Pontchartrain Causeway Assoc. vs. Watson-Williams & Co.
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Two bids were placed to construct the bridge across Lak Pontchartrain. From late 1924 until a decision was made in February 1925, The Times-Picayune reported frequently on construction proposals received by the Louisiana Highway Commission. Sometimes the paper printed multiple stories on the project in just one day.
One proposal had the bridge crossing Lake Pontchartrain at the West End, a 23-mile stretch to Mandeville in St. Tammany.
The other proposal, made by Watson, Williams, and Company, had the bridge crossing the Pontchartrain at a narrower path, from an area known as Little Woods in eastern New Orleans into Slidell. The latter required only five miles of bridge over the Lake, with an additional 10 miles of approach.
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Jockeying From Both Sides
Proponents of the Watson-Williams Project also published their own elaborate propaganda in the Times-Picayune. This map well depicts both proposed routes. Watson-Williams investors argued that the relative distance traveled from the heart of the city to destinations on the Northshore would be much less substantial if the route proposed by Watson and Williams were to be selected. Courtesy of The Times-Picayune
Laying Out the Differences
The Pontchartrain Causeway Association's argument offers a picturesque future for the area if their project is chosen. Courtesy of The Times-Picayune
And Why the Watson-Williams Proposal is Inferior
A heated and at times contentious battle for public opinion lasted during months of deliberation by the Commission over the two proposals, according to Times-Picayune articles and editorials. Groups favoring one or the other consistently used the paper in attempts to drum up support. This excerpt exemplifies how ridiculous some of the attempts were, particularly considering that the public had little or no sway over the Commission's decision.
Watson-Williams, & Co. Reported to Win Rights
At the end of February 1925, the rights for bridging the Pontchartrain were granted to Watson, Williams and Company. This front-page clipping illustrates how controversial this decision was considered to be. The left-side column is a Times-Picayune editorial plea expressing both their discontent and their warning that it would be a grave mistake to follow through with said decision. Courtesy of The Times-Picayune
The Pontchartrain Causeway Association Propaganda
One interested in viewing the complete document can see how much effort went into winning public opinion. Sponsored by the Pontchartrain Causeway Association, their biased assessment suggests that the public supported the Pontchartrain Causeway bridge over the Watson-Williams Bridge. Courtesy of The Times-PicayuneMap
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