Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1917-04-20
REPORT OF COMMITTEES.

REPORT OF CON MITrEES.
The following report was submitted
by Hon. F. H. Schneider, member of
a committee to investigate the cost OF
the construction of line of telephone
along the levees i'm this district, the
other members not having completed
their Investigations, made verbal re-
port in part:
Lake Providence, La,
April 4th, 1917.
To the President and Members of the
Fifth Louisiana Levee Board:
Gentlemen:-Asa member OF Tele-
phone Construction Committee for the
Parish of East Carroll, ] submit the
following estimate of material and
work necessary to construct thirty
miles of standard. telephone line ir the
Pa rish of East Carroll. In making this
estimate, l have considered only the
best material and standard construc-
ton. For the convenience OF other
members from other parishes in the
district, I have mailed each one
copy of my estimate of cost of mate
rial and construction with suggestions
as to what consider the most practi-
cal way of building this line, so as to
give us close communication with all
dangerous and remote points on our
Ieyee system. In East Carroll my es-
innate provides for two loops, one OF
nineteen miles from point just North
of Lake Providence around Bunches
Bend to Sherwood Plantation. An
other loop of eleven miles from point
on the levee just out from Alsatla
around Salem and Henderson to Mad
ison Parish line. All other points can
be very satisfactorily covered by local
lines now in operation.
Would suggest continuing the old
line which now runs to Old Atherton
Store, on out to the old Benjamin res
idence. The attached estimates pro-
vides for the numbering of each mile
post and pair of wires to rund down
post to metal lock box containing a
simple attachment to which portable
phone or test set may be Immediately
attached. A satisfactory telephone
every three miles, wherever houses
are conveniently located, and with
each mile post arranged as stated
above, we will be able during high
water to cover every mile of levee,
which will facilitate the handling OF
labor and material. The test sets can
be carried by riding guards or Inspec-
tors and every camp can be directly
connected into home office or Parish
headquarters and their needs given
Immediate attention. Each mile post
being numbered and dotted in on the
blue prints of levee line, we have in
our office, we will know at once exact
point of danger and be able to con
centrate men and material to desired
point almost Immediately, thereby ad'
ding strength and security to our levee
system to asdegree which has never
before been attained.
The estimate shows cost of $4,000
per mile, which as stated above pro-
vides for the best material and stand
ard construction. However, II the
Board of Levee Commissioners wants
to cheaper construction they can by
using No. IL wire in place OF No. 10,
cut the price per mile to $14S.00, by
using 20 TT. white Northern cedar poles
at 81 .O8 each in place of creosoted q
it. poles at $2.45, as provided in my
estimate. We can further cut cost Of
construction to $4,000 per mile, by
using 16 tt. cedar poles, with 20 IT
poles at each road crossing, we car
further reduce cost to s1O2. 90 per mile
This will be standard construction but
cheaper material.
strongly advise the best material
as provided for in my original esti'
mate-it will be much cheaper in the
long run and the up keep will bs
much less.
l especially urge the members o.
this Board to consider carefully thil
project and not to pass it up without
a careful investigation of same. 1t i
something we have been needing TO
years and which will facilitate thu
work of guarding and protecting on
levee system to such an extent tina
the saving in a few years will NOR
than offset the initial COT of construc
ton. or course several features sucl
as numbering mile posts, etc., can b
eliminated; however, consider then
necessary for adequate communica
ton, the cost Of which will be NOR
than offset by the satisfaction WI
get from knowing we are in position
to concentrate labor and material t.
dangerous points without delay
My suggestions are not submitted a
1 q rule to go by, but only an idea TO
!: the Board to work on. Others ma
have better methods or more practice