The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-13

railroad part of the line not embraced in the ad-
vertsement the act of lS45, section Is, authorizing
the Postmaster General TO contract for the trans
portation of the mails on railroads with or without
advertising
In response to the invitations Of the department.
the Florida Railroad Company presented the follow
ing proposals, viz
tween Cedar Key and New Orleans, the trip to DO
performed in thirtyeght hours each way, at $780,
600 per annum.
I'd. To carry the mails trweeky in steamers be-
tween Fernandna and New York, the trip to be per-
formed in seventyfve hours each way, at $l65,O0s
per annum.
Sd. To carry the mails tri-weekly or daily in
steamers from New York to Fernandina, thence By
railroad across the peninsula Of Florida to Cedar
Key, and thence in steamers to New Orleans and
back, the trip each way to be performed within i've
days. at $500 900 per annum for tri weekly or $780,
600 per annum for daily service-to commence On
the completion OF the railroad between Fernandins
and Cedar Key, and the contract to be renewed for
four years from the expiration of the current term,
In q subsequent correspondence between the de-
partment and the bidders, they gave assurances II
their ability to perform the through trip ordinarily
within four days, and stated that in fixing five a
the limit they had allowed ample margin for ana
such detentions were likely to result from acc{-
dents, head winds or storms. They also submitted
the following modification of their proposals. viz
The company will perform daily service throughost
the year for the sum of $456, $50
To insure five days mail, they will guaranty tho time;
IN Oner WORDS, no pay VIII! De demanded Tor
not performed within five days between the terminal
points Of the route. vz:-New York and New Orleans
The company will also stpuate that at any time during
the contract, when required by the department. upon
three months notification they will convey mail frou
Cedar Key to Aspinwali, Greytown Huasacuaco Ia
preferred by the Department. and back, twice monthly,
and from Cedar Key TO Key West and Havana back
twice monthly the compensation for both services 10 30
The time between Cedar Key and Aspnwa GUARANTEED
not to exceed hundred and twenty hours, ana
between Cedar Key and Havana not to exceed thirty
five hours
If Greytown or Huasscualco be selected the time 70 b
proportionately reduced.
The service Havana the Pacific crossing TO start
from Tampa instead Of Cedar Key when the thaI
point Is completed.
The transportation of the great Northern and
Southern mails by the proposed new route would OBJ
viousy be free from many of the causes of Interrupt
ton and delay to which the land route is subject.
The whole line would be under contract to a single
parry, with schedule fixing the period within
which the entire trip should be performed whereas,
by the present arrangement sixteen different parties
are employed in the service, with separate schedules,
each of which must be exactly complied with to
insure the performance of the through trip in con-
tract time. The running time proposed, Also is one
day less than the least in which it has proved prac
| than two days less than the actual average. The
liability of mails to depreciation and to misdrectioa
by frequent overhauling and distribution would be
obviated in the proposed arrangement by enclosing
the matter in crates boxes in New York or New
Orleans and transporting it unopened to its destina
tion and thus also, the abrasion of packages, with
the consequent liability to loss of directions, &C.,
would be prevented-a consideration Of no small
value in view of the generally bad condition of the
document mail its arrival in the southwestern
States and the too frequent failure of such matter
| to reach its proper destination.
The establishment of the proposed service while
1t would not interfere with the carriage of the local
mails on the inland route, would relieve the depart
ment from liability to embarrassments under which
II has at times been placed in consequence of being
dependent single line for the transmission of the
through mails; and it would be productive, both to
the department and the public Of other advantages
naturally arising from the competition it would
| create.
| The inducement it would offer to the mercantile
community to insure the due transmission of their
communications by duplicate letters to be forward
| ed by both routes, would be of increased
revenue to the department; and the greater speed
and certainty It promises would have the effect Of
relieving the mail service, to some extent, from the
| competition of the telegraph
| By conveying the mails for California upon the
proposed route as far as Cedar Key and forwarding
| them thence BY separate steamer to Aspinwal,
| Greytown or Huasacualco, and by substituting the
branch proposed from Cedar Key to Key West and
Havana for the present Charleston and Havana line.
and for that part OF the New Orleans and Key West
line between Cedar Key and Key West-say half the
route-an annual saving Of 1855 900 should be ef-
fected In such event this saving would be deducted
from the cost Of the proposed daily service TO show
the net additional expense TO the department which
would thus be reduced to $lS1 $50 per annum
Upon the question of accepting the proposals for
this service considering the uncertainty of the pc
rod at which the railroad portion Of the proposed
line will be completed have been unable thus far,
to announce to the bidders any denitive determine
ton But the subject il referred to here because it
il deemed to be one of vast public interest, in view
OF the promise which the contemplated arrange
ment affords of materially facilitating the comnr-
nication between the two sections and the two great
commercial capitals OF the country.
| OVERLAND MAIL SERVICE TO CALIFORNIA.
In order to carry into effect the act Of Congress
approved the third Of March, 1857, relative to tho
overland mail to California the department issued
the following notice and caused the same TO be regu-
larry advertised according to law
1 Posr Osf1cr IMPAIRMENT April 90 1857
An act OF Congress approved ID March, 1857 max NJ
appropriations for the service Of the Post Once Depart
mcnt for the fiscal ending 30h June 1853 provides
Sec 10 That the Postmaster General be aud he here
by authorized 10 contract for the conveyance entire
letter mail from such point the Mississippi river
contractors may select TO San Francisco the State Of
California for six years at cost not exceeding three hun
dred thousand dollars per anpum for semi monthly four
dred thousand dollars for sem weekly service per-
formed semi monthly, weekly semi weekly at the op-
| ton Of the Postmaster General.
Sec H. That the shall require the service 70
be performed with good four horse spring
CONS suitable for the conveyance Of passengers as wl
| ms the safety and security OF the mails
Sec IL That the contractor shall have the right Of pre-
cmpton to three hundred and twenty Of any land
not then disposed of or reserved at each pont
for station not TO be than miles from each
other and provided that no mine raj land shall be thus
Sec ia Tha, the said shall be performed with.
twenty i've days for each trip and that before
ing into such contract the Postmaster General shall bo
satisfied OF the ability and disposition OF the parties bona
fde and in good faith 70 perform the said contract and
shall require good and sufficient security for the perform
ance Of the same-tbe service commence with twelve
months after the signing the contract
Proposals will accordingly be received nj tho Conr not
ONCE OF the Post Office department until r. NJ OF the
day o. June 1881, for conveying mails under the pro
| visions Of the above act.
Besides the starting point the Mississippi river, bid
ders will name intermediate points proposed 10 be
braced IN the route and otherwise designate a.
| nearly as practicable.
Separate proposals invited for semi monthly, weekly
| and semi weekly trips each way
The decision upon the proposals offered will be made
after the Postmaster General shall be satisfied a the
ability and disposition Of the parties In good faith TO per-
/ form the contract
guarantee 10 be executed, with good and sufficient
suretes that the contract shall be executed with like
good security whenever the contractor contractors
shall he required 70 do by the Postmaster General
the service must within twelve months afteR