The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-27
HARB0R DREDGING DELAYED.
THE SIXTY DAYS LIMIT FOR BEGIN
MING WORK EXPIRED.

Rittenhouse II. MOore's Contract for
Improving the Savannah Harbor
and Inland waterway to Beaufort
subject TO Forfefture--An Effort TO
secure Reletting of the Work.
The sixty days limit of time within which
work on the Savannah harbor and inland
waterway between Savannah and Beau
fort was to begin under the contract of
Rittenhouse r. Moore, has expired and the
work has not yet been started
The bids were opened at the Uni
ted States engineers office, Sept.
8. Mr.. Moore was the lowest bid
der and was awarded the con-
tract at 10 cents per cubic yard for dredg-
ing. P. Sanford Ross, who has had the
harbor dredging contract for ten years bid
17.9 cents.
When Mr. Moore's bid was announc-
ed it was remarked by contractors
present that the work would never be be-
gun, or, If begun would result in failure
to the contractor the price being too low.
AS all the dumping places in the harbor
and within. easy access were filed, it was
expected that the lowest bid received
would be about 20 cents, which, it was
stated, would probably yield a fair mar
gin of profit.
A protest was made against the award
of the contract to Mr.. Moore, a claim be-
ing made that the sureties on his proposals
were not competent, one being his mother
and the other his father Under the
terms of the contract Mr.. Moore had sixty
days from the notification of the
approval of the contract to begin work.
which brought the date up to Dec. "a. The
contract required that the work be prose-
cuted vigorously Contractors saw that
if begun at once and pushed it could be
completed by July 1, at which time if the
present session of congress does its duty
by Savannah, 100000 viii be available for
the payment of government contracts
Inc contractor, however, may carry the
work TO completion, or continue it in ad-
vance of appropriations made by congress-
payments 10 pc made as appropriations be-
come available.
The only pant Mr.. Moore has here at
present is the dredge "Fairplay" which is
being oVerhauled. In event of his failure
10 carry out the contract, the United States
may step IN and complete it. delay of
n id1ts.n NWofklhg Gays on the part of the
contractor to perform the average daily
amount OF work specified, with the an
proval Of the chief of engineers, subjects
tle contractor TO a forfeiture of his con-
tract, and the engineer officer in charge
MI Moore is under contract to remove
100000 cubic yards Of material, more or less
or OF. IN the event of certain contingencies a
total of 100000 cubic yards. Dredging Is
10 De done near the mouth of Wrightis
river and Ramshorn creek and in the sas
Vannah river, between cross-tides and the
ocean. 1t is believed that his failing to he
gin work on Thursday, as prescribed. NAV
result in considerable delav in the
Dredging, which could now be done to
advantage on the inside route and in the
hssrD9r, and may also cause the annulment
Oh ms contract. Capt Carter is
out OF the city and nothing couId
pc learned at his Office in regard to the
ialure to begin work. There
IS talk of an effort being made TO score
a a renewal eva, Of the bids, in which event Mr..
ROSS Will make pull for the work. Tne
matter has been brought to the atfentinn
OF the board Of trade, and the city council.
with a view to securing the commence,
ment OF work at as early date possible.
me Atlantic Contracting Company bid
on the same improvement at the time Mr.
Moore did, and secured the jetty contract.
Col Gaynor has been at work for siX
weeks, prosecuting his share of the work
the bulk Of which is out in the breakers
beyond Tybee Knoll, a much exposed and
dangerous place.