Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-08-15
Proposals for Deepening the Outlets Of the
Mississippi river into the Gulf Of Mexico.
ENGINEER DEPARTMENT,
r -t4F WANING rou A1IuuaS IL a

ENGINEER DEPARTMENT., D
'1 t'7E WAsHINGroN, August 4, R56
PROPOSALS WILL BE RECEIVED AT
this oface until the Arst day Of October next
for "opening and keeping open ship channels of
sumcient capacity to accommodate the wants Of
commerce, through the Southwest Pass and Pass
aPOufre, leading from the Mississippi river into
the 6uh OF Mexico,n for which purpose there
was appropriated, by act Of Congress of 9Th of
dollars. -.-r - :" = - - -
Bidders are requested to state the amount for
which they viii contract to open each Of the
channels specified throughout well defined
width Of three hundred feet to depth of not less
than feet below the level Of ordinary low
water, which level will be determined by bench
marx 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
Uf time for which they will contract to keeb each
channel open to such width and depth for the res.
due 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 than twenty feet through
out well defined width Of three hundred fest
The means by which 1t may be proposed to ac-
comPlish the work and the least time necessary for
opening the shannels, must be stated In the pro-
posal for each depth -.
The right to accept the offer which, in the opin-
lon OF the Secretary Of War, proposes the best
and to accept either proposal Of any bidder for
either OF the passes, to the exclusion OF the pro.
Possls OF the same bidder for the other pass Is
reserved
The quantity Of matter necessary to be re moved
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 Information as to their present condition
be stated. Persons who desire to unde ria ke the
work are expected therefore to inform thems ives
OF Its extent and ofthe best ans Of plish-
ingit
After q contract has been en- cred into the place
and directions Of the channels to be opened will
be designated to the contractor by an oticer or
omcers appointed for that purpose by the Secre-
tary Of War, and The amount which may be
agreed upon Tor opening each will be paid after
each has been completed and found, upon exa mi
nation by an officer or officers, appointed as above
to be conformable In all re@pects, to the stipula
tons OF the contract; but no payment will be
made on account Of any work done toward open.
ing either channel until after such channel shall
nave been completed, examined, and approved,
At the eI piraton Of one. third Of the time dur
ing which the channels are to be kept open,
eighty per cent Of one-third Of the whole amount
the expiration Of two-thirds Of the time an addi-
uonal payment Of one third Of the whole amount
contracted for will bs paid; and at the xpiration
OF he whole time during which the channels are
to be kept open the twenty per cent retained at the
afst payment, and The remaining third Of the
whole amount Of the contract for keeping the
channels open, will be paid but no payment will
ined at each period Of payment, by an officer or
otncers appointed by the secretary Of War aud
found to be In all respects conformable to con-
tract. .....
Proposals must be accompanied by evidence Of
ability to execute the work In the way, and within
the time proposed, and should be addressed to the
I" Engineer Department, 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 OF ability to execute tle work are most
satisfactory to the Secretary OF War. .....
To be inserted for thirty da Us in the National In
teligencer, and the Evening star, Washington !;
the CommeTcial Bulletin, and the True Delta,
New Orleans; tie Mobile Register. Mobile; the
Argus, and the Pennsylvanian, at Philadelphia ;
the Day Book and the Journal Of Commerce.
New ork; the Times, and the Post, Boston the
Republican, and the Pilot, St. Louis; the Enqui-
rer, Gin innati aad the Democrat, Louisville
Accounts for advertising, with two copies Of
paper cOnaining advertis ement, TO be sent to En-.
gineer Department for payment. au 5d3Ot