Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-10-26


Board of County Commissioners,
Sumter County, Ga, Americas, Ga.
Gentlemen: With regard to the
paving program of your county, !
understand that on October 22nd,
while was in Fitzgerald, you had a
called meeting to discuss the practi-
cability of continuing federal aid
work. This meeting as | understand
it resulted in a resolution to the eff
feet that the county would not con-
tlnue with the paving program by
starting Federal Aid Project No. 106
Is miles of the Smithville road) at
this time, but would probably defer
the whole matter until next spring.
Also that you would lay off such Ia
Dor that you have now employed and
that you would not need since this
work would not be in progress.
understand further that your rea-
sons were that the work could be
probably accomplished cheaper in the
spring since all material and labor
seem to be on the decline. AS to ac-
complishing this work at decrease in
cost by waiting until next spring,
knowing what l do about your or
ganization equipment and material
already contracted for, l do not see
how it is possible for you to disor-
ganize at this time, to start again
next spring and expect to build
cheaper roads. The material in the
major part has been contracted for
and "a goodly portion already deliv-
cred, your prices will not change on
this and it will be necessary to keep
unloading equipment going to handle
this material that will be continually
delivered. AS to organization, this
was one large disadvantage that YOU
had to overcome in building Project
No. 101 g miles of Andersonville
road). Your next project should show
a marked improvement in both cost
and time for that reason. You have
purchased a complete outfit that
should say in round figures cost $685.
10000. This equipment once put
aside will deteriorate between now
and next spring at least 1919 and you
will not be deriving any benefit from
its use.
The free labor that you now have
employed is a very small item COM
pared with those items that I have
mentioned above. However, in start
ing the next project, even this ex-
pense could be cut down. In this
connection with this labor item, you
now have certain employees repair
ing equipment whose time is partly
charged to paving and partly TO
county maintenance. With your paw
ing work stopped this total overhead
expense which would be reduced very
little, would fall on the county main
tenance work.
AS to federal aid on this paving
work, although our figures of cost
have not been completed as yet, all
indications are that you will accom-
plish the work within our estimate.
The estimate on this road was $685.
10000 per mile. the government
furnishing one-half of the estimate.
would cause the road to cost the
county $13.000.00 per mile and per-
haps less. | am certain that cost for
work done will be less on the next
project if it is allowed to continue
now and that same will be done in a
more expeditions manner AS to the
federal aid allotted on Project No.
106 Is miles of the Smithville road) F.,
this amounts to approximately $685.
10000. AS you know the federal a.d
program. enacted in 1915 for 5 wears,
ends with this year It is the desire
of the Highway Department that the
State of Georgia avail themselves Of
this federal aid and if one county
does not use their allotment made
them by the division engineer with
in the respective congressional dis
tricts. it should be placed a the dis
ncsal of some other county in the
state who is still in need Of eid.
should very much regret to see this
all placed elsewhere, which is the
risk YOU run bv allowing the work to
be DELAYED indefinitely.
In view of the above, and should
be glad to go into the matter at a
meeting of the board, let me urge
that you reconsider your resolution
of October 22nd and allow that part
of the county organization that is
needed to remain intact so that this
work NAV go on unhampered by dis
organization and delav Resnectful-
", W. c. CAVE. JR.,
Division FnCineer