The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1919-05-24
COAST INTERURbAN
SURVEY arranged
AND $4,000 ASKED
Executive Committee Calls on Pub
lie to Defray initial Expense
Bay St. Louis, Waveiand
AND LOGTOWN'S SHARE TOTALS
TOTALS SUM OF $3.50.
II. S. Weston, of Hancock, Made
Treasurer of Funds-Ioasf
VIII Rally to Call.

ard Pensacola progressed a step FUR
tner Wednesday when the e1ee't'Vc
conofrittee of the Gulf Coast lnterur-
han League met at Biloxi and award
ed the contract for preliminary SUI
vev of the line to James w. Billings
lev of New Orleans and arranged 10
raise $4,000 by public sahscflP-
t;<,ns to defray the cost OF the engi-
r4ero.ing work. -,
The executive committee, which
met at the Biloxi Yacht CiI5, rccel'ed
The report Of the subcommittee 'p
pointed at the Bay st. LoIls Con1ri-
ence February 27, when tne uail
Coast InterurDan League was organ
lied. The subcommittee enterci M
TO negotiations w.sh engineering
.irrns for . preliminary survo
when the full committee met WeanGS~
Gay two propositions were subml5Fed;
ouc. from A. Waddell and Com9aIls5--
of New York and the other from JAS.
w. Billingsley of New Orleans. A.
Waddell and Company proposes 70
make a preliminary survey for 81 >
500, while Mr.. Billingsly agreed to
do the work for $4,000.
The report of the subcommittee,
which was submitted by Chairman
Willis, in part follows:
BAY st. Louis, Miss, May 16, 1919.
'"To the Executive Committee, Gulf
Coast Interurban Project, City.
"Qentlemen:-You co1nnef+see ap-
pointed to investigate the engineering
details of the proposed electric in
terurban railway along the gulf
coast between New Orleans and Mo-
bile begs to report as follows:
'sThe construction and successful
operation of an electric railway, in
volving approximately lao miles Of
track and several important bridge
crossings, is an undertaking which
necessarily presents many problems
and involves the expenditure of a con-
siderable SUM of money. The pro-
posed line from New Orleans to ffoz,~
bile differs from most interurban pro-
jects in that the territory though
which it passes is largelyrundeyelo
and it's commercial possibilities will
no doubt depend to great extent up
on the development which will follow
the construction of the interurban
line.
Much Study Required.
"Any study of the enterprise must,
therefore, go beyond the mere physi-
cal engineering features that would
be determined by an ordinary sur
vey, but in addition must include a
thorough analysis of the probable de-
yelopinent of the Gulf coast area for
agricultural, industrialk and resort
purposes. You committee, however,
does not believe it is necessary or
advisable at this time to undertake an
extensive survey to determine tile
eXact locations and cost of construc-
ton, but rather to provide for a
complete preliminary report in SUI
ficient detail to enable you Or other
interested parties to determine
whether or not the project is a feas-
able one, to set forth its commercial
possibilities. Such a report should
include
"a reconnaissance survey of the
proposed route and physical condi-
tlons to determine the feasibility OF
otherwise for construction and oper-
alton of an interurban line; a study
of the possibilities for development
of the territory traversed; q report on
the character of the lands served by
the line and on its susceptibility OF
DEVELOPMENT, together with complete
statistics concerning population and
traffic, and the probable cost of each;
comprehensive study of the exist
ing health and pleasure resJrts and
their conditions and the possibilities
Of 5'utrrr development thereof, in
GLIDING suggestions for eliminating
dt<rsRaental conditions and for pro-
yidlng additiansl artificial attrac-
,'0iS trlef specifications showing
of roadbed construction, culvert
and light bridge construction,
a review of the more important
bridge construction; statement as
to the plan Of electrifcation, present
ing briefly the engineering features
of central power station, substations,
transmission and feeder lines; state
ment as to type of car equipment re-
CURED, including traffic seha lulcs,
which would be the basis Of showing
the total car mites and car hours re-
quired by operation; estimates show
ing the cost of construction of the |
proposed line, including the fol-
lowing:
Roadway, right-of-way, sub
grade ballasting, traek bridges,
trestles, tulverts, dispatching sys-
tenn, etc., railway distributing system,
transmission lines, power station,
substation, real estate and improve |
nents.
Estimates Needed.
"A study of the population serv
ed; the amount of travel to be ex-
pected after the line is in operation
and the development of through bl-~i
ness, and an estimate of earning
based on the following:
Through passenger traffic be-
tween the terminal points. namely
New Orleans r~3 Mobile. Ioca1 noe
senger fyaf=sn a1c-.r t'-s
business; possibilities of deveie-,s-.~
heavy express or light freight bust