Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-02
PROPOSALS INVITED
CoNCRETE-STEEL APPROACH TO
HIGHWAY BRIDGE.
To Be Constructed Across the Head Of
Washington Channel Of
Potomac River.

of the Improvement Of the Potomac river,
has invited proposals for the construction
of concrete-steel bridge across the head of
the Washington channel of the river, being
part of the Washington approach to the Po-
tomac highway bridge The structure will
be 162 feet in length between abutments,
POP feet over all and IA feet wide between
face of spandrel walls, and will consist OF
three spans of so feet each, approximately.
elliptical in shape, composed of REINFORCED
concrete. The sites of the abutments OF
the proposed bridge partly overlap the
wing walls of the tidal gates and the aout-
ments of the adjoining plate girder bridge
of the Philadelphia, Baltimore and Wash
ington railroad and where the presence OF
the two conflict the old work will be re-
moved.
1t is intended that the bridge shall be
erected complete from abutment to abut-
ment, including street and sidewalk paw
ing, electric conduit railway construction
and ratings and lamps. The foundations
for the upper wing walls connecting the
bridge abutments with the main wall OF
the tidal gates will be included in the con-
tract, the upper part of the walls proper
being reserved for the present. The bridge
is located at the head of navigation Of the
Washington channel and is accessible to
small scows and fatboats. Previous to
commencing work on the abutments a por-
ton of the ends of the old wing walls of
the Pennsylvania railroad bridge. which
overlap slightly the new arch abutment
site, will be removed The masonry OF
these wings is of brown sandstone and Is
founded at depth of about 10 feet below
low water timber grillage supported
by piles.
Condition of Contract.
One of the conditions of the contract is
that the contractor shall at no time him
der or obstruct the free passage of vessels
in river channels, nor the passage of We
hicles or pedestrians along any roads or
highways he may have temporary occasion
to use. Any existing fences, walls, pave
ments, or improvements of any kind which
1t may be necessary to remove or alter in
any way during the prosecution of the work
are to be restored to their original condi-
ton by the contractor at it's completion
at his own cost.
Col. Hoxie invites the attention of pros
pective bidders to the acts of Congress ap-
proved February 26. 1885, and February
%, 1887, which prohibit the Importation of
foreigners and aliens, under contract or
agreement to perform labor in the United
States or territories or the District of Co
lumbia. He says that preference will be
given to articles or materials of domestic
production, conditions quality and price
being equal, including the price of foreign
articles the duty thereon.
1t is also provided that If any person
employed by or representing the contractor
on the work shall appear to, the engineer
to be incompetent or disorderly or shall
said engineer, his assistants, or inspectors
In anything relating to the work, he shall
be discharged Immediately on the request of
the engineer, and such person shall not
again be employed upon it, Such discharge
shall not form the basis of any claim
against the United States or any of its
officers or agents. In the prosecution of the
work the employment of persons under
going sentences of Imprisonment at hard
labor, which have been imposed by courts
of the several states territories or munci-
palities having criminal jurisdiction, Is pro-
hibited.
First Glass Workmanship.
The character of workmanship for all
classes of work, Col. Hoxie says, is intend
ed to be first class in every particular, and
no other kind will be tolerated. He says
that the United States will not be respon-
sible for any damage that may occur to
the contractors employees or plant or to
passing vessels or vehicles or for any dam
age that may be done to public or private
property during the progress of operations.
1t is prescribed that the contractor shall
assume all risks and be responsible for the
proper protection of work and materials
and lives of employees from danger, dam
age or destruction by accident action of
the elements and shall at all times take
every possible precaution to guard against
mishaps from any cause.
AS usual In such cases, the United States
reserves the right to reject any and all
bid and to waive any informality In the
bids received: also to disregard the bid of
any failing bidder or contractor. 1t Is fur
Their provided that the time for the compile
ton of the contract may be waived for
reasonable period and the charges for ex-
penses of superintendent and inspection
be RENTED for so much time as in the
judgment of the engineer officer in charge
may actually have been lost on account of
unusual freshets, ice, rainfall or other alb
normal force violence of the elements
or by epidemics or other unforeseeable
cause of delay arising through no fault Of
the contractor and which prevented him
from commencing the work delivering
the materials within the period required by
the contract.