Americus times-recorder., 1919-06-06
COUNTY TO PAY
4 PER CENT FOR
ENGINEERING in
ROAD PROJECT
Contract With Thomas and Hawkins
Signed at $4,000 Below
Recommended Figure.

The engineering work upon Sumter
county's highways under the 100000
bond issue which is to be supplement
ed by an equal amount of federal aid.
will cost four pere cent of the total
amount or $4,000 to complete the
Job, according to the contract entered
into this week by the county commits
sioners and Thomas & Hawkins, en-
gineers who were awarded the job
some time ago upon competitive bids.
The details of the arrangements be
tween the county ana engineers were
announced today The firm of Thomas
& Hawkins. whose headquarters is in
Atlanta, is composed of Knox Thomas
of that city and Joe Hawkins of Am
ericus, who, because of business inter-
ests, makes his home in Atlanta.
The bid of Thomas & Hawkins is
per cent, or $4,000 for the job, lower
than other bidders or than the figure
recognized by the state highway de-
partment as fair compensation. 1t is
to include all engineering COSTS 1t was
explained by Messrs. Thomas & Haw-
kins who were both in the city this
week that only a large volume of en-
gineering work which they are ex-
pecting to be engaged in under the fed
eral aid projects iI Georgia, enabled
them to make this cut-rate bid. They
announced following the signing of the
contract, that they are now ready to
begin preliminary work on the project
here.
To Sell Bonds as Needed.
In connection with the county's
highway program, R. L. Maynard,
county attorney, stated today that it
had been determined by the board not
to advertise or offer for sale any of
the $500, 900 road bonds until the state
highway department advises the coun-
ty how much federal aid may be ex-
pected here from the July apport1on-
ment of funds, thus avoiding paying
interest on money yet not needed.
Judge Maynard will attend the appor-
tionment meeting in Atlanta. togeth-
er with other officials, and tlght
will be made for a generous allot-
ment. Commenting upon the fact that
the applications will total more than
the total federal aid funds apporN
toned to Georgia, Judge Maynard
stated that he believed the counties
which acted first in response to the de-
nartment's invitation to participate
should have their needs met first
Sumter county was the first of the
South Georgia counties to vote feredal
aid bonds and among the first in the
state to qualify for the government
funds.
The contract with the engineering
firm states:
Terms of Contract.
"For and in behalf of the county OF
Sumter. the said board of roads and
revenues hereby appoint and employ
the said Thomas & Hawkins as project
engineers, and agree to accept thell
services as such, it beng understood
and agreed by and between the partleS
that the duties and services to be per
formed by, the compensation TO ps
maid to and the status of said pro
iect engineers and the charges to DC
horne by said board, or the county OF
Sumter shall be governed and hXeo
nv the stipulations and requirements
contained and set forth in the propo-
sal and specifications issued by tne
state highway department OF georgia
CODY of which is hereto attached
and made a part hereof, being marked
Exhibit A; with the exception tna'
the schedule for payment OF pro1ec'
engineers as set forth in the salo
proposal and specifications snail DC
modified in this respect, to-wit: The
construction rate for paved roads snail
no 2 per cent instead of four per cent
and the total rate shall be per cent
instead of per cent. 1t is understood
and agreed that said Thomas & Haw-
kins shall furnish at their expense
all necessary inspectors and to pay
the costs of testing materials used III
said pavement. Testing of materials
alone will cost 5000 per mile according
to state engineer W. R. Neel.
Exhibit A" goes into the details
of the project arrangements to some
extent. the applicable parts of which