered Mr. Robra testfyng to the high de
gree OF the efficiency of that gentleman and recommending
Raymond as most competent and trustworthy engineer
These letters to this report and identify them with
the mark Exhibit ''D'' and CO.
employed under Mr. Raymond number of skilled ex-
perenced engineers Of them like Mr. Johnson late of
the New Orleans Sewerage and Water Board who stands
among the best trained engineers in the South The work of
making the surveys carried by % engineers and as
SStantS The proposed routes out in preliminary
way and later located Levels were run from these rorte
and rechecked in the most accurate manner Location maps
were prepared every section of the road work was
toned and an absolute accurate estimate made of the ouant
ties necessary for construction purposes gave my Ter
Sona attention to all of this work during this period and n
order to avail myself of all needed information to insure ire
economical results caused investigation of the drainage con
on and the topography of the country for several miles in
extent TO he made The of the drainage basin were cac
aIed The maximum rainfall precipitation was calculated and
rom tins data the bridge and cuver work was estimated and
comparative calculation made as to the adysabty OIL
e establishment of lateral drainage work or the increased
amount OF grading necessary to raise the road several feet
above water level
After securing all of this data and calculations were made
Went over the route of the various roads with RAYMOND and
personally established the grades on which the roads have