Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-01-09


Of the contractors and of their securities, II any,
and the plan and estimate of the cost OF such a
bridge" transmit herewith report from the
Secretary of the Treasury, to whom the reso-
luton was referred, containing all the informa-
ton upon the subject which he is now able to
communicates ANDREW JACKSON.
To the President Of the United States.
JANUARY 9th, 1884.
SIR: In answer to the resolution of the House
of Representatives of the goth instant, refer
red by you to this department, and which re-
quires information whether any contract has
been made for the construction Of bridge across
the Potomac river, opposite to the city OF Wash
ington and if there has been, copy of that
contract, together with the authority under
which it may have been made, the names ofthe
contractors, and Of their securities, if any,
and the plan and estimate OF the cost OF such
BRIDGE have the honor to state, that proposals
were issued by this department for building
bride according to the plan approved by you,
on the 18th day of April 1888.
That Riah Gibson and Philander Stephens
offered to construct it according to that plan,
for the sum of 81, 186,625, and this being the
lowest bid, was accepted in the month Of May
last.
Some misunderstanding having arisen as to
the terms of the contract, various delays took
place in endeavoring to adjust the difference
At length, finding that there was but little pros
pect of coming to satisfactory conclusion, |
addressed letter, on the 9th day Of last No
vember, to the contractors, notifying them, that
unless the contract, prepared under the dmec-
tons of this Department, was executed by them
within twenty days from that time, | would con-
slider it at an end
received on the goth day Of November their
answer, stating that they declined proceeding
with the contract. Copies Of my letter and
their answer are hereto annexed, marked A
ard B.
After this bid was renounced, o. H. Dibble
proposed to erect the bridge on plan varying
in some respects from the one heretofore APP
proved by you The principal alteration pro-
posed was to dispense with the piles originally
contemplated, and to go through the mud by
means Of Golfer dams, to the solid EARTH for the
foundation of the stone pillars to support the ar
ches Some other changes of the plan, not ma
terlal here to specify, were also suggested, and
he proposed to construct the bridge according
to his plan for 100000 dollars.
The price for%@hich he proposed to do the
work, was less than any of the bids previously
made, except the one before mentioned to have
been renquished, and the alterations in the plan
were not such as would lessen the expense to the
contractor. He, moreover engaged to finish
the work in two years from the first day of
March next The plan proposed by Mr.. Dibble
was deemed by you preferable to the one be-
fore adopted, and the proposed changes APPROX
ed; and as no doubt was entertained of your
right TO sanction the modification proposed in
the original plan, and to accept bid more ia
vorable to the United States than any before
made you informed Mr.. Dibble that his plan
would be adopted, and his offer accepted, upon
his entering into the proper covenants, and Civ
ing security for their performance to the salts
faction OF this department; and that, in the mean
time he might begin to make his preparations
for the commencement of the work.
Many other engagements have prevented me
from presenting for your approval, in the usual
form, plan ofthe work, with the precision and
care which the magnitude Of the proposed ex-
pendture requires. And the contract has, there
fore, not yet been signed, nor the security gi-
ven. But have taken measures to have the
plan OF Mr.. Dibble carefully examined, and the
specifications of the work properly made and
hope to be able to submit them to you without
much further delay
| have the honor to be, respectfully, your ODE
dent servant, r. B. fancy.