Highway department theft

[mcdonaat]

Found this while reading a report on the US 190 Krotz Springs Bridge.

The Krotz Springs Bridge was one of ten bridges to be built spanning major streams. Usually, work of this magnitude would be let out to consulting engineering firms, but it was believed that better designs and finished structures could be obtained at a savings in cost by handling all features in the Bridge Department of the Highway Commission. For the amount of bridges proposed, more engineers and draftsmen than were then employed at the Highway Commission were needed. Louisiana's colleges did not turn out many engineers or draftsmen, and most of those presently working for the Highway Commission had come from out of State. Being aware of this, Governor Long sent a man out to examine the highway organization of the State of North Carolina. They too
had a large construction program underway and Long felt that some of their men might be just what Louisiana needed. It was reported that North Carolina's chief engineer, Leslie R. Ames, was a first-rate man. Huey made him an offer, doubled his present salary, and Mr. Ames, along with 21 other men from North Carolina, plus one from Oklahoma and one from Missouri, came to Louisiana. They began the task of designing bridges and highways for the State of Louisiana.

I would have to say that this is the first time I've heard of a governor "stealing" highway crew leaders from other states. I guess you learn something every day about your Uncle Huey!

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

That's nothing for Uncle Huey.

[oldblue910]

This doesn't surprise me at all.

The scariest part is that, because of how pissed off the general public was at depression-era economics, Huey Long could well have become president had he not eaten lead. That guy was one of the most evil, ruthless sons-of-bitches in the history of American politics.

This is the guy who had the stones to say publicly in a speech, "No man must be allowed to have too much and no man must also be allowed to have too little."

Oh, another golden quote: "I AM the State constitution!"

The fact that a man like that could be revered by enough people to win elected office keeps me awake at night.

[vdeane]

Note that this was before the cold war and the red scare.  He'd never have a chance of being elected today.

[Hot Rod Hootenanny]

The fact that a man like that could be revered by enough people to win elected office keeps me awake at night.

This is Louisiana, where one year the options for governor were a convict (Edwards) and a Klansman (Duke)