St. Tammany farmer., 1922-09-23
Citizens Committee Go To
Baton Rouge, Confers
With Commission
AGREEMENT TO
GIVE OUT CONTRACT
Road To Be Built as Far as
$57,000.00 Will Cover
Cost, Rest Later

The following Is an understanding
reached between the committee ap-
pointed at citizens meeting and
the State Highway Commission, C.
Marvin Poole of the Parish Road
Commission and Attorney Fred J..
Heintz being members of that COM
mittee:
Baton Rouge, Sept. 20, 1922.
The following committee from St.
Tammany parish met Chairman Pet
erman for the purpose of discussing
the road from Covington La, to the
Washington parish line: C. Marvin
Poole, E. J.. Frederick, H. B. Pru-
den, F. J. Heintz, Norman Core, H.
N. Fendlason.
Mr.. HeiDtz explained that they
had $57 900 set aside for the build
ing of st. Tammany parish's share of
the road from Covington to the
Washington parish line. We had
meeting OF the citizens of our ward,
at which Mr.. Fourmy was present,
and we asked him that if we would
turn this amount over to the Lou
isiana Highway Commission would
they assist us on the building of the
road. Mr.. Fourmy figured on this
road and stated that spending this
amount of money would take until
about May of next year, when, no
doubt, funds would be available for
the completion Of the road by the
Commission,
Chairman Peterman stated that
that part was all right. The only
thing about it was that II you have
your rights of ways, and money, we
will agree to take it over and build
your road as far as the money went.
Then when our funds are available,
which may sound rather indefinite
to you gentlemen, :, but we cannut:
make any definite promise as to- the
time, we would then complete the
remaining portion of the road. After
settlement on the basis of fifty
fifty per cent it would be returned
to them.
Mr.. Peterman then explained in
detail the obligations made by the
old department in the form of con-
tracts, ETC., which, of necessity, the
new Commission, when they went in
to operation, had to fulfill. This, of
course, has used quite a large por-
tiOn of the funds. Mr.. Buie, in the
old department, built roads with
monies secured by the various par
ishes voting bond issues, and, at that
time, making the same promise that
the state, when funds were available
would complete the road. These
parishes are now calling on the COM
mission for their proportion of the
funds which we are necessarily TAX
ing care of. Then there is mainte-.
nance to. be considered. Also, we
consider one of the most important
things to do is to fill in the missing
links in the trunk line highways,
due to the fact that as various par
were scattered over the whole state.
Now we want to connect all these
sections up so as to permit travel.
The matter of Federal Aid was
also explained to the to the COM
mittee.
The committee was advised that |
the commission Is just as anxious to
complete their road as they (the
committeeJ are, and we (the COM
don't think anything will
prevent our finishing the road afte::
the parish's funds are exhausted,
though the Commission, as stated
before, cannot make any definite
promise which there may be pos
sibility of our not being able to full
fill.
Mr.. Heintz stated that all rights Of
ways had been secured, culyerts In
place, and all the grading done. The
of this road would be
very reasonable.
IS it has been proven that 1t
is by far better to plan to build
section of the road complete with
The gravel surfacing, and not grade
the whole road and then start grav-
cling, for when the time comes to
put the gravel ON the graded road,
from the continuous traffic 1t is all
cut to pieces and will have to be
lone over.
Mr.. Heintz: We are willing 10
urn over $4,000 to the Highway
Commission. Let the COMMISSION,
IS it does, make contract for the
building Of the road. Would con-
,ract be LEI for the entire road or for
l section which the $4,000 would
ouild?
Mr.. Peterman: That would de-
pend upon the prices Of materials at.
he time of the letting of the con-
.ract, as well as what we thought, at
hat time, the prices would do. F.r,
we felt that at the time the con-
.ract is let the prices would advance
he contract would be let, with a
clause covering the states portion
when funds are available, for the
whole road. If, however, we felt
hat the prices would decline, the
contract would be only let for that
portion, or one-haH, of the read
which the parishes $4,000 would
construct. Then after the compile
ion of the road, after a division Of
costs is made on the basis OF fifty
fifty, the parish would be refunded,
.n~ :n1+oro1 e7nnf if+ho norn Mat s,d |