The republic., 1851-01-29

ia competition with regular bid not set asios o'
extravaQance; and where u bid contains any oi tue
above alterations, their disadvantages VIII DC es1
mated in comparing 1t with other proposal.
Ia There should be but one route bid Tor ia q
proposal a.
bidders name and residence, and the name OF
each member of the firm, where company Offers
should be distincty stated also the mode OF con-
veyance, if a higher mode than on horseback ihi
tended.
l6 The bid should be sent under seal, addressed
70 the First Assistant Postmaster General, with
"Mail Proposals in the State or Territory OIL
written the face of the letter; and should be as
patched in time to be received by or before me it
of April next, at 10 O'Clock, m II should be
guaranteed. and the sufiicency Of the guarantors
! &c duly certified. (Sec forms
H. The contracts are to be executed by before
the LIST of July next.
49, Postmasters at Offices situated upon near
raiircsds but more than eighty rods from depot,
will immediately after the 18th April next, report
that fact TO the Department, stating their exact dis-
tances from the railroad depot, and how otherwise
supplied with the mall 70 enable tne ros,nss,ep eso,
the railroad by mail messengers, from and aiter
the lst of July next >.
l9. Under the act of March 3, ls45, the route Is
to be let to the lowest bidder rendering suincieh'
guarantees for faithful performance, without other
reference to the mode of transportation than may
be necessary to provide for the due CELEBRITY, GER
tainty, and security of such transportation
ance that is inadequate for the route in respect TO
the certainty security, and celebrity OF the mails.
aside from any accommodation Tor travel, II VIII
not be entitled to the route
90 When the bid does not name mode OF con-
veyance il will be taken and understood TO be for
the lowest mode of conveyance, to wit, on horse
back When Il proposes to carry according to the
advertisement, and no mode OF conveyance Is s'a'eo
for the route in the advertisement, IT will be con-
sidered as Offering only for horseback conveyance
2l Since the passage of the act Of March :, ls4o,
new description Of bid has been received IL spe-
cfes no mode of conveyance, but engages 70 carry
the mail with certainty celebrity, and security,
using the terms of the law. These bids are Called
from the manner in which they are designated on
the books of the Department, "sfar oids. y mas
been decided, after mature consideration, that
bid proposing specific mode OF conveyance Oh as
high O grade as two horse coach transportation is
to be preferred to the star bid. The experience OF
the Department enables it to'lay down the toiiow-
ing rules, viz:
When the mail on the route is not so large as 10
require two, horse coach conveyances, star pid'
the lowest will be preferred to the specific bid
o. When the mails OF such size and weight
"a 10 render it necessary or cxpedent in reference
TO them alone to provide two horse coach convey
ance, the specific bid though the highest. will be
preferred to the star bid, to the extent OF mo1e
rate difference in the compensation, IN case the dil
ference is not such to interfere with the policy Oh
the new law which looks to reduction in the cost
of transportation. Exceptions, however, may DO
allowed, where the star bid y MADE Dy !ne presen
--,-rI
that tho reasons for preferring the specific bid do
not exist in his case
23 On routes of the highest class, where tour
horse coach or steamboat transportation s required
by the size and importance Of the mails, the prefer
ence for the specific bid will be, if necessary, car
ried to greater extent of difference than on the
inferior coach routes, subject, however, to the ex
ceptions above stated.
a. A modification of a bid, in any OF its essen
tal terms, is tantamount to new bid, and cannot
be received 80 as to interfere with regular comPs
tition after the last hour set for receiving bids
25 Postmasters required to be careful and
not to certify the suiciency of guarantors or sure
ties without knowing that they are persons OF sui
fcient responsibility and all bidders, guarantors,
and sureties are distinctly notified that failure
to enter into or perform the contracts for the ser
vice proposed for in the accepted BIDS their legal
| liabilities will be enforced against them.
26 The contracts will be substantially In the
forms heretofore used in this Department, except
in the respects particularly mentioned in these IN
etructions and conditions; and on all railroad and
steamboat routes the contractors will be required
to deliver the mails into the post offices at the ends
of the routes and into all the post offices not more
than eighty rods from the railroad or landing
M N. X. HALL, PostmGster General
Posr OFFICE DEpARTMENT, Jan. 18th, 1851.
I 81 nxx,f .rf