The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-12-11

can act to provide for tr.monthiy mail from
New Orleans to Vera Cruz via Tampico, and
back. in steam vesScis.
BE il enacted By the Senate and House Of Repre-
setatiues Of the United States Of america in Con-
gress assembled, That the Postmaster General be
and he is hereby authorized and directed to enter
sum not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars
a year, with such person or persons as may offer
sufficient and satisfactory security, after due pub
lie notice, for the transportation of the mails of the
United States, upon the beat terms for the United
States, three times month from New Orleans, via
Tampico, to Vera Cruz and back, in steam vessels
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
PROPOSALS saa.. .
Will be received at the Contract Office of the Post
Office Department, in the city of Waship gton, I'M
til O'Clock p. m. of Monday, the Sd day of Janu-
ary next, Ito be decided by the 9th of the same
States, for five years from the fifteenth of Feb
cited:
From New Orleans, lLa;,) BY Tampico. tMe1i-
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 line, and
supply, tri.monthly, by a side vessel, in due con-
nexon will be considered in the event of it's being
shown to be impractcable to enter that port with
the steamships of the line g.
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, Give
days and oice ue,sd, and between Acapulco and
San Francisco not to exceed eight days.
proposa In IN ed fors ryoontbIv
to be performed ench 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 TaInpco and Vera
Cruz to Acapulco and back, to run in not exceed.
ing eight days each way, and in due connection
With the ni-monthy trips of the mail steamships
of the present line between Acapulco and San
Francisco. .| .nsa .. ,...0 ....-r.a.
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, 30 as to give to California weekly mail. The
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 8, 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 10 hat part of the service between
Vera Cruz and Acapulco, the bidder will be
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 stipuations.
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
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 on the advice of the
proper officers Of the naval service, whether the
same is or ia not convertible into ship Of war.
And special notice ia hereby given that, agreea.
bly, to the provi,o of the act Of Congress of Sd
March, 1916, those proposals for the last described
section of the route (being acceptable in other re-
spects) will be preferred which shaIl stipulate 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,
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 on this subject are the 7th section of
the act of June 81, ls4s to which bidders are re-
ferred.
The bidder may embrace in his offer stipua-
ton 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 a 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, lS45,
it is 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
Is to provide, among other things, that the pay OF
the trip is 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 10 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 factoriy explained in due time; for failing to
take from, to deliver into, the post office at the
port Of landing the mail belonging thereto, or any
part Of said mail for suffering the mall or any
part of it, to be wet injured lost, dcstroyed for
conveying it in place or manner that exposes 1t
to Depreciation Ioss, or injury; Tor refusing, after
demand made, to convey mail by any additional
steamship, vessel, vehicle 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 fixtures; for
violating the post office laws; for dsobeying the
instructions OF the Department.; for refusing TO
discharge carrier when required 10y the Depart
ment; for assigning tho contrac, without the con
sent Of the Postmaster General, or 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;
the costract timely notice if be prefer il 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
der's name and residence, and the name of each
member OF the tirm, where company oflcrs, should
edisincty stated in the proposals.