The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-11-02
FOREIGN MAILS.

Il IOllOw
ing, to wit:
"An act to provide for tri- monthly mail from
New Orleans to Vera Cruz via Tampico, and
back, in steam vessels.
"Be it 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 he is hereby authorized and directed to enter
| into a contract for term Of five years, and for
sum not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars
| a year, with such person persons 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
Tampco, 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
Will be received at the Contract Office of the Poet
Office Department, in the city of Washington I'M
til O'Clock p. m. of Monday, the Sd day of Janu-
airy 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
einea Y' ''''' III tue """"s' anu ''n' "e'e'" 'pe'
From New Orleans, (La.,) by Tampico, (Mexi.
co., 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.
Proposals to omit Tampico by mail line, and
supply, tri-monthly, by a side weasel, in due con.
nexion, will be considered, in the event of its being
shown to be mpracticable 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 steam vessels to San Francisco and backe
| The time in passing from Vera Cruz to Acapulco
not to exceed one hundred twenty hours, five
days,) and pice uersa. and between Acapulco and
| San Francisco not to exceed eight days.
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., above Also, for two additional
| trips from New Orleans via Tampco and Vera
Cruz to Acapulco and back, to run in not exceed
| ing eight days each way, and in due connexion
with the semi-monthly 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 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 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-
| rateiy.
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-
CURED to satisfy the Department before enterin &
into contract that he has full privilege and autho
vice herein called for without interference, and in
accordance with treaty stipulations.
In regard 10 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 descrp-
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 a chip of war.
And special notice is hereby given that, agreea.
bly, to the provisions 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 shall stpulate 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 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.
the act Of March B. 1915, and the third section oil
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 mails, 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 a bid not containing it.
BY the second section of the act of March 3, 1916
it Ia 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. g.
Articles of contract are TO be executed by the
accepted bidder and by his suretics, 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 ia fur nshed and due pro-
! portion of il when grade of service Is rendered
inferior to that specified 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, or any
part of it, to be wet injured lost destroyed; for
conveying II in place or manner that exposes II
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
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 laws; for dsobeying 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 scheduc, 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, relipquish
the contract, timely notice, If he prefer II to the
change. The Postmaster General may also dis
continue curtail the service, he allowing one
months extra pay on the amount dispensed
with Hs,... -. :
The route, the service, the yearly pay, the bid
der's name and residence, and the name of each
member of the firm, where a company offers, should
be distinctly stated in the proposals.