Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1853-10-22
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FOREIGN MAILS.

PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT, Sept. l. 1853.
" Nhe following Is copy Of section 3 OF the
IL act of Congress, entitled San act making APP
preparations for the transportation of the United
States mail by ocean steamers, and otherwise,
during the fiscal year ending the 30th of June, one
thousand eight hundred and fily-four," approved
March g. 1853, viz:
SEC. 8. And be IL further enacted, That the
POSTMASTER General shall cause the facts TO be in
vesigated in relation to the contract of A. G.. Sloo
Tor the transportation of the mail in ocean steam
ers from New York to New Orleans, Charleston,
Savannah, Havana and Chagres and back per
act of March third, eighteen hundred and forty
seven, Tor the purpose OF ascertainng how far the
contract corresponds with the original bids and
shall report TO Congress at the next session the
facts and circumstances connected with the said
contract; and also for what amount the said mail
service could be performed IL a new contract
should be made and whether the ships furnished
under said contract are built according to its terms
Tho Postmaster General is further directed by this
to ascertain, and report Congress at its next
session, for what amount the service now per-
formed under the several contracts with the NAVY
and Post Office Departments for CARRYING the mail
in ocean steamers, can be hereafter performed
upon the supposition that the United States shall
take the steamers according to contract, and sell
or transfer them"
Except in respect to the New Orleans and Vera
Cruz route, which may be discontinued by the Post
master General, on the allowance of one months
extra pay, the clause in all the contracts giving to
the United States the right 10 take possession of
the ships, is, in substance, as follows:
"And the said Secretary Of the United States
Navy, for the time being, shall at all times exer-
else control over said steamships and shall at any
time have the right to take them for the exclusive
use and service of the United States and to direct
such changes in their machinery and internal ar
engagements as the said Secretary may require; the
cost OF such changes TO be ascertained by the bills
actually paid therefor, and the proper compensa-
ton OF the value of the ships, when so taken as
aforesaid, TO be ascertained by appraisers to be
mutually chosen by the parties aforesaid"
NOW, NOTICE is HEREBY GIVEN, that
with view of reporting to Congress, in com
plete a manner as possible, the information called
for by Congress in section third above quoted from
the act Of Sd March last
PROPOSALS
Will be received at the Post Office Department, in
the city of Washington, until O'clock D. M, of
Monday, 3lst day of October next, for conveying
the mails of the United Suites for six years from
the first day of October, 1854, in the manner and
time herein specified.
No. /. From New York to Cowes, in England,
and thence to Bremen Haven, in Germany and
from said Bremen Haven, by Cowes, to New York,
once month
Proposals for one additional trip year, each
way, will be considered
No. From Charleston, South Carolina, by Sa-
vannah, Georgia, and Key West, Florida, to Ha-
vana, in Cuba, and from said Havana, by Key
IL
month.
No. 8. From New York to New Orleans twice
month, and back, touching at Charleston, (if
practcableO Savannah, and Havana, and from
Havana to Chagres (AspinwalD and back, twice
month.
Proposals to omit Charleston and Savannah
will be considered.
In lieu of above proposals will also be received
for service from New York TO Aspinwal direct,
1000 miles, and back, semi-monthly, in not ex-
York by Havana to New Orleans, 2 600 miles, and
back, semi-monthly in not exceeding ten DAYS TO
the trip each way; and from New Orleans to As
pnwall, direct, / 400 miles and back, semi-month-
y, in not exceeding seven days TO the trip each
way.
No. 4. From Panama, New Grenada, to San
Diego California, Monterey San Francisco, and
Astoria, in Oregon, twice month each way
touching, If practicable, at Port Orford in Oregon
and at such other intermediate ports on the coast
OF Oregon or California, as i'm the opinion of the
Postmaster General the public interest may re-
quire.
The schedules of Nos. 3 and must be so ar
ranged as to make due connection at the isthmus
OF Panama, thus forming continuous route from
New York. &C., to Astoria and back, twice a
month.
Nos. From New York TO Liverpool, in Eng
land, and back, twenty-sx trips per annum, at
such times as the Postmaster General shall direct
Proposals to touch at Holyhead in England
will be considered.
No 6. From New York, by Cowcs in England
to Havre, in France and back once a month.
Proposals for changing the terminus Of this
line from Havre 10 Antwerp, in Belgium and for
one additional trip year, each way, will be con-
sidcred
No. 7. From New Orleans, Louisiana, TO Vera
Cruz, Mexico, and back, three times month,
supplying Tampco, Mexico, by side mail going
and returning
Leave New Orleans on the first fourteenth and
twenty-fdh days.
Arrive at Vera Cruz same month by the fourth
seventeenth, and twenty-eighth days
Leave Vera Cruz every month on the first, sixth,
and twcnty-frst days.
Arrive at New Orleans same month by the
fourth, ninth, and twenty-fourth days.
The proposals in each instance should specify
the number of days to be taken for the trip each
way and the mode of conveyance, which must be
by steamships in all respects suitable for the SER
vice.
lfcontracts should be entered into, contractors
will be required to conform in all respects TO the
laws and regulations applicable to the ordinary
contracts of the Post Office Department
The bids should be'sent duly guaranteed, under
seal, to the Postmaster General, and the words
.Mail Proposas-Foreign Mails''-writen on the
face of the letter. JAMES CAMPBELL.
Sep 2l--law3w Postmaster General