The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-11-21
Post Office aduertisement-JMails to Europe
the Gulf of .Merico, and the Pacific.

March g. IS45, Ito contract for the transportation
Of the United States mail between any Of the ports
Of the United States and port or ports of any for
eign power, whenever, in his opinion the public in
teress will thereby be promoted" hereby invite
PROPOSALS for carrying the mails of the United States
us herein specified, to wit:
l. From New York to Liverpool, nEngland, and
back;
Or to Bristol, in England, and back;
Or to Southampton do do.
O. From New York, by Cowes, in England, to
Antwerp, in Belgium, and back;
Or TO Bremen, in Germany, and back;
Or to Hamburg, in Germany, and back
g. From New York to Havre, in France, and
back;
Or to Brcst in France, and back.
a. From New York to Lisbon, in Portugal, and
back.
S. From New York, by Havana, in Cuba, to New
Orleans, and back.
g. From New York, by Havana, or by King
ston in Jamaica, to Chngres, in Colon
bia, and back; with joint or separate
offers to extend the transportation to
Panama, and up the Pacific, to the mouth
ofthe Columbia, and thence to the princi-
pal port in the Sandwich Islands;
Or from Charleston TO the same, and back;
Or from Pensacola do do do.
Or from Mobile do do do
7. From New Orleans to Havana, and back; with
an offer to extend to Kingston, in the ISL
and of Jamaica
Or from Mobile to the same, and back;
Or from Pensacola to the same, and back;
Or from Charleston to the same, and back,
with an offer TO supply Key West.
Proposals for commcncing said routes at any 9th
or United States port the Atlantic, than as above
named, will be considered.
1t is intended, out of the foregoing list ofroutes,
to make selection of one TO Europe, and ono to the
Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific, as may best be de-
ermincd, after proposals for service on ell the
routes are submitted-not relinquishing, however,
the right TO place greater number in operation, if
it shall be deemed expedient to do so.
The proposals should specify the number of trips
to be performed during the year, and as near as
may be, the day of the month on which the vessel
conveying the mail is to depart from the port at
each end of the route. The department contem-
plates on route No. ], sem-monthly conveyance
for eight months of he year, and monthly con-
veyancc for the residue of the year; No. g like
frequent conveyance; and on No. g. the same; on
No. 4, monthly conveyance; on No. 5, as frequent
transportation rs two or three times a month; on
No. 6, a trip once in two months; and on No. 2,
twice or three times month,
The proposals should specify the mode of con-
veyance, whether by steamship or sailing-packet;
and forth the size, rate, and description of the
vessel, with sufficient particularly to enable the de-
cison to be made the advice of the proper officers
of the naval service, whether the is or is not
convertible into ship ofwar. And special notice
is hereby gwen that, agreeaby to the provisions of
the act Of Congress aforesaid, those proposals
(being acceptable in other respects) will be pre-
ferred, which shall engage to carry Che mail in
steam ship or ships, and shall stipulate to de-
liver said ship or ships to the United States, or
10 their proper officer, on demand made, for
the purpose Of being converted into vessel
or vessels of war; the United States being bound on
their part to pay the fair full value thereof at the
time Of delivery, to be ascerlaned by four apprais-
ers, appointed two by the President of the United
States, and two by the owner owners, with an
umpire, in of disagreement, to be appointed by
the President of the United States.
It should be shown, by the certificate of a post
master, or OF pr equivalent testimony that the bid
ders are American citizens, and that the mail is to
be transported by them Sin American vessels, by
American citizens"
The postage fixed by law upon mailabe matter to
be transported by these lines, is as follows: Upon
all letters and packages not exceeding one hall ounce
in weight, between any of the ports of the United
States and the ports of England or France, or any
other foreign port not less than three thousand miles
distant t,rentyour cenis, with the inland postage of
the United States added when sent through the Uni
ted States mail to from the post Office at port of
the United States. Upon letters and packets over
half an ounce in weight, and not exceeding one
ounce, forteig cents; and for every additional half
ounce, or fraction of an ounce, fifteen cents. Upon
all letters and packets not exceeding one half ounce
sent through the United States mail, between
the ports of the United States and any of the West
India islands, or islands in the Gulf of Mexico,
ten cenis and ticenty cents upon letters and pack
cts not exceeding ounce and fpe cents for
every additional half ounce fraction Of an ounce
Upon each newspaper, pamphlet, or pricc-current,
sent in the mail between the United States and any
of the ports and places above enumerated, three
cents, with inland United States postage added when
the same is transported to or from said port of the
VI,.,sa tho Init cd Sotoo Uhe
bidder may propose for an annual sum of compen-
sation, to be named nthe bid or lieu thereof for
the whole certain proportion ito be named IN
the bid) of the hostages accruing on the Matchmaker
conveyed over the route.
He may embrace in his offer stipulation to carry
an agent of the Post Office Department with the
mails, or he may omit it, at his discretion. Such
stipulation may induce a preference to be given in
favor Of bid equal in other respects, over bid
not containing it.
Indentures of contract are 10 be executed by the
accepted bidder and by his surees by or before
the first day of May next. 1t is to provide, among
other things that the pay of the trip is to be forfeit
ed when the trip is not performed, and due pro-
portion when grade of service is rendered inferior
TO that specified in the contract and that fines may
be imposed unless the delinquency be satisfactorily
explained in due time, for failing to take from, or
to deliver into, the post Office at the port of landing,
the mail belonging thereto any part of said mail;
lOT buHtfinB inc man, VI uby part VI ~ w oo
wet, injured, lost, or destroyed; for convey
ing it in place or manner that exposes it to
depreciation, loss, or injury; for refusing, after
demand made, to- convey a mail by any addi-
tiona steam ship vessel run by the contractor on
the route, over and above the specified number Of
trips in the contract and for not arriving at the time
set; also for transmitting intelligence, or furnishing
the means of transmitting intelligence, in advance Of
the mail The Postmaster General may annul the con-
tract for repeated failures; for violating the post Of
fee laws; for disobeying the instructions of the de-
parment; for refusing to discharge carrier when
required by the department.; for assigning the con-
tract without the consent Of the Postmaster General
or for setting up running an express, aforesaid
The Postmaster General may alter the contract
and alter the schedule he allowing pro rata increase
of compensation, within the restrictions imposed by
law for the additional service required, for the
increased speed, if the employment Of additional
stock or carriers is rendered necessary but tho
tractor may, in such case, relnqush the contract on
timely notice, if he prefers it to the change. The