The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1948-06-25
Soon Ready
To Ask Bids
On Dredging
Closing Of Delmos
Bayou Would Sove
$4,000 In Pldns

rllidl engineering plans LUZ re-
tanning levees on the west bank
of the Pascagoula river and the
construction of a 1000-foot ship
turning basin were to be COM
pleted this week and bids for
dredging the Pascagoula ship
channel and Horn Island pass
will then be prepared and adj
vertised, the operations depart
ment of the United States En-
gineers office at Mobile, said this
week.
Plans for the retaining levees,
which will make possible the rec
lamation of approximately lao
acres of industrial sites along the
west bank of the river, are neces-
sary in order that the cost of the
work can be accurately arrived
at, E. w. Wallace of the u. S.
Engineer operating department,
said.
Present plans of the u. S. En-
gineers call for advertisement for
bids for the work from private
contractors. If a private contractor
submits a bid cheaper than the
Engineers own estimate for the
work, then the work will be
awarded to the private contractor
to be done under Engineer super
vision. Usual procedure is to
award the work to a private con-
tractor if the bid submitted is
within rs percent of the Engineer
estimate. However, in this in
stance a decision is being waited
from the chief Of engineers office
at Washington on the waving of
this differential inasmuch as the
work is being paid for with pub
lie funds. Indications are that
the differential will be waived.
Seek Delmas Bayou Closing
Meanwhile, the Port Commits
sion has requested permission to
fill Delmas bayou while reclaim
ing land along the West bank of
the river. Engineers estimate that
to build retaining bikes along
the bayou and later span it with
both rail and highway bridges
in connection with the construc-
ton of the proposed ocean-rail
terminal on the west bank would
cost in excess Of 100000 The
bayou has filled in considerably
during the past few years and is
accessible at present only to ex-
tremely shallow draft vessels,
row boats and cupboard motors.
Some opposition has been ex-
pressed to the proposed closing.
If such opposition gains sufficient
strength it would result in the
calling of a public hearing by the
U. S. Engineers and delay the
start of dredging operations from
two to three months.
The Mississippi Seafood Com
mission has also requested the
closing for the purpose of i'm
proving oyster beds in Pascagou-
la bay, which are to be replanted
and enlarged under plans of the
Commission.
The proposed turning basin
would be approximately opposite
the present city wharf and its
proposed extension, which would
be used for berthing ocean GO
ing steamers until such time as
the proposed three-million dollar
ocean-rail terminal on the west
bank can be constructed.
Delivery of the 100000 in
bonds voted by the board of SUI
pervisors as Jackson county's
share of the dredging costs has
been completed and the money is
now available. The last session of
the state legislature also appropri-
ated $250,000 for this work, maxi
ing a total of $750, 900 available.
If it is not necessary to call a
public hearing on the Delmas
bayou closing, advertisement for
bids for the work should be COM
pleted in a matter of 20 days, the
engineers office said, and work
start shortly thereafter.