Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-08-21
Proposals for Deepening the Outlets Of the
Mississippi river into the Gulf Of Mexico.
ENGINEER DEPARTMENT, !

WAsHINeroS, August 4, 1866.
PROPOSALS WILL BE RECEIVED AT
L 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 ana Pass
aPOutre, leading from the Mississippi river into
tne gun OF Mexico," for which purpose there
was appropriated, by act Of Congress Of Sth Of
dollars ''""~
Bidders are requested to state the amount for
which they will contract to open each Of the
channels specified throughout a well dean ed
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
mark on the shore to be established by al officer
or ofncers 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
for opening ga and keeping open each channel 70
out a well defined width Of three hundred fest.
The means by which 1t may be proposed to ac-
comPlish the work and the least time necessaryfof
opening tne channels, must be stated In the pro-
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
ana 70 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 passe. 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 expected therefore, to inform thems elves
OF Its extent, and ofthe best means ofaccomp plish
ing IL.
After a contract has been entered into. the place
ana directions Of the channels to be opened will
be designated to the contractor by an officer or
oficers 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 conformable, In all respects, to the spula.
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,
At the expiration Of one.thiTd 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 aid at
the ex xpiration Of two-thirds Of tie time an sdd-
tional payment Of one third Of tne whole amount
contracted for will be paid and at the expiration
OF the whole time during which the channels are
TO be kept open the twenty per cent retained the
first payment, and the remaining third OF the
whole amount Of the contract for keeping the
channels open, will be paid; butno payment will
be made until after the channels have been exam
ined at each period Of payment by an officer or
officers appointed by the Secretary Of War and
found to be In all respects conformible 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 river0
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 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 Phiadel phia !;
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, 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 5d3Ot