The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-12-22


United States, upon the best terms for the United
States, three times a month from New Orleans, via
Tampico to Vera Cruz and back, In steam vessels
Of not lees 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-
ary next, 10 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
Gifted:
From New Orleans, (La.,) by Tampico, (Mexi.
COZ to Vera Cruz, about 900 miles, and back, three
tmes 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 side vessel, in due con-
shown to be impracticable to enter that port with
the steamships of the line
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 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 veJsa, and between Acapulco and
Proposals are also invited for scmi 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
ing eight days each way, and in due connexion
with the semimonthly 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 Tanpico, Vera
Cruz, and the city OF Mexico, to Acapulco aud
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, 20 to give to California weekly mail. The
time between New Orleans and San Francisco not
oi the three sections cf the line between New Or
leans and San Francisco should be bid for sepa-
ratciy.
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- hat part Of the service between
Vera Cruz and Acapulco, the bidder will be re-
quired to satisfy the Department before entering
into contract that he has fullprivilege and autho
rty TO execute in the terms OF the contract the ser
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,
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 a nd
Acapulco the proposals should Get 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 ID not convertible into a 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-
spocts) will be preferred which shall 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 a vessel or vesses Of war; the
United States being bound, on their part, to pay
the fair full value thereof at the time of delivery,
to be ascertaned by four appraisers, appointed,
two by the President of the United States and two
Of disag to be appointed by the President
Of the United States.
The laws on this subject are the 7th section of
the act of March g. 1916, and the third section OF
the act Of June q, 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 mails he may omit it, at his dis
cretien. Such stipulation may induce preference
to be given in favor of bid Equa in other respects
over bid not containing il.
By the second section of the act o! March B. lS45,
ii 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 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 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 is furnished and due pro-
portion Of it when a grade of service is rendered
inferior to that specified in the contract and that
fines may be imposed, unless the delinquency be
sati factorily 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 said mail; for suffering the mail, any
part of it, to be wet, injured lost destroyed; for
conveying it in place or manner that exposes it
to depreciation, loss or injury; for refusing, after
steamship, vessel, or 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 annui the contract for repeated failures; for
violating the post office laws; for disobeying the
instructions of the Department; for refusing to
discharge a carrier when required by the Depart
ment; for assigning the contract without the con
sent of the Postmaster General, 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 requred;
but the contractor may, in such case, relfnquish
the contract, timely notice. II he prefer II to 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
49, Al ,.,th A Ia