Evening journal., 1896-12-11
The HARBOR OF REFUGE.
A SYRACUSE, N. ", FIRM WAS THE
LOWEST BIDDER ON THE WORK.

THE NEW HARBOR WILL BE CON |
sTRUCTED AT THE ENTRANCE |
or DELAWARE BAY TO SAVE /
THE SHIPPING.
Major c. w. Raymond. Of the United
States engineers office i'm Philadelphia,
yesterday opened the proposals for the
national harbor of refuge at the en-
trance Of Delaware bay
The project involves an expenditure
Of more than $4.6000O0, and is one of
the most extensive works of the break
water type ever undertaken by the
United states government it viii have
an area of several square miles, and
be of sufficient depth TO float the larg-
est vessels Of the present day.
The construction of the breakwater
was authorized by the River and Har-
Dor act of last June. which empowered
the secretary of war to enter into
contract for the work, TO be paid for as
appropriations are made from time to
time. not to exceed i'm the aggregate
+ 81 GOO GOO The plans and specifications
were prepared at the Office of the
United States engineer in Philadel-
phia.
There were thirteen bidders for the
work, representing nearly all sections
of the country. The lowest bidders
were the firm Of Hughes Brothers &
Bangs. Of Syracuse. n Y. Their bid
was very much lower than was ex-
pccted though figures much below the
estimate Of several years ago were
looked for. As the firm is considered
reliable, and has mad experience with
thls character of work, it is believed
that the contract will be awarded to it.
The total amount of the firms bid
based on the estimate of the stone re-
quired, is 81 638,795.
Major Raymond expressed himself as
greatly gratifed that the bids for the
work were so low. lie said he believed
that prices would be obtained much
, lower than tho estimate some years
ago, but IL was not expected to gel
prices as low as those obtained.
/ When asked whether he considered
the lowest bidders competent to do the
! work he said he had no doubt, as they
had already done government work o.
, the same character on a large scale
, Major Raymond said the bids would bl
forwarded to Washington, and IL ~
, appropriation was made, as he believe,
would be done this Winter, the worl
would commence the 1st of May.
y The contractor is required by thu
terms Of the specifications TO deposi
100000 tons of stone the first year ant
100000 tons of stone during each sub
!, seQuont year Major Raymond states
= i'm his annual report for the last fisca
year that S750,0O0 could be expended
: on the work during the next fisca
y year
" Hughes Brothers & Bangs are nov
] engaged in the construction OF a stOn
!, breakwater for the government a
=, Point Judith, II. l., and at the entranc
'' 20 the harbor of New Haven. Ihei
do8ting plant consists of twelve barge
l' l.5O0 tons each three ocean tul
r boats and three floating steam dei
y ricks to be stationed at the Break
u water for unloading barges. The quar-
~ plant consists of twenty steam del
ricks of ten tons capacity each, drill
. ing plant, cars. railroad, tools, etc
sufficient to produce and handle 200
tons of stone a day.
-, The firm owns a quarry in Connect
- cut having an output of 100000 tons
:, year; a quarry in Delaware, with C;
y pacity of lSO. 900 tons a year and oth'
~ Quarries, to be approved by the eng
neers in charge of the work, The lirl
~ is composed of Charles. James and El
2 gene Hughes, Of Syracuse n. Y, an
AnsOn NJ Bangs Of Fayettville, n.