Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-09-04
WAsHINGTON, August ISJ6.
DROPOSALS WILL BE Received

" 4, Mn
PROPOSALS WILL BE RECEIVED AT
!! this office until the 8rSt 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
POutTe, leading from the Mississippi river INTO
the Gulf OF Mexico,'' for which purpose there
was appropriated, by act Of Congress of sth OF
July, 1855, three hundred and thirty thousand
dollars.
Bidders are requested to stale the amount for
Wnlch 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 eg hteen feet below the level Of ord nary low
water, which level will be determined by a bench
mark on the shore, to be established by an officer
OF omceis appointed by the Secretary Of War and
they are also requested 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
bid FOR opening, accepted, Is paid and to state
also, In separate proposals, the same particulars
Tor opening and keeping open each channel to
uniform depth OF not less than twenty feet through
out well defined width OF three hundred fest
The means by which II 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 OF 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 Information as TO their present condition
be stated. Persons who desire to undertake the
WORK are expected, therefore, to inform Them. elves
OF its extent, and ofthe best means ofaccomplish-
Ing 1t.
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 officer or
orcers 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 e1ami.
nation by an ofhcer or otHcerS, appointed above,
TO be conformable, in all poets, to the stipua
tons 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
as above specified.
At the ex piration Of one-third Of the time dur
Ing which the channels are TO be kent open
eighty per cent OK one-third Of the whole amount
OF the contract Tor keeping open will be paid at
the expiration Of twothifds OF the time an addi-
ticnal 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
20 De kept open the twenty 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
De MADE until after the channels have been exam
officers appointed by the Secretary Of War and
found to be In al 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
Engineer Department, Washington and en-
dorsed :. Proposals for opening channels at outlets
Of the Mississippi river''
When the time within which proposals are tn
| be received has expired they will be opened and
considered, and contract be entered into with
| the bidder or bidders whose plan Of operation and
evidence OF ability 10 execute the work are mos,
satisfactory 70 the Secretary Of War
TO De inserted orthlrty da 20 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 Philadel ph In
the Day Book, and the Journal Of Commerce.
New York the Times, and the Post, Boston the
Republican, and the Pilot, st. Louis; the Enaui.
| rer, Cincinnati; and the Democrat, Louisville
Accounts for advertising, with two copies OF
paper containing advertisement, TO be sent to En-.
gineer Department for payment au 5d3H