Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-08-14
Proposals for Deepening the Outlets Of the
Mississippi river into the Gulf Of Mexico.
ENGINEER DEPARTMENT,
WAsHINaToN. AuUust IG6a

y,
WAsHINeToN, August 4, ie5s
PROPOSALS WILL BIZ RECEIVED AT
this office until the FIRST day Of October next
for sopening and keeping open ship channels of
sunclent capacity to accommodate the wants Of
commerce, through the Southwest Pass and Pass
aPOufre, leading from the Mississippi river into
the Gulf Of Mexico,n for which purpose there
was appropriated, by act Of Congress Of sth Of
July, E6o, three hundred and thirty thousand
Bidders are requested to state the amount for
which they will contract to open each Of the
channels specified throughout a well dean I'd
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 bench
marx on the Shore to be established by an officer
or ofncers appointed by the Secretary Of War; and
they are also req uested to state the longest period
of time for which they will contract to keep each
channel open to such width and depth for the res
idue OF the appropriation after the amount Of the
old f1r opening, accepted is paid; and to state
Tor opening and Keeping open each channel to a
uniform depth OF not less an twenty feet through
out well defined width Of three hundred fest
The means by which II may be proposed TO ac-
compish the work and the least Il me necessaryfor
opening the channels, must be stated in the pro-
posal for each depth.
The righ; to accept the offer which, In the opin-
lon OF the Secretary Of War, proposes the best
inethod OF accomplishing the obj ect contemplated
and to accept either proposal Of any bidder for
either OF the passes, to the exclusion Of the pro.
foS"A0 OA INC coIlC DlVucr 1OI toe OtQeI pass, Is
reserved r' -
The Quantity Of matter necessary to be moved
from the existing channels at the passes to be
oeepened, or the distanC 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 10 their present condition.
oe stated Persons who desire to undertake the
work are expected therefore, to inform themse
Of Its extent and ofthe best ans Of accomplish
ing II.
After a contract has been entered into, the place
and directions Of the channels to be opened will
be designated to the contractor by an ofncer or
officers appointed for that purpose by the Secre-
tary Of War, and the amount which may be
agreed upon for opening each will be paid after
each has been completed and found, upon exami-
nation by an officer or officers, appointed as above
to be conformaole, 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 charmed until after such channel shall
have been completed, examined, and approved,
as above specified.
At the eI Jiration 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
Of the contract for keeping open will be paid at
the expiration Of two-thirds Of the time an addi-
tional payment Of one third Of the whole amount
contracted for will b paid; and at the expiration
Of the whole time during which the channels are
to be Kept open the 1--WE lty cent retained the
drst 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
officers appointed ny the secretary Of War and
found to be In all respects conform.ble 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
Engineer ID, partment, Washington, )" and en-
dorsed Proposals for opening channels at outlets
Of the Mississippi river"
When the time within which proposals are to
be recsiyed has expired they will be opened and
considered. and "A p entered int Or
the bidder or bidders whose plan Of operation and
evidence Of ability 10 execute the work are most
satisfactory to the secretary Of War.
To be inserted for thirty days In the National In
telligencer, 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 Y ork; the Times and the Post, Boston the
Republican, and the Pilot, st. Louis; the Enqui-
rer, Cincinnati ard the Democrat, Louisville
Accounts for advertising, with two copies Of
paper containing adveris ement, TO be sent to En-
gineer Department for payment. au 5d3Ot