Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-07-15
Says Those Wishing to De-
stroy Department Are
Willing to Go to Any
Extreme

W. r. Neel, state highway engi-
neer, gave out a statement Thurs
day in reply to the attacks made on
the highway department at recent
sessions of the house of representa-
tives. He said cit seems that those
wishing to destroy the departments
usefulness are willing to- go to any
extreme"
His statement follows:
Truths half told are very danger
GUS weapons. Ii would seem that
those wishing to destroy the useful
ness of the highway department are
willing to go to this extreme.
what is back of; this attack that
has been carried on SO persistently
by small minority from year to
year? Only time can tell. S.
I'm explanation of the much dis.
cussed form B contract wish to
set forth the following for the gen.
eral information of the, public:
II first wish to call attention to
the fact that the form B contract
was devised at a time when condi-'
tons were extremely abnormal and
as soon as conditions again reached
a Semblance Of normally its use by
this department was discontinued.
the last contract having been award
ed by the highway department on
this form Of contract November 6,
1920.
Form B Contract
"There wa sa time when the use
of form B contract became advisable
| when the prices of road building ma
! terials and labor f1uctuated from day
to day. Not only did both materials
10 A1To 10 I11% Srr1N% ffSS
were constantly changing. With
these conditions it would not be ex-
pected that contractors could closely
estimate the cost of job, and GER
| tainly they could not be expected to
submit a close bid. \ I was reliably
| informed by contractors that on ac-
count of the many uncertainties con-
| fronting them at this period it was
| impossible to secure q bond when
they submitted close bid. This was
also a natural position for the bond
| ing companies to take. All of this
resulted in bids so high that I was
not longer willing to approve same,
I.although the counties and the public
were clamoring for the road work
| to continue.
with these conditions confront
ing the department, after a careful
consideration, the form B contract
was put in use. First the contract
was submitted to the bureau of pub
lie roads as it was DESTROYS of using
this contract on federal aid work.
After it had been carefully studied
by the legal department of the gov
eminent and having received the ap-
prevail of the solicitor Of the bureau
of public roads, Washington, D. c.,
| it's use on federal aid work was au-
| thorized.
| IAN audit of the books of the high
way department will show that the
use of this Form B contract resulted
IN a net saving of money to the pub
| lie in road building, which was the
result desired.
Profit to Contractors
! II wish to positively state that the
prices and profits shown in any
Form B contract are those bid by the
contractors and can in no way be
controlled by the highway depart
ment. The contracts are awarded in
open competition. I wish to state,
however, that the profit shown on
the Coweta county contract is very
reasonable one, being less than 10
per cent of the total cost Of the job.
Any one at all familiar with work of
| this character will agree that it is
less than the usual amount estimat-
| ed by contractors.
| "It has been stated that the coun-
ty was charged $540 for years
mule feed. This statement is un-
true. This figure was used by the
contractor in his bid showing his es-
| innate Of the price of feed for one
mule for a year. This part of the
contract had stamped on it the fol-
lowing note: IF at the end of the
month the bill for feed is found
to vary from that given in estimate
of cost, then the estimate of cost will
be changed accordingly The result
was that considerably less than
$40 was paid. The highway depart
ment had on each job competent
| accountant who was under bond.
II wish to remind you that in 1920
as much as SO was charged for the
rent of a team of mule and a driver;
oats were selling for -$1.65 per bushel
| and corn was as high as So. There
| fore, you can readily see that an es-
| innate of $540 for feed for q mule
working on grade work with feed at
| this price is not so absurd as it may
seem at first glance. However, as
stated, this department took every
precaution to save, and, therefore,