The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1921-11-02
STATE ROAD WORK
Report of Chairman, Submitted at the
Quarterly Meeting of State Road
Department, in Tallahassee
October 27th-2sth

To the Members of the State Road
Department: The chairman submits
this his report of the operations of
the department since our last meet
ing.
The work on the various projects in
course of construction is being carried
on in accordance with the directions
Of the board heretofore given. Any
details as to any of this work that
may be desired byl any of the mem
bers, will be furnished by the chief
engineer.
Contracts for all work heretofore
ordered to be let have been executed
with the exception of the contract for
the Choctawhatchee river bridge and
the west approach to the Apalachicola
river bridge.
Washington county has not yet ad-
vised me that the county is ready to
contribute its share of the cost of the
bridge and for this, that contract has
not yet been executed.
In reference to the contract for the
west approach to the Apalachicola
river bridge. l wrote the members ad-
vising that this contract be not exc
cuted at the present time. A majority
of the board agreed with me as to this
and so this contract was not executed.
Subsequent to my correspondence,
Mr.. Hadley called me on the phone
and informed me that unless he could
get the contract for the east ap-
proach, he did not care to sign the
contract for the other work.
We have advertised for bids for a
considerable amount of culvert work
and in response thereto, many bids
were received. These bids viii be
submitted for your consideration and
full details regarding the same viii
be furnished you.
One of the bridges on road No. in
Jefferson county was found to be in
an unsafe condition We advertised
for bids for the construction of a new
bridge and bids in response thereto
were received. The bids will be sub
mitted for your consideration and full
| 4etails as to this matter will be fur
nished you. The cost of this work
will be paid out of the county automo-
bile fund.
| In accordance with directions here
tofore given by the board, we adver-
Itised for bids for hard surfacing ten
miles of road from Lake City east to
the Baker county line, on road No.
and number of bids were received in
response thereto. These bids will be
submitted for your consideration and
full details as to the same will be
furnished you.
We are having considerable trouble
at humber of our convict camps in
the way of insubordination and ar
!! unusual number of convicts have es-
capped. We have had Capt. Canova
investigate these matters and it is
his opinion that some of our trouble
is due to the inferior class of guard:
we are being compelled to hire on &C.
count of the small wages paid by the
department. Capt Canova recon-.
: mends that we advance the wages Of
the guards to $40 per month, after Z
continuous, faithful service of si1
months, with any one camp. AlsC
! that we adopt the policy of filing the
! vacancies in the Office of captain
from the guards, where capable mer
, can be found among the guards.
am of the opinion that it viii be wis
{ ITO adopt Capt. Canova's recommends
tions.
We have received 80 white and 81
colored new convicts since our las
. meeting and our convict force nov
| consist sof S1s men. Full informatiol
: as TO the disposition Of this force vii
: be given if desired.
We have been in corresponding
| with a number Of parties with refer
: eLce to the sale of the Columbia eoun
ty bonds. This correspondence VII
: be submitted for your consideration
{ and 1 viii ask that definite instrsc
? tions be given me as TO this natter.
D A proposition viii be submitted a
!. TO the completion of the road from
Lake City to Jacksonville, and rec
b ommend that you give this matte
]. serious attention so We may find /
lway OF speedily completing this road