Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-01-11
WARRINGTON, January 2, 1884.

To the House Of Representatives.:
In compliance with tho resolution requesting tho Pro.
sident OF the United States 10 lay before the House
py any which may been made for the
srucon Of bridge the Potomac opposite to the
such contract may have been made, the names OF the
contractors aud Of their securities, II any, and the plan and
estimate OF the cost of such bridge. transmit, here.
with report from the Secretary Of the Treasury to whom
the resolution referred, containing all the Information
upon the subject which he is now able to communicate
To the President Of the United Sfotes.
JANUARY 9Th, 1884.
SIR: In to the resolution Of the House Of Re.
personalities Of the goth Instant referred by you this
department, and which requires Information whether any
contract has been made for the OF bridge
across the Potomac river opposite the city Of Washing
to and IL there has been, copy that contract together
with the authority under which may have been made,
:he names OF the contractors and Of their ties
and the plan and estimate othe such bdgc-
the hOpor to state that proposals issued by this
partment for building bridge according the plan sp.
Th. R.h Olson and PhsnS. Ap s.1s Ss oe,
construct according to that plan, for the sum Of
$ilsS625 and this being the loves, bid was accepted In
the month Of May last.
Some having arisen as TO the term,
OF the contract various delays took place. In
to adjust the difference AT length finding that there was
but little prospect Of coming TO satisfactory conclusion
addressed letter. the 9th day Of last Noveuber to
the contractors notifying them, that, unless the contract
prepared under tho directions Of the Department was
ecuted by them within twenty days from that time,
would consider II a end.
1 received the 10Th day Of November their an.
tract Copies OF my letter and their answer are hereto
annexed, marked and b.
After this bid renowned, O. H. Dibble propo,ed
10 erect the bridge plan varying respects from
the one heretofore approved by you. The principal al.
iteration proposed dispense with the piles
contemplated, and 10 70 through the mud by means Of
Golfer DAMS TO the solid earth, for the foundation of the
stone pillars 10 support the arches. Some other changes
Of the PLAN not material here spccify were also sg-
gesed, and he proposed the bridge accorg
to his plan, for $50 900 dollars.
The price for which he proposed to do the work was
less than OF the bids previously made except the one
aforementioned to have been renquished and the
raon in the plan not such would lessen the
pense TO the contractor He moreover engaged to finish
the work in two years, from the rst day Of March ne
The plan proposed by MIR. Dibble was deemed by YOU
preferable to the before adopted, and the proposed
changes approved and doubt was entertained OF
your right to sanction the modification proposed in the ori.
gna pan and TO accept bid favorable TO the Unit.
ed States than any before made you informed Mr. Dbl
BILE that his plan would be adopted and his offer
upon his entering into the proper covenants and giving
security for their performance the sasac of this de.
Partmen; and that, in the time, he might begin 10
make his preparations for the the work
Many other engagements have prevented me from pre-.
sentng for your APPROVAL 10 the usual form, plan Of the
work. with the precision and which the ma gnitudc
oil the proposed expenditure requires And the
has, therefore, not yet been signed the security
But have taken measures to have the plan Of Mr. Dibbe
carefully examined. and the specifications of the work
properly made, and hope be able submit them to you
without much further delay.
have the honor 10 be- respectfully. your obedient
want, X. b. TANEY.