Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-02-21
INSTRUCTIONS.

I. Seven minutes are allowed for opening and
closing the mails at all Offices where no particular
time is specified; but on railroad and steamboat
routes there 10 to be no more delay than is neces-
sary to deliver and receive the bags.
2. The mail Is to be conveyed in preference to
passengers, and to their entire exclusion, if its
weight and bulk require it.
3. Post office blanks, mail bags, and the special
agents Of the Department, the exhibition OF
their credentials, are to be conveyed without fur
Their charge, on mail lines admitting Of such con-
veyance.
4. Mail agents are to be conveyed without charge
the principal railroad and steamboat lines, here
the size Of the mails and the number of the offices
will require their employment ty the Department;
and, in that case, separate apartment for the
ting and safe keeping of the mail is to be pro-
vided by the contractor, under the direction Of the
Department..
s. In all cases there is to be forfeiture of the
pay Of the trip when the trip not runs forfeiture
OF at least one-fourth part Of it when the running
or arrival IS so far behind time to lose the
nexion with depending mail; and forfeiture of
due proportion of it when grade of service is rem
dered inferior 10 that in the contract. These for
FIXTURES may be increased into penalties of higher
amount, according to the nature frequency of the
failure and the importance OF the mail.
6. Fines will be imposed unless the delinquency
be satisfactorily explained in due time, for failing
to take from, or deliver ats post office, the mail,
any part OF 1t: for suffering it to be wet, injured,
lost, or destroyed; or conveying it in place or
manner that exposes it to depreciation, loss,
jury; for refusing after demand to convey mail
by any coach, railroad car steamboat, which tho
contractor regularly runs on the route beyond the
specified number Of trips in the contract, and for
not arriving at the time set and for setting up or
running an express to transmit commercial intelli
gence In advance Of the mail, penalty will be
acted equal to a quarters pay.
z. The Postmaster General may annul the con-
tract for repeated failures; for violating the post
office laws; for disobeying the instructions of the
Department; for refusing to discharge carrier
when required by the Department.; for assigning the
contract without the consent of the Postmaster
General, or for setting up or running an express
aforesaid.
8. The Postmaster General may alter the con-
tract, and alter the schedules he allowing pro rata
increase of compensation, within the restrictions
imposed by law, for the additional service required
or for the increased speed, if the employment of
additional stock or carriers is rendered
but the contractor may, in such case relnquish the
contract, on timely notice, if he prefers it to the
change The Postmaster General may annul the con-
tract or curtai the service and pay, when he wish
es 70 dispense with the service, in whole or in part
or place higher or different grade of service on
the route he allowing one months extra pay on the
amount dispened with.
.. The payments will be made through drafts on
on post offices or otherwise, after the expiration of
each quarter-say in February, May, August, and
November.
10. The distances are given according to the best
lnformation; but no increased pay will be allowed
should they prove to be greater than is advertised
II the places are correctly named.
IL. The Postmaster General is prohibited by law
from knowingly making a contract for the trans
portation OF the mail with any person who shall
nave entered into any combination, or proposed to
enter into any to the making Of
any bid for mail contract BY any other person or
persons, or who shall have made any agreement, or
snail have given or performed, or promised to give
or perform, any consideration to dos or not to do,
any thing whatever to induce any other person not
10 DID Tor mail contract. Particular attention is
called TO the 2Sth section Of the act of 1896, psohi
oiting combinations to prevent bidding.
~, a oid received after time, to wit, the 10th
Aprii next, at 10 m, or without the guaranty re-
quired by law, or that combines several routes in
one sum OF compensation, cannot be considered in
competition with the regular proposal not adiudged
to be extravagant.
Is. bidder may offer, where the TRANSPORTATION
called for in the advertisement is difficult or inn.
pfacsieabie at certain seasons to substitute an in
ferior mode Of conveyance, or to intermit ser
vice specified number Of days, weeks, or months.
ne may propose to omit an Office that is inaccessi
oe or Is not on the stage road, the railway, alta
steamboat landing, as the case may be; or he may
oner to substitute an inferior mode of supply in
such cases. He may propose different days and
hours OF departure and arrival, provided no more
running time is asked, and it is obvious that no
mai connection or other public accommodation is
preJnuiced. He may ask for more running time to
.he tfip' during specified number Of days, at GER
IAN seasons OF peculiarly bad roads; but beyond
changes, apropusal for service different from
',e advertisement will prevent its being consider
ed IN competition with regular bid not set aside
TOT extravaganza; and where bid contains any of
the ABOVE alterations, their disadvantages, will be
es.ima.ea IN comparing it with other proposals.
II. There should be but one route bid for in a
proposal.
10. The route' the service, the yearly pay, the
bidders name and residence, and the name of each
member ofthe firm, where company offers, should
oe distinctly stated; also the mode of conveyance,
higher mode than n nhox.ip s.
l6. The bid should be sent under seal, addressed
10 the FIRST Assistsat Postmaster General, with |