The Pascagoula chronicle., 1919-02-15
IN7ERURDAN ROAD
FOR GULF COAST
Conference at Bay St. Louis Feb. 81.
2s to Discuss Ways and Means.


Louis, Miss, Feb. 27 and 28, when reI
resentatives of municipalities and o
the business and commercial organize
tions of this section of the State will
assemble for the purpose of discussin,
ways and means for the construction
of municipality owned electric inter
urban railway from New Orleans t,
Mobile.
The purpose of the conference is tt
arrange for carrying into effect the pro
visions of identical laws passed at the
last sessions of the legislatures O.
Louisiana and Mississippi empowering
municipalities to combine and CO
operate with one another and with
municipalities in other States in the
ownership construction, operation and
management Of interurban railways.
The Louisiana Mississippi law pro
vides that municipalities that wish to
take advantage of the authority grant
ed in the act shall have the right to
issue bonds to defray the cost of con-
struction. The bonds are to be secur-
ed by mortgage on the interurban
and the revenues are to be pledged for
the payment Of the interest and prin-
cipal of the bonds. The ownership of
the interurban is to be allotted among
the municipalities according to the
amount of bonds issued by each mu-
nicipality.
The law further provides that each
municipal council or governing body
shall elect three commissioners with
interlapping terms and that the COM
missioners shall serve in the ca
pacity of board of directors with
authority to name operating officials.
The object of this provision is to keep
The management Of the interurban out
Of local politics and make it business
proposition pure and simple.
Among the subjects to be discussed
at the Bay st. Louis conference are the
following:
l. The allotment of bonds jor terri
tory between the municipalities.
: 2. Taking Aovar-.oi sSS1lAgs lines at
Biloxi, Gulfport, Pass Christian, Long
Beach, Pascagoula and Moss Point.
3. Ascertain the cost of construc-
ton.
4. Building of bridges across the
Bay of st, Louis, Biloxi Bay, Pasca-
goula and Pearl Rivers and other
bodies of water or streams.
5. Location of sites for the con
of hydo-electric plants to
generate current for the railway sys-
tenn and to furnish lights and power
for coast cities and towns.
6. Whether the interurban should
be double or a single track system.
z. Construction Of local street car
systems where the traffic will justify |
It.
s. Construction of electric belt
railroads at the most important points
n order to make connections with
plants and industries.
9. Location of the main line of the
securing rights of way etc,
or the railway, stations, sidings,
hops, etc.
10. Plans for permanent control
nd operation
II. What amendments to existing
avs, if any, may be needed
H. appointment of a committee or
ommittees of investigation, arrange
lents for future meetings, etc.
13. Negotiations for securing a
engineer to make surveys,
lrnish plans, etc.
ID. Arrangements for local cleo
ons and plans for publicity, so that
very citizen will clearly understand
le project and what it means.
10. Construction of pavilions and
resorts by the local mu-
icipalities in order to attract and
ntertain visitors.
16. Plans for developing municipal
wharves, etc, with which
lie interurban should be connected in
der to. handle freight.
Delegations have already been ap-
,inted by several of the municipal
les. The New Orleans delegation
i'll. be headed by Mayor Martin Behr-
an, e. J. Glenny, Commissioner of
lblic Utilities, and Thomas L. Willis.
ty Engineer, Mayor Behrman has
Ithorized the statement that the city
New Orleans stands ready to con-
ruct its part of the line.
The conference will be wide open to ''
c public, and any citizen who wishes =
do so can attend. The city of Bay ii
Louis has made elaborate prepar- y
ions for the entertainment of the N
sitors. nj
Duncan Buie. State Highway Engin- ca
r of Louisiana. and Y. A. Kramer. la
ate Highway Engineer of Missis- h;
'pi, will attend and participate in the m
Inference. The State Highway De- &C
rtments are interested because it is T
Inned for the interurban to parallel DC
! Spanish Trail national highway, re
use the same bridges for the inter- Sc
pan and the highway. The Federal La
-hway engineer OF this district has an
o been invited to attend at
The question as TO whether the sec. W: