The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-10-22
FOREIGN MAILS.

| ing, to wit: rw 49,,
An aot to provide for tri-monthy mail from
| New Orleans to Vera Cruz via Tampico, and
back, In steam vessels. .a w. .-0|. s-@
"Bs il enacted by The Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatiUes If the United States Of America in Con-
gress assembled, That the Postmaster General be
and he Ia hereby authorized and directed to enter
| into contract for term of five years. and for q
| sum not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars
a year, with such person or persons may offer
sufficient and satisfactory security, after due pub
notice. for the transportation Of the mails Of the
United States, upon the best terms for the United
States, three times month from New Orleans, via
Tampico, to Vera Cruz and back, in steam vesses
of not less than eight hundred tons burden, of the
best form Of construction adapted to the navigation
of the southern waters the same to be ready in the
shortest possible time"-
$50 -" PROPOSALS
Will be received at the Contract Office of the Post
Office Department, in the city of Washington, un-
til O'Clock p. m. OF Monday, the Sd day Of Janu-
ary next, Ito be decided by the 9th of the same
month"; for conveying the mails of the United
States, for five years from the fifteenth of Feb
cihed
COZ to Vera Cruz about 900 miles. and back, three
times a month, in steamships. Time allowed
from port to port to be three days; the schedule
(subject to approval of the Postmaster GENERALLY
to be proposed by the bidder. '.
Proposals to carry in four days, each way, will
also be considered. ..--s' . = r"
Proposals to omit Tampico by mail Ine and
supply, tri,monthly, by side vessel, in due con-
shown to be impractcable to enter that port with
the steamships of the line.
Proposals will also be considered for the extern
sion of two of the above trips from Vera Cruz to
Acapulco, by suitable and safe land conveyance,
thence by steam vessels to San Francisco and backe
The time in passing from Vera Cruz to Acapulco
not to exceed one hundred twenty hours, Give
days.) and vice Versa, and between Acapulco and
On tn leir doya
Proposals also invited for semi. monthly tripe
to be performed each way in not exceeding seven
teen days, from New Orleans, via Tampico, Vera
Cruz, and Acapulco, to San Francisco and back in
steamships, &C., as above. Also, for two additional
trips from New Orleans via Tampico and Vera
Cruz to Acapulco and back, to run in not exceed.
ing eight days each way, and in due connexion
with the semi monthly trips of the mail steamships
| of the present line between Acapulco and San
Francisco. ........
Proposals will also be considered for four trips
month from New Orleans, via Tampico, Vera
Cruz, and the city of Mexico, to Acapulco and
back; and for the extension Of two of those trips
| to San Francisco by steamships; the other two to
| be run in connection with the present Pacific mail
line, 80 a. to give to California weekly mail. The
| time between New Orleans and San Francisco not
to exceed seventeen days. In every instance each
of the three sections of the line between New Or
leans and San Francisco should be bid for sepa-
| rately. ,...
- Under the act of March 3, 1851, the service be-
| tween San Francisco and Vera Cruz is to be for
| four years. But the Postmaster General reserves
the right of continuing 1t ono year longer at same
terms. .-"
In regard to that part of the service between
Vera Cruz and Acapulco, the bidder will be re-
quired to satisfy the Department before entering
into contract that he has full privilege and autho
vice herein called for without interference, and in
| accordance with treaty stpulatons.
In regard to the steamship part of the service on
the route between New Orleans and Vera Cruz,
the proposals should set forth the size, rate, and
description Of the vessel. (Which must be of not
less than eight hundred tons burden,) and in re-
gard to the service between San Francisco and
Acapulco, the proposals should set forth descrip
ton of the vessel with sufficient particularly to
enable tho decision to be made the advice OF the
proper officers of the naval service, whether the
same is or is not convertible into ship of war.
And special notice ia hereby given that, agreea.
bly, to the provisions of the act Of Congress of Sd
March, 1916, those proposals for the last described
section of the route (being acceptable in other
spects) will be preferred which shall stipuate to
deliver the steamship or ships, to be provided for
carrying said mais TO the United States, to their
proper officer, on demand made, for the purpose of
being converted into vessel or vessels of wars the
United States being bound, on their part, to pay
the fair full value thereof at the time of delivery,
to be ascertained by four appraisers, appointed,
two by the President Of the United States and two
by the owner or owners, with an umpire, in case
of disagreement, to be appointed by the President
Of the United States
the act of March 3, ls45, and The third section Of
the act of June 81, ls4s, to which bidders are
ferred.
The bidder may embrace in his offer stpua-
tion to carry an agent Of the Post Office Depart
ment with the mails, or he may omit it, at his dis.
erection. Such stipulation may induce preference
to be given in favor of bid equal in other respects
over bid not containing it.
BY the second section of the act of March 3, 1885,
it s required that contracts for the conveyance Of
the mail from the United States to foreign ports
shall be made with American citizens, and the
mail transported in American vessels by American
citizens. .".
Articles of contract are to be executed by the
accepted bidder and by his sureties, by or before
the fifteenth day Of February, 1883 The contract
the trip IL to be forfeited when the trip lie not per-
formed, and not more than three times the pay Of
the trip when the trip ia not run, and no sufficient
excuse for the failure is Furnished, and due pro.
portion of it when grade of service is rendered
inferior TO that specified in the contract; and that
fines may be imposed, unless the delinquency be
sati factorily explained in due time; for falling to
port Of landing the mail belonging thereto, or any
part Of said mail; for suffering the mail or any
part of it, to be wet injured lost destroyed; for
conveying ii in place or manner that exposes 1t
to depreciation, loss or injury; for refusing, after
demand made, to convey mail by any additional
steamship, vessel, or vehicle run by the contractor
on the route, over and above the specified number
of trips in the contract and tor not arriving at the
time set; also, for transmitting intelligence, or
furnishing the means Of transmitting intelligence,
| in advance of tho mail. The Postmaster General
may annul the contract for repeated failures; for
violating the post Office laws; for dsobeying the
instructions OF the Department; for refusing to
discharge carrier when required by the Depart
mcnt; for assigning the contract without the con-
sent Of the Postmaster General, for setting up
running an express as aforesaid.
The Postmaster General may alter the contract,
and alter the schedule, he allowing pro rata in
crease Of compensation, within the restrictions
imposed by law for any increased service required;
but the contractor may, in such case, relinquish
the contract, timely notice, if he prefer it to the
| change. The Postmaster General may also dis.
| continue or curtail the service, he allowing one
months extra pay on the amount dispensed
with.
The route, the service, the yearly pay, the bid
der's name and residence, and the name of each
member of the firm, where company offers, should
be distinctly stated in the proposals.