The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-11-08
FOREIGN MAILS.

" An act to provide for a tri-monthy mail firm
New Orleans to Vera Cruz via Tampico, and
back, in steam vessels. ..-....... ..
"Bs il enacted by the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatpes of The United States Of Anerica in Con-
gress assembled, That the Postmaster General be
and he 10 hereby authorized and directed to enter
into contract for term of five years, and for
sum not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars
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 vcssels
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 .-a..,. ..sa. 80 49,. .
.-a PROPOSALS ...s .-r,..,
Will be received at the Contract Office Of the Post
Office Department, in the city of Washingt I'M
til O'Clock p. M of Monday, the Sd day of Janu-
airy next, (to be decided by the 9th of the came
month, y for conveying the mails of the United
States, for five years from the fifteenth of Feb.
Cited:
From New Orleans, (La., } by Tampico, (Mexi
COY 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 ine and
Supply, trl- monthly, by side vessel, Que con
nexion, will be considered, in the event of its being
shown to be mpracticable to enter that port with
| the stea mships Of the line ..a. .
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 backs
| The time in passing from Vera Cruz to Acapulco
| not to exceed one hundred twenty hours Give
| days,) and Uice versa, and between Acapulco and
| San Francisco not to exceed eight days. /
Proposals are also invited for semi monthly trpa,
| to be performed each way in not exceeding seven
| teen days, from New Orleans, via Tarnpico, 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 connection
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 o
mouth 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
4 line, 80 as to give to California 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-
| rately. .. .' q
Under the act of March 8, 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 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-
| aured to satisfy the Department before entering
into contract that he has full privilege and autho
rv TO execute in the tcrms OF the contract the ser
vice herein CA 80 Gar without interference, and in
! accordance with treaty stipulations.
In regard to the steamship part of the service on
4 the route between New Orlcana 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 chip of war.
! And special notice is hereby given that, agreea.
bly, to the prov ,ons of the act of Congress OF 3D.
March, 1915, those proposals for the last described
section Of the route (being acceptable in other re-
spects) will be preferred which shall stpulatc to
deliver the steamship or shios, to be provided fol
carrying said mails to the United States to their
proper officer, on 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 umpire, in case
OF disagreement, to be appointed by the President
| Of the United States. f..
| 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 ~, ls4s to which bidders are re-
fcrred. -..'.'.s. ~ a..... ~. ... - ......
| The bidder may embrace in his offer stipula-
ton to carry an agent Of the Post Office Depart
ment with the mails, Or he may omit it, at his dis
| cretion. 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, 1915,
il 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 .s.gf .. ......r.. ..g.. 4,
| Articles of contract arc to be executed by the
accepted bidder and by his suretes, by or 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 thrae times tho pay OF
the trip when the trip is not and no 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 actory explained in due time; for failing to
take from. to deliver into, the poet office Mt the
port OF landing the mail belonging thereto, or any
| part of said MALL for suffering the mail, any
part Of it, to be wet injured, lost, or destroycd for
conveying II in place or manner that exposes 1t
to depreciation, oss, or injury for refusing, after
| demand made to convey 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 for not arriving at the
furnishing the means Of transmitting intelligence,
| in advance of the mail, Tho Postmaster General
may annul the contract for repeated failures; for
violating the post Office laws; for disobeying the
! Instructions oil the Department.; for refusing to
1 discharge carrier when required by the Depart
ment; for assigning The contract without the con
sent of the Postmastet encrai, for setting p or
| running an express as aforesaid.
| The Postmaster Genera. may alter the contract,
l 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 casc, relihquish
the contract on timely notice if he prefer it to tho
change. The Postmaster General may also dis
continue or curtail the service, he allowing one
nioath's extra pay on the amount dispensed
/ with, r -. -,
| The route, The service the yearly pay, the bid
\ der's name and rcsidence, and the name oil each
member of the Arm, where a company offers, should
edistinctly stated in the proposals.