The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-11-23

|
in accordance with the requirements of the acts OF
Sd Of March, 1915, and 9th June. ls4S. below
referred to. S. ID. HUBBARD,
| Postmaster General
FOREIGN MAILS
TN OBEDIENCE to the act of Congress, approx.
Il ed August 30. 1852, which is in the words follow
| ing, to wit:
Gan act to provide for tri.monthly mail e. IN
New Orleans to Vera Cruz via Tampico, and
| back. in steam vessels.
"Bs il enacted by the Senate and House of Repre-
sentotires Of the United States Of america in Con-
| Eress assembled, That the Postmaster General be
and he is hereby authorized and directed to enter
into contract for term of five years, and for q
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
Tampico, to Vera Cruz and back in steam vesse 10
of not less than eight hundred tons burden Of the
best form Of construction adapted to the ton
of the southern waters, the same 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,
til O'Clock p. m. of Monday, the Sd day of Janu-
| airy next, Ito be decided by the 9th of the samc
monthly for conveying the mails of the United
| States, for hve years from the fifteenth of Feb.
cifed
| From New Orleans, lLa.,) by Tampico, (Mexi
coy to Vera Cruz, about 900 miles and back threc
times a month, in steamships. Time allowed
from port to port to be three days; the schedule
(subject to approval of the Postmaster Genera)
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, monthly, by side vessel, in due con
nexon will be considered, in the event of its being
shown to be impractcable to enter that port with
the steamships Of the line
Proposals. will also be considered for the extern
sion of two OF tho above tips from Vera Cruz TO
Acapulco, by suitable and safe land conveyance,
thence by steam vessels to San Fra ncisco and back
The time in passing from Vera Cruz to Acapulco
not to exceed one hundred twenty hours, five
days. and pice veysd and between AGA pulco sud
San Francisco not TO exceed eight days.
Proposals arc 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
ing eight days each why, and in due connexi n
with the sem monthly trips OF the mail eamshps
OF the present line between Acapulco and San
Francisco.
P.oposala will also he considered for four trips
month from New Orleans, via Tampico, Vera
Cruz, and the city o. Mexico, to Acapulco and
back and for the extension of two Of those trps
to San Francisco by steamships; the other two to
line, to give 10 California n weekly mail. The
time bets cen 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 scpa-
rateiy
Under the net of March 3, 1851, the service be
tween San Franz isco aud Vera Cruz is to be for
four years. Bot the Postmaster g. neral reserves
the right OF continuing 1t 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 full privilege and auho
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
lees than eight hundred tons burden, and in re.
gard to the service between San Francisco and
Acapulco, the proposals should set forth dcscrip-
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 10 not convertible into a ship of
And special notice 10 hereby given that, agreea
bly, to the provi ons Of the act of Congress o! Sd
March, lS45 those proposals for the last described
section of the route (being acceptable in other re-
specs) will be preferred which shall etipulate 10
deliver the steamship ships, to be provided for
carrying eaid mails to the United States 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 aacertained by four appraisers, appointed,
two by the President of the United States, and two
by the owner or owners, with an umpire, in
Of disagreement, to be appointed by the President
Of the United States.
The lave on this subject are the 7th section of
the act Of March 3, IS45, and the third section of
the act of June 81 ls4S, to which bidders re-
ferred. s..,e,. fluea .g-.s..... .- ,........
The bidder may embrace in his offer stipula-
ton to carry an agent of the Post Office De part
ment with the male, Or he may omit it, at bis dis
erection. Such stipulation may induce a preference
to be given in favor Of bid equal in other respects
bid not containing it. ..,. .. .... .. .
BY the second section Of the act Of March ). ls45,
IL lie required that contracts for the conveyance of
the mail from the United States to foreign ports
shall DO made with American citizens, and the
mail transported in American vcssels by American
citizens. .. 90. y...'....
Articles Of contract arc to be executed by the
accepted bidder and by his sureties, by or before
the fifteenth day of February, 1853. The contract
is to provide, among other tbings that the pay of
the trip is to be forfeited when the trip is not per-
formed, and not more than three timcs tho pay of
the trip when the trip is not run, and sufficient
excuse for the failure is furnished, and due pro-
portion of it when a grade Of service is rendered
ioferor to that specified in the contract and that
fines may be imposed, unless the delinquency be
sat hctorily 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 Dail; for suffering the mail, or any
part Of it, to be wet. injured lost destroyed; for
conveying II in place or manner that exposes it
to depreciation, loss, injury; for refusing after
demand made, to convey a mail by any additional
steamship. vessel, or vehicle run by the contractor
on the route. over and above the specified number
Of trips in the contract, and tor 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 laws; for dsobcying 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, or for setting up
running espress az Aforesaid.
The Postmaster General may alter the contract,
and alter the schedu e, he allowing pro rata in.