Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-08-22
Proposals for Deepening the Outlets Of the
Mississippi river into the Gulf Of Mexico.
ENGINEER DEPARTMENT,
wAaUYNorou Auursf iGSR

WAsHiNeroN, August 4, 1s56.
PROPOSALS WILL BE RECEIVED AT
l. this Office until the first day Of October next
for 'sopening and keeping open ship channels Of
sumcient capacity to accommodate the wants Of
commerce, through the Southwest Pass and Pass
a arOutre, leading from the Mississippi river into
the Gull OF Mexico" forwhich purpose there
was appropriated, by act Of Congress Of 9Th Of
dollars. ''' A''N A"N '0A''' 'n'oSaho
Bidders are requested to state the amount for
which they viii contract to open each Of the
channels specified throughout a well defn 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
OF officers appointed by the Secretary Of War; and
they are also reauested 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, II accepted, is paid; and to state
also, In sepante proposals, the same particulars
for opening ga, snS q asePing open each channel to q
out well defined width Of three hundred fest.
The means by which II may be proposed to ac.
coInPish the work and the least time necessary for
opening the 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
mefhod OF accomplishing the obj set contemplated
either Of the passes, to the exclusion Of the pro.
reserved r' -
The Quantity Of matter necessary to be removed
rom 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 e YES
OF Its extent, and ofthe best means ofaccomp pish-
Ing II
After a eontra0 has been entered into. the place
directions to ho
be designated to the contractor by an ofaeer or
omcers appointed for that purpose by the Secre-
tsfy 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 stipua
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
as above specified
At the expiration 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-
tonal payment OF one third Of the whole amount
contracted for viii bs paid; and at the expiration
OF the whole time during which the channels are
to be hept open the tweaty per cent retained at the
Hrst 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 bseR exam-
ined at each period Of payment, by an officer OF
oMcers appointed by the Secretary Of War and
found to be In all respects conformable to con-
tract.
Proposals must be accompanied by evidence Of
ability to execute the work Ia 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 rivef6
When the time within which proposals are TO
be received has expired they will be opened and
a n 9ct anita INIT xrDff1
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
tsaligencer, and the Evening Star, Washington; I;
the Commercial Bulletin, and the True Delta,
New Orleansi the Mobile Register. Mobile; the
Argus, and the Pennsylvanian, 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 advertisement, TO be sent to In.
ginee1 Department for payment. all 5d30