Evening star., 1933-10-08
LOUISIANA MOVES
TO HASTEN PUBLIC
WORKS PROGRAM
State Agencies Join in Effort
to Get an Early
Start.
BY GEORGE HEALY, JR.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW ORLEANS, La, October Z
The task Of attempting to get public
works started, as we'll as of recommend
ing proposed projects for approval by
the administration, has been under
taken by the Louisiana Public Works
Advisory Board
During the past week the board
joined other State agencies in a move
ment to obtain an early start Of con-
struction work on bridges which are
scheduled to span the Bonnet Care
spillway approximately rs miles north
Of New Orleans.
Construction Of the spillway dam
structure and side leVees was completed
about two years ago, but the food cor
troll unit is not ready for use because
physical provisions have not been made
for highways and railroads crossing the
hoodway, which is designed to carry
sufficient water from the Mississippi
River to Lake Pontchartrain in times Of
foods to relieve pressure on river levees
in the vicinity Of New Orleans.
Highway Bridge Planned.
A highway bridge and bridges for the
Illinois Central, Yazoo &, Mississippi
Valley and Louisiana g. Arkansas Rail
roads are scheduled to be built over
the f1oodWay.
Claims of United States engineers
that awards made by the SpillWay
Commission, appointed by the Federal
District Court here, to the louisiana
Highway Commission and the railroads
we're excessive were challenged by
speakers at recent meeting called by
members of the Public Works Advisory
Board.
The highway award already has been
paid, and bids for construction Of
vehicular traffic bridge are being asked
by the State Commission. However,
progress toward construction of the rail-
road bridges has been retarded by
failure Of the Government to accept
awards made by the commission ap--
pointed by the court.
After hearing arguments concerning
the proposed appeal by the Government
from awards granted by the courts
commission. members of the Public
Works Advisory Board requested Col.
H. M. Waite. deputy public works ad
ministratCr, to assist In attempts to
induce the Attorney General to abaa-
don the case and not appeal from the
awards.
Awards to Railroads.
Awards to the railroads made
Spillway Commission and eppro
United States Judge Wayne G.
are L. & A.. S1,37S26l SO, and y
", s1,386 ,470.37. An award Of :
325.07 was made by the comm
to the I. c. Railroad. whose b-idg,
be longer than those of the other
roads becaue Of the position C
tracks near the shore of Lake
chartrain. where the hoodway is
Attorneys for the railroads at
meeting with the Public Works
visory Board asserted that "if the
ernment we're to abandon its app
we will start work in 10 days ant a
total of 100000 will be spent" +, .
New Orleans
Edward Rightor. chairman Of tn
Advisory Board, called to Mr.. Waite's
attention the desirability of starting
work quickly and the danger that con-
tinued litigation will delay the start
of work for several years.
Prospect Of q special session Of the
Legislature within the near future to
act with respect to prohibition repeal
was din1med when Gov. O. K. Allen an
nounced that he had reconsidered the
proposal for session early in Octo-
Der" and was not planning to call the
lawmakers to Baton Rouge soon.