The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1919-02-15

road, both of construction and main
tepance. is carried by the whole Par
ish; and, simply because the proposed
further road construction may not eX-
tend through all parts of the Parish
is no reason why the whole Parish
should not carry the expense.
The greatest difficulty ahead will be
the locating and deciding upon suit
| able material with which to surface
these roads.
| have gone into, as fully as pos
sible, the comparative value OF the
different surfacing materials avail
| able, and. after careful consideration,
| [ am of the opinion that the material
| and proportions used in our present
gravel road are the best that We can
do in this connection.
The different roads in Southwestern
Louisiana and Southeastern Texas
have, ia the past six or seven months,
Deen put to the severest Of tests, Ow-
ug to the extraordinary rainfall dur
ug that period, together with the
heaviest possible traffic. This has
been especially so in ST. Mary Parish,
during the grinding season. The es-
simated rainfall in st. Mary Parish
for 1918 was lightweight inches:
whereas, the normal estimated yearly
rainfalI is only sixty inches. Since
January LIST, 1919, there must have
been at least twenty inches additional.
Prior to October, 1918, the rainfall
vas only normal, which gives from
Gfty TO sixty inches fail during q Pc
riod of four months, from October LIST,
1913, to February LIST, 1919. AS far as
can learn, the st. Mary gravel road
has stood up under this severe wear
and tear better than any other road,
either of gravel or shell construction
find that the gravel roads built of
fifty per cent or less stone and bal
ance of binder, have suffered very
much. and will need considera BILE
work and new material toe restore
them to their original good condition
The st. Mary road, with seventy
per cent. stone and thirty per cent.
binder, has held up we'll, and, with
minimum of work and new material,
is being rapidly put in first-class con-
dition again.
My attention has been called to the
use of mud-shells in road corstruc-
ton.
Tnis class of material has been, and
is now being, extensively used through
Southeastern Texas. The reports
though. that | have had, are not gen.
orally very satisfactory. While there
are several roads in that part of the
State that are 10 fine condition, espe-
cially the one between Galveston and
Houston, | am Informed that most of !
the shell roads have either gone to
pieces, or are in very bad condition. |
The road from Beaumont to Huus- |
ton. for example, | understand, has |
completely gone to pics and will |
have to practically be rebuilt.
To date, | have not found it posi- |
BILE to examine or check up fully the
value of mud shells for road construc-
ton. but it is my Intention to 90 over
"a number of these roads between now
and the next meeting q. the Police
Jury, and make report of what
find
find that these mud shells can he
delivered to the different points OF un-
loading at $3.50 or less per yard, f
o B. Cars. which means u saving of
Five Hundred $500 OO) Dollars. or
more per mile, for mud shells over
gravel. This difference in COST ju,ti
before deciding what material is to
he used. The different gravel people
have been written to for prices on
gravel, but there is nothing from any
Of them to date that | Can offer for
your consideration.
IL will take, approximately Four
Hundred and Eighty Thousand $780,
)00.00) Dollars to complete the system
IF surfaced road, now figured on in
St. Mary. This will mean tax of
)ne and on"-half mills on an assessed
property valuation of Twenty two
Million, Eight Hundred Thousand
1922, 800, 900. COY Dollars, bonds to run
or period of thirty years.
AS it will take considerable time to
lraft the necessary resolutions and
ordinances preliminary to the voting
If bonds ETC.. will suggest that this
present IN :etiEg 60 over To Wednes-
lay. February 10, 1919, at IL O'Clock
!. m. and that the District Attorney :
'e requested to draw up the resolu-
ions needed.
Respectfully,
CHARLES n FROST.
On motion of John N. Pharr, sec ,
nded by Oscar Boudreaux and car
led, the report WAS received, filed
nd made part of the minutes.
After full discussion of the matter
" the Police Jury and citizens of the !,
i fferent wards. and an address by !;
Ion. Duncan Buie, State Highway !
Engineer, the following motions were
ffered and adopted:
On motion of Johu r. Drackett, Sec
nded by W. N. Gooch and carried,
ne President was authorized to apply =
, the State Highway Department for /
id in constructing the m ,del road ia
10 sixth ward from the corp,rat.
mits of the town OF Morgan City via h
.vuca to the Assumption parish line. a
On motion of John r. Drackett, Sec b