The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-10-20
FOREIGN MAILS.

L ed august Su, 1907, whlch ID IN the words ioNow
ing, to wit:
can act to provide for tri .monthly mail fr:m
New Orleans to Vera Cruz via Tampico, and
back, In steam vessels.
"Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre-
ssntatiues Of the United States Of america in Con-
gress assembled, That the Postmaster General be
and he is hereby authorized and directed to enter
into contract for term of five years, and for
sum not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars
year, with such person or persons as may offer
sufhclent and satisfactory security, after due pub
lie notice. for the transportation Of the mails Of the
United States, upon the best terms for the United
States, three times a month from New Orleans, via
Tampico, to Vera Cruz and back, in steam vessels
best form of construction adapted to the navigation
OF the southern waters the same to be ready in the
shortest possible tme"-
PROPOSALS
Will be received at the Contract Office of the Post
Office Department, in the city Of Washington, un-
airy next, Ito be decided by the 9th of the same
monthly for conveying the mails of the United
States, for five years from the fifteenth of Feb.
ruary, 1853, in the manner and time herein spe-
cited:
From New Orleans, (La.,) by Tampico, (Mexi.
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.
Proposals to omit Tampico by mail ine and
supply, trl monthly, by side vessel, in due
nexion will be considered, in the event of it's being
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 backs
The time in passing from Vera Cruz to Acapulco
not to exceed one hundred twenty hours five
n \ nd yprsn nd hafu AcaH
San Francisco not to exceed eight days.
Proposals are also invited for semi monthly tripe,
to be performed each way in not exceeding severn
| teen days, from New Orleans, via Tampico, Vera
Cruz and Acapulco, to San Francisco and back in
steamships, Sc, 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 connection
with the semi-monthly trips of the mai 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, to give TO California a 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 it one 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
rity to execute in the terms of the contract the
vice herein called for without interference, and in
accordance with treaty stipuatons.
In regard to the stea mshp 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 the decision to be made the advice of the
proper officers Of the naval service, whether the
same is or ia not convertible into ship of war.
And special noticeis hereby given that, agreea
bly, to the provi 'ons Of the act of Congress Of Sd
March, lS45 those proposals for the last described
section of the route (being acceptable in other re-
spects) will be preferred which shall stpulate to
deliver the steamship or ships to be provided for
carrying said mails to the United States, to their
proper officer, 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 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
|
The laws on this subject are the 7th section of
the act Of March 3, 1915, and the third section of
the act of June 81 lS4S, to which bidders are re-
| ferred
ton to carry an agent of the Post Office Depart
ment with the mails, 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 1t.
BY the second section of the act of March 8, lS45,
it lie 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, 1853. The contract
the trip is to be forfeited when the trip is not per-
| formed, and not more than three times the pay of
the trip when the trip is not run, and 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
take from, to deliver into, the post Office at the
part of said mail; for suffering the mail, or any
part ofit, to be wet injured, lost, destroyed for
| conveying it in place manner that exposes il
to Depreciation oss, injury; for refusing, after
demand made, to convey mail by any additional
steamship, vesse, vehicle 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 annu the contract for repeated failures; for
violating the poet office laws; for disobeying the
instructions OF the Department; for refusing TO
discharge carrier when required by the Depart
ment; for assigning the contract without the con
sent Of the Postmaster General, for setting up
| running express 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 on timely notice if he prefer it to the
| change. The Postmaster General may also dis
| continue curtail the service, he allowing one
months extra pay on the amount dispensed
| with.
The route, the service, the yearly pay, the bid
| dcr's name and residence, and the name of each
member of the firm where a company offers, should
! be distinctly stated in the proposals.
Form for Bid ,ohere no change from ADDER
tisement is contemplated by the bidder.
| 81 (or we, the may De) there write the
name or names in full of there state the residence
or residenccsl hereby propose to carry the mail on
| a. IT, n