Americus times-recorder., 1919-12-01
COMMISSIONERS
TAKE TROUBLES
TO GRAND JURY
Both Bodies Believe Mis-
take Was Made Con-
tract Not Approved

1t has begun to be realized about
Sumter county that when the county
board ten days ago accepted the bid
of $4,000 per mile to pave the first
three miles of federal aid road in
Sumter county with concrete, too
much money was allotted for expen-
diture on that amount of road. The
members of the county board them
selves have reached that conclusion,
as we'll as many citizens, and this
morning the county grand jury mem
bers expressed themselves likewise.
Requested by Chairman N. A. Ray
for permission to come before that
body, the grand jury received the
members of the county board at 10
o'clock and heard, among other
things, of the paving program, the
hopes for it, its possibilities and prob
abilities, outlined by Chairman Ray
and others. At the conclusion of
the meeting of the two bodies the
rand jury assured the commission
ers that they had every confidence in
them and their judgment in road and
other matters, and that they were
sure the board would do the correct
thing at all times.
Contract Not Approved.
1t developed at this conference, ii
was said afterward, that the con-
tract for paving the three miles OF
Dixie Highway as awarded by the
board, had not yet received the ap-
proval of the state highway depart.
ment which it must have before it is
complete, and that in addition it had
been discovered that in tabuIatine
the various paving bids the county
board had by some mistake failed to
consider one bid which was consider.
ably lower than any others for the
paving project. Therefore, it ap-
peared, there is every likelihood that
the concrete award will be rescinded
or thrown out entirely, and some
other means of paving at a reduced
cost found.
Some weeks ago State Highway
Commissioner w. r. Neel meeting
with the board here, stated that the
paving could be done here with bit.
luminous asphalt, which he recon.
mended for use under conditions as
they exist here, at $4,000 per mile
County Engineer Joe Hawkins de-
clared the cost by his estimate need
not exceed $4,000
Needed Clamor For Action.
No bids at anywhere near these
figures were submitted, however, and
the commissioners, having met with
demand on every side that paving
be started, decided that they should
accept what seemed to be the best
bid. Since the award the estimate Of
the cost Of the paving at maximum
Of $4,000 per mile, the county do
ing the work itself, has been confirm
ed by competent and expert engi-
neer, and the sentiment now appears
to favor rejecting all bids, since the
contract has not been confirmed in
,, Atlanta, and proceeding to pave with
the use of the county's own convicts.
State Engineer Neel was in Ogle-
thorpe today and an invitation was
sent to him this afternoon by Chair
man Ray of the county board to come
here to meet with the Sumter board
tonight.
This morning, at the regular meet
ing of the county commissioners. sew
eral citizens suggested to the board
the public desire that cheaper-and
at the same time satisfactory
method be substituted for that ac-
cepted by the board,
Concrete Too Expensive"
In discussing the contracts for con-
crete paving let by the county COM
missioners several days ago, one of
the officials of the Sumter County
Bond committee today said;
"It is impractical for obvious rea-
sons, for the county commissioners to
attempt to pave Sumter county roads
with concrete. 1t is too expensive.
Our bond funds will not be sufficient.
1t is not necessary to use concrete.
for in our opinion there are other
types of road paving material just as
good-even better-for our condi-
tions. Several of the campaign COM
mittee have favored the use Of some
form of bituminous asphalt, for two
reasons, First, it Is about so per
cent. cheaper per mile; second, it is
better adapted to our conditions, it
is not hard on the feet Of stock trav-
cling over it as is concrete.
"Recent investigations by mem-
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