Middletown transcript., 1922-07-22
BIDS FOR THE CANAL
About 5,6o0,oOO Cubic Yards Of
Earth Will be Excavated
COST WILL BE ABOUT 81, 100000

900 cubic yards of earth from the
Chesapeake and Delaware Canal was
issued Monday by Colonel Earl /.
Brown, U. s, Engineer for the Will
mington District.
The bids will be received up to Aug
ust Is at the Engineers Office, Sixth and
King streets, Wilmington, when they
will be opened and tabulated.
This excavation is approximately ten
times greater than the one now under
way at the deep cut section of the canal
between the Pennsylvania Railroad
bridge and Summit fridge, where 600,-
900 cubic yards of earth are being ex-
cavated by w. H. Gahegan, Inc. of
Brooklyn, N. Y, at contract price of
approximately 1922, 900.
Estimated cost of removing the s.
800, 900 cubic yards, for which bids were
called for this week, is expected to
range from 81, 5000 to $l,750,0 900.
An allotment of $2, 500, ,0C0 recently was
made for the canal development by the
Board of Engineers of the War Depart
ment.
The specifications for this work call
for the excavation of 5,60O,0O cubic
yards from the east end at Summit
Bridge two miles west. 1t is proposed
to have this work done within period
of two years, Colonel Brown declares.
All earth excavated is being and will
be deposited in soil basins, of which
there are two. One of these basins,
the largest with capacity of 100000
cubic yards is located inside the Penn
sylvania railroad bridge area. The
other with capacity of 1000, 900 is at
the far end of the project. 1t was also
pointed out by Colonel Brown, that the
natural depressions in the ground as
we'll as the marshes and ether wet
lands, all requiring filling in, will pro-
| vide for excellent places for depositing
soil.
The contractor must commence work
within 80 days after receipt of contract
| and prosecute the work at an average
| rate of not less than 200, 90 cubic yards
per month during the first two months
after the limiting date fixed for COM
| mencement and at an average rate of
not less than 25O,00O cubic yards per
| month thereafter, and to complete it
within the time determined by applying
to the total quantity of material to be
paid for actually removed under the
contract the average monthly rates
above stipulated, for the periods to
which each rate applies.
No work will be required during the
period between January l and March
l5, inclusive. If he sc desires, the con-
tractor may work during all or any part
of this period upon giving written
notice of his intention to the contract
ing officer; but whether he works or
not no part of the period above named
will be considered in computing the
time allowed for completion. If, how
ever, the contractor elects to work dur
ing any part of the period above named
and the monthly average work accom-
pllshed is any percentage less than the
! required average work for the month
preceding the period named and the
contracting officer maintains an inspec.
ton force during this time for the pur
!. pose of supervising the work, the con
tractor will be charged this same per
; eentage of the cost of maintenance O.
such inspection force.
i The canal is at present in CONNER
cial use, several regular transportation
! lines operating through same, vessel
!. navigating the canal comprise steam
ers, tugs with tows, and gasoline boats
Operations under this contract must b
carried on so as not to unduly interfer
with or hinder the existing traffic. TIL
usual draft of loaded vessels is from
to 8 feet, and the annual tonnag
amounts to approximately one-half mi
= lion tons. Traffic in and through tn
=, canal is controlled by an operating fore
provided for that purpose. Rules an
> regulations governing the use, admin
tration, and control of the canal wei
prescribed by the Secretary of War c
~ December 81, 1921, effective January
"e 1922.