The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-10-21
FOREIGN MAILS.

ing, to wit:
can act to provide for tii.montbly mail r,m
New Orleans to Vera Cruz via Tampico, and
| back, in steam vessels
"Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatiues 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 q
| sum not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars
| year, with such person persons may offer
sufficient 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 month from New Orleans, via
Tampico, to Vera Cruz and back, in steam vesse IL
of not less than eight hundred tons burden, of the
best form OF construction adapted to the navigation
of the southern waters, the to be ready in the
shortest possible time'-
PROPOSALS
Will be received at the Contract Office of the Post
Office Department, in the city Of Washingto un
til O'Clock p. m. of Monday. the Sd day of Janu-
month, for conveying the mails Of the United
States, for five years from the fifteenth of Feb
rusry' 1885, in the manner and time herein spe-
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 Tampco by mail line, and
supply, tri-monthly, by side vessel, in due con-
nexon, will be considered in the event of its being
shown to be impracticabe to enter that port with
the steamships OF the line '..<
Proposals will also be considered for the exten.
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, Give
days,) and Uice versa and between Acapulco and
San Francisco not to exceed eight days.
Proposals are also invited for semi monthly trips,
to be performed each way in not exceediH seven
teen days, from New Orleans, via Tamplco Vera
Cruz, and Acapulco, to San Francisco and back. in
steamships &C., 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 mail
OF the present line between Acapulco and San
Francisco.
Proposals will also be considered for four trips a
month from New Orleans via Tampico Vera
Cruz, and the city of Mexico, to Acapulco and
back and TOR 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 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-
rntely.
Under the act of March 8, 1851, the service be.
tween San Francisco and Vera Cruz is to be for
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.
CURED to satisfy the Department before entering
into contract that he has full privilege and autho
riy to execute in the terms of the contract the
vice herein called for without interference, and in
accordance with treaty stipulations.
In regard to the steamship part of the service on
the route between New Orleans and Vera Cruz,
a should
description of the vessel. (Which must be of not
less than eight hundred tons burden,) and in
gard to the service between San Francisco and
Acapulco, the proposals should get forth descrp
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 is not convertible into ship of war.
And special notice is hereby given that, agreea-
bly, to the prov Of the act Of Congress Of Sd
March, 1S45, those proposals for the last described
section of the route (beng acceptable in other re-
specs) will be preferred which shall stipulate to
deliver the steamship or ships, to be provided for
carrying said mails to the United Sates to their
proper officer demand made, for the purpose of
being converted into vessel 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
of the United States.
The laws this subject are the 7th section of
the act of March 3, 1885, and the third section of
the act of June 81, lS4s, to which bidders are
ferred.
The bidder may embrace in his offer stipula-
tion to carry agent of the Post Office part
ment with the male, 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 a bid not containing it.
BY the second section Of the act of March 3, 1916,
it is required that contracts for the 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
is to provide, among other things, that the pay of
the trip ia to be forfeited when the trip is 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 1t when grade of service is rendered
inferior to that specified in the contract; and that
fines may be imposed, unless the delinquency be
sat factorily explained in due time; for failing to
take from. or to deliver into, the post Office ut the
port OF landing the mail belonging thereto, any
part of said mail; for suffering the mail, any
part of it, to be wet, injured lost destroyed for
conveying 1t in place or manner that exposes it
to depreciation, loss, 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 the mail The Postmaster General
may annul the contract for repeated failures; for
violating the post office lave; 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 or
running an express aforesaid.
The Postmaster General may alter the contract,
and alter the schedule, he allowing pro rata in
crease of compeRsation, within the restrictions
imposed by law for any increased service required;
but the contractor may, in such case, relnquish
the contract timely notice, if he prefer it to the
continue 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,