The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-11-10
FOREIGN MAILS.

ing, to wit: r "'
can act to provide for tri-montbly mail from
New Orleans to Vera Crue via Tampico, and
back, In steam vessels
"Be ii 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 be is hereby authorized and directed to enter
into contract for a term of five years, and for
sum not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars
year, with nuch perSon persons as may offer
suhicient and satisfactory security, after due pub
lie notice, for the transportation of the aIs of the
United States, upon the best terms for the United
States, three times month from New Orleans, viz
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
--..,,s....a PROPOSALS 9 .a
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 3D. day of Janu-
month"; for conveying the mails of the United
States, for five years from the fifteenth of Feb
Gifted: = ~5'@ .e str Mo" .,s.
COZ to Vera Cruz, about 900 miles. and back. three
times 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. " a.- =,
Proposals to omit Tampico by mail line, and
supply, tri, monthly, by side vessel in due con.
nexion, will be considered in the event of its being
shown to be impracticable to enter that port with
the steamships Of the line ...7.s.r.# .
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 back
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
&an ErancfaCO n ei oht da
Proposals also invited for semi monthly trips,
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 :.
with the em-monthly trips Of the mail stea mahps
Of the present line between Acapulco and San
Francisco. 49,, .s..-E. '-
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, as 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 sectons 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 to. hat part of the service between
Vera Cruz and Acapulco, the bidder will be re-
qured to satisfy the Department before enterin g
into contract that he has full privilege and autho
vice herein called for without interference, and in
accordance with treaty stipulations. s..
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 the decision to be made the advice of the
proper officers of the naval service, whether the
same is or 10 not convertible into ship of war.
And special notice is hereby given that, agreea.
bly, to the provi,ons of the act of Congress of Sd
March, 1885, those proposals for the last described
section of the route (being acceptable in other
spects) will be preferred which shall stipulate to
deliver the steamship or Ships to be provided 70 r
carrying said mails to the United States or TO their
proper officer on 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
OF the United States. .,...'a ST.. .. ...
The laws on 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 re-
ferred. .. ..,. y. ... .. ...' .
The bidder may embrace in his offer a spula
ton to carry an agent of the Post Office Depart
mcnt with the mals, 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. ..r.
BY the second section of the act of March 1916,
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. w . .a .. ..f#. ..F. '..
Articles of contract are TO be executed by the
accepted bidder and by his sureties, by or before
is to provide, among other things, that the pay Of
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 10 furnished, and due pro-
portion of 1t when grade Of service is rendered
inferior TO that epecied in the contract; and that
fines may be imposed, unless the delinquency be
sat factorily 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 mail, any
part of it, to be wet, injured, lost destroyed for
conveying in place or manner that exposes II
to depreciation, loss injury; for refusing, after
demand made, to convey mail by any additional
steamship, vessel, 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; ALEC, 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
mcnt; for assigning the contract without the con
cent 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 requirco
the contract on timely notice II he prefer II 70 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 n company offers, should
edistinctiy stated in the proposals..