Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-08-20
Proposals for Deepening the Outlets Of the
Mississippi river into the Gulf of Mexico.
ENGINEER DEPARTMENT,
Warrington, August 4. is56

WARRINGTON, August 4, 1e56 (
DROPOSALS WILL BE RECEIVED AT
Il this office until the first day Of October next
for ''opening and keeping open ship channels Of
sufficient capacity to accommodate the wants Of
commerce, through the Southwest Pass and Pass
POutre, leading from the Mississippi river into
the Gulf OF Mckee, for which purpose there
was appropriated, by act Of Congress Of Sth Of
July, 1855, three hundred and thirty thousand
Bidders are requested 10 state the amount for
which they will contract to open each Of the
Channels specified throughout a well defined
width OF three hundred feet, to depth Of not less
than eighteen feet below the level Of ordinary low
water, which level will be determined by benc
mark on the shore, to be established by an officer
or officers appointed by the Secretary Of War and
they are also requested to state the longest period
Of time for which they viii contract to keep each
channel open to such width and depth for the res
idue Of the appropriation after the amount Of the
bid for opening, II accepted is paid and to state
also, In separate proposals., the same particulars
uniform depth OF not less tn an twenty feet through
out well defined width Of three hundred feet
The means by which 1t may be proposed to ac-
comPlish the work and the least time necessaryfor
opening the channels, must be stated In the pro-
posal for each depth.
The right to accept the offer which, In the opin-
Ion or the Secretary Of War, proposes the best
method Of accomplishing the object contemplated
and to accept either proposal Of any bidder for
either OF the passes, to the exclusion Of the pro.
reserved
The quantity of matter necessary to be removed
from the existing channels at the passes to be
deepened, or the distance along either channel to
which the work must extend, In order to obtain
either OF the specified depths cannot, for want Of
accurate as to their present condition
be stated. Persons who desire to undertake the
work are expected therefore, to inform thems elves
OF Its extent, and Of the best means ofaccomplish
Ing It.
After contract has been entered into, the place
ana directions OF the channels to be opened will
be designated to the contractor by an ordcer or
omcers appointed for that purpose by the Secre-
tary OF War, and the amount which NAV be
agreed upon Tor opening each will be paid after
each has been completed and found, upon exami-
nation 0y an oflceS or officers, appointed as above
TO be conformable, In all respects to the stipula
tions OF the contract; but no payment will be
made on account Of any work done towards OPEN
Ing either channel until after such channel shall
have been completed, examined, and approved,
as above specified.
At the ex siration Of one third Of the time dur
Ing which the channels are to be kept open,
eighty per cent Of one-thrd Of the whole amount
OF the contract for keeping open will be raid at
the expiration Of two-thiTds Of the time an addi-
tional payment Of one third Of the whole amount
contracted for will be paid and at the expiration
OF the whole time during which the channels are
TO De Kept open the twenty per cent retained at the
first payment, and the remaining third Of the
whole amount Of the contract for keeping the
channels open, will be paid; but no payment will
be made until after the channels have been exam
ined at each period Of payment, by an officer or
ofhcers appointed by the Secretary Of War and
found to be In all respects comfortable to con-
tract
Proposals must be accompanied by evidence Of
ability to execute the work In the way and within
the time proposed, ana should be addressed to the
Engineer d partment, Washington" and en-
dorsed Proposals for opening channels at outlets
Of the Mississippi river"
When the time within which proposals are to
be received has expired they will be opened and
considered, and a contract be entered Into with
the bidder or bidders whose plan OF operation and
evidence OK ability 10 execute the work are most
satisfactory to the secretary Of War.
To be inserted for thirty days In the National In
teuigencer, and the Evening Star, Washington !;
the Commercial Bulletin, and the True Delta
New Orleans the Mobile Register, Mobile; the
Argus, and the Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia ;
the Day Book, and the Journal Of Commerce,
New York; the Times, and the Post, Boston the
Republican, and the Pilot, st Louis; the Enqui-
rer, Cincinnati and the Democrat, Louisville
Accounts for advertising, with two copies Of
paper containing adverli. ement, to be sent to En-
gineer Department for payment. au 5d3Ot