The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-10-29

New Orleans 10 Vera Cruz via Tampico, and
| back in steam vessels. t'
"Be it enacted w The Senate and House Of Repre-
sentatipss 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
| 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 best 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 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 Washington, I'M
| til O'Clock p m. of Monday, the Sd day of Janu-
airy next, 60 be decided by the 9th Of the came
| month"; for conveying the mails of the United
States, for five years from the fifteenth of Feb.
cined:
From New Orleans, DAD by Tampico, tMexi.
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
(subect to approval of the Postmaster GENERALLY
to be proposed by the bidder 10 q
| Proposals to carry in four days, each way, will
| also be considered. ..,r .@t, ~ ....
| Proposals to omit Tampico by mail line, and
supply, tri.monthly, by side vessel. in due con.
!
shown to be impracticable to enter that port with
| the steamships Of the line ..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 backo
| The time in passing from Vera Cruz to Acapulco
not to exceed one hundred twenty hours, Give
days,) and uiee versa. and between Acapulco and
| San Francisco not to exceed eight days. ....
Proposals are also invited for semi monthly tripe,
to be performed each way in not exceeding seven
teen days, from New Orleans, via Tampieo. 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 connexion
With the semi.monthy 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 steamship; the other two to
be run in connection with the present Pacific mail
line, as to give to California a weekly mail. The
time bet~e 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 year longer at same
terms. .'. a.. u.s..
| In regard to t hat part of the service between
| Vera Cruz and Acapulco, the bidder will be re.
| qured to satisfy the Department before entering
into contract that he has full privilege and autho.
ry to execute in the terms Of the contract the
vice herein called for without interference, and in
accordance with treaty stpulations.
In regard TO the eamship 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 Get 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 is 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, lS45 those proposals for the last described
section of the route (being acceptable in other re-
spects) will be preferred which shall stpuatc to
deliver the steamship or ships, to be provided for
carrying said mails to the United States to their
proper officer, on demand made, for the purpose OF
being converted into vessel or vessels of wars the
the fair foil 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 on this subject are the 7th section of
the act Of March 3, lS45, and the third section Of
the act Of June 81, ls4S, to which bidders are re-
| ferred.
The bidder may embrace in his offer stipula
ton to carry an agent of the Post Office Depart
ment with the malls, 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 IL.
BY the second section Of the act of March g. 1916,
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. ,.t 49,.
accepted bidder and by bis 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 not per-
formed, and not more than three times the pay of
the trip when the trip is not rum and sufficient
excuse for the failure ia 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 factory explained in due time; for falling to
take from. to deliver nto the post office at the
port Of landing the mail belonging thereto, or any
part Of said mail; for suffering the mail, or any
part to wet, injured lost or destroyed; for
conveying it in place or mannerthat exposes it
TO depreciation, loss, or 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 tor not arriving at the
time set; also, for transmitting intelligence, or
| in advance of the mail. The Postmaster General
may annul the contract for repeated failures; for
violating the post Office laws; for dsobeying the
| instructions oi 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
i running an express aforesaid. ..r.
| 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 il to the
| change. The Postmaster General may also dis,
continue or curtail the service, he allowing one
with. aa@ # st-r1 .ts.@ e.. Deg. .,. .. s.t,.a1
The route, the service. the yearly pay, the hid
| der's name and residence, and the name Of each
member of the firm, where company offers, should
be distinctly stated in the proposals, s. 20 Co.,.