The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-10-25

{gress assembled That the Postmaster General be-
land he is hereby authorized and directed to enter
into contract for term of five years, and for al
Isum not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars
Ia year, with such person or persons as may offer
sufficient and satisfactory security, after due pub
Ic notice. for the transportation of the mails of the
United States, upon the best terms for the United
Estates, three times month from New Orleans, vial
ITampico, to Vera Cruz and back, in steam vessels
Iof not less than eight hundred tons burden, Of the
best form of construction adapted to the navgation
of the southern waters, the same to be ready in the
shortest possible time"- II
.:...... PROPOSALS IL
Will be received at the Contract Office of the Post
lOffice Department, in the city of Washington un.
It'll o'clock p. m. of Monday the Sd day of Janu-
larry next, (to 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.
|cifed
From New Orleans, Q.a,) by Tampico, (Mexi.
times a month, in steamships Time allowed
from port to port to be three days. the SCHEDULED
(subject to approval of the Postmaster GENERALLY
to be proposed by the bidder.
Proposals to carry in four days, each way, will
lalso be considered.
Proposals to omit Tampico by mail line, and]
supply, tri-monthly by side weasel, in due con.
nexion, will be considered in the event of its being
Ishown to be mpracticable 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 back
The time in passing from Vera Cruz to Acapulco
not to exceed one hundred twenty hours, five
gdays,) 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 exceeding seven
teen days, from New Orleans, via Tampico, Veral
ICruz, and Acapulco, to San Francisco and back, I'M
steamships, &C., as above. Also, for two additional
- rla
Cruz to Acapulco and back, to run in not exceed !
ling eight days each way, and in due connecticut
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 a
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
Ito 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 Ffaucisco not
Ito exceed seventeen days. In every instance each
kof 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-
fquired 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 stipulations.
In regard to the teamship 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
T. less than eight hundred tons burden,) and in re-
gard to the service between San Francisco and
Acapulco, the proposals should set forth descrip
IF he wi arit tn
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 a ship of war
land special notice 10 hereby given that, agreea !
bly, to the provisions of the act of Congress of Sd
March, lS45 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 ships, to be provided 70 r
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
1.-THE fair full value thereof at the time of delivery
| to be ascertained by four appraisers, appointed,
1.-TWO by the President of the United States and two
i by the owner or owners, with an umpire, in case
3of disagreement, TO be appointed by the President
Sof the United States.
the act Of March 3, 1916, and the third section of
the act of June 81, lS4s, to which bidders re-
Eferred.
The bidder may embrace in his offer stipula,
ment with the mails, he may omit ii, OF his dis
erection. Such stipulation may induce 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,
IL 10 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. a.
Articles OF contract TO be executed by the
accepted bidder and by his surctics, by or before
the fifteenth day Of February, 1858 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 rum and sufficient
excuse for the failure 10 furnished and due pro-
portion Of il when grade Of service s rendered
Inferior to that specified in the contract; and that
lines may be imposed, unless the delinquency be
sati factory explained in due time; for failing to
take from. or to deliver into, the post office at the
port Of landing the mail belonging thereto, any
part OF il, to be wet injured lost destroyed; for
conveying il In place or manner that exposes it
TO depreciation, oss, or injury; for refusing, after
ldcmand made, to convey mail by any additional
steamship, vessel or vehicle by the contractor
on the route, over and above the specified NUMBER
LOT trps in the contract, and tor not arriving at the
time set; also, for transmitting intelligence, OIL
furnishing the means Of transmitting intelligence
lin advance Of the mail. Tho Postmaster General
may annul the contract for repeated failures; furI
Violating the post office laws; tor disobeying thel
instructions OF the Department; ior refusing tol
discharge a carrier when required by the Depart
{ment; for assigning the contract without the con
sent Of the Postmaster General for setting up orI
running express as Aforesaid.
The Postmaster General may alter the contract,
land 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 cnse, relinquish'
THE contract on timely notice, II he prefer IL 90 The
change. The Postmaster General rrhy also dis
continue curtail the service, he allowing one
|month's extra pay on the amount dispenscdr
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 otIers should
be distinctly stated in the proposals..