The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1860-02-15

~llo. hH INSTRUCTIONS,
Containing conditions to be Incorporated in the contracts
to the extent the department. may deem proper.
l.. Seven minutes are allowed to each ntermediat
office, when not otherwise specified. for asserting the
mails; but on railroad and steamboat routes there is
10 be no more delay than is sufficient for an ex-
change of the mail bags. -&-@siqE" Saf :
2. On railroad and steamboat lines, and other
routes where the mode CT conveyance admits of it,
the special agents of the Fest Office Department,
also post office blanks, mail bags, locks, and keys,
arc &c be conveyed without extra charge.
3. On railroad and steamboat lines the route
agents ofihe department are 10 be conveyed without
charge, and for their exclusive use, while travelling
with the mails, a commodious car. or apartment in
the centre of a car, properly lighted. warmed. and
furnished, and adapted to the convenient separation
and due security of the mails. is to be provided By
the contractor. under the direction oil. the depart
ment.
Railroad and steamboat companies are required
to take the mail from and deliver it into the posi-
offices at the commencement and end Of their routes,
and to and from all Offices not more than eighty rods
from q station or landing. Proposals may be sub.
mit'ed for the performance of all other side service
that is, for offices over eighty rods from o station
or landing.
Receipts will be required for mail bags conveyed
in charge of persons employed by railroad compa.
mics. There will also be way bills prepared by
postmasters, or o!her agents of the department., 10
accompany the mails, speci ying the number and
destination of the several bags. On the principal
stage routes, likewise, receipts win be required aud
way DlllS forwarded; the latter to be examined by
the several postmasters, to insure regularity in the
delivery of mail bags -aas
4. No pa" will be made for trips not performed /;
and for each of such omissions not satisfactorily ex-
planned three times the pay of the trip may be de-
Quoted. For arrivals so far behind time rs to break
connexion with depending mails. and not sufficiently
excused one fourth ofthe compensation for the trip
is subject to forfeiture. Deduction will also be or
lered for n grade of performance inferior to that
| specified in the contract. For repeated de!inquen-
cies of the kind herein specified. enlarged penalties.
proportioned to the nature thereof and the inpor-
lance of the mail, may be made.
5, For leaving behind or throwing off the mails.
or any portion ofthem. for the admission of pagsen-
| gers, or for being concerned in setting up or running
an express conveying intelligence IN advance of the
mail, a quarters pay may be deduoaed.
6. Fines will be imposed. unless the delinquency
be promptly and satisfactorily explained by certih-
Gates of postmasters or the afhdavits of other credi-
BILE persons. for failing to arrive in contract time;
for neglecting to take the mail from or deliver it
into a post office; for suffering it to be wet, in jured.
destroyed, robbed, or lost: and fer refusing, after
demand, TO convey the mail as frequently as the
contractor runs, or is concerned in running q csaoh,
ear, or steamboat on q route.
Z. The Postmaster General may annul the con
tract for repeated failures to run agreeably 10 con-
tract; for violating the Post Off e laws. or disobey-
ing the instructions OF the department: for refusing
10 discharge Il carrier when required by the depart
ment to de so; Tor running an express as aforesaid;
or for transporting persons or packages conveying
mailable matter out of the mail.
p. ulstStCT OcucTul ulty OFucT III increase
ofservice on a route by allowing therefor a pro rata
Increase on the contract pay. He may change SEIZED
uleS Of departures and arrivals in all cases, and
particularly to make them conform to connexions
with rasiroads. without increase of pay. provided
the running time be not abridged. He may alse
order IN increase of speed, allowing, within the re
strictions OF the law. a pro rata increase OF pay for
the additional stock or carriers, If any. The con-
tractor may, however. in the case of increase of
speed, relinquish the contract. by giving prompt no
lice to the department that he prefers doing so to
carrying the order into effect. The Postmaster Gen
cral may also curtail or discontinue the service. in
whole or in part, at pro rata decrease of pay. allow
ing one months extra compensation on the amount
dispensed with. whenever, in his opinion, the public
interests require the change, or in case he desires
to- supersede it by n different grade of transportation.
.. Payments will be made by collections from or
drafts on I. simasters, or otherwise, alter the expi
ration of each quarter-say in February, May, Au-
gust, and November.
10. The distances are given according to the
best information; but no increased pay will be allow
ed should they be greater than advertised, if the
points 10 be supplied be correctly stated. Bidders
must inform themselves on this point. and also in ref
erencc TO the weight of the mail. the condition of
roads, hills. streams, &c and all toll bridges, fer
ries, or distractions of any kind by which expense
may be incurred. No c!ai for additional pay,
based on such ground can be'considered; nor fer
alleged mistakes or misrepresentation as 10 the degree
of ser, ice; nor for bridges destroyed. ferries discon-
iinued, or other obs rucrions increasing distance, &C.
curing during the contract term. Offices estab-
lished after this advertisement is issued, and also
du, ing the contract term, are to be visited without
extra pay, if the distance be not increased.
IL. y bid received after the last day and hour
named. or without the guaranty required by law and
u certificate as to the sufficiency of sucl, guaranty.
cannot be considered In competition with u regular
proposal reasonable in amount.
Il. Bidders should first propo.e for service strict
ly according to The advertisement, and then. if they
desire, separately for different service; and il the
regular bid be the lowest offered for the advertised
service, the other propositions may be considered.
IL There ShOuld be but one route bid for IN n pro-
posal. Consolidated or combination bids ('propos-
ing one sum for two or more reu:es") are forbidden
by law, and cannot be considered.
IA. The route, the service. the yearly pay, the
name and residence of the bidder, (ihat is, his usual
post Office address and those of each member of o
firm. where a company offers, should be distinctly
stated.
Is. Bidders are requested to use. as far as practi-
cable. the printed form ofproposal furnished by the
department., TO write out in full the sum of their
bid. and to retain copies ofthem.
Altered bids should not be submitted; nor should
bids once submitted be withdrawn. No withdrawal
of q bidder or guarantor will be allowed unless da-
ted and received before the last day for receiving
proposals.
Each bid must be guaranteed by two responsible
persons.
General guarantees cannot be admitted. The bid
and guaranty should be signed plainly with the full
The department reserves the right to reject any
bid which may be deemed extravagant, and also to
disregard the bids of failing CT ntrators aud.bidders.
1t. The BID should De sealeu, superscrlpeu man
Proposals. State Of addressed Second As
sistant Postmaster General, Contract Office" and
sent by mail, not by or to an agent; and postmasters
will not enclose proposals Tor letters of any kind in
their quarterly returns. -
II. The contracts are to be executed and returned
to the department by or before the LIST day Of AU-
aust. 1861; but the service must be commenced on
the Asst July preceding. or on the mail day next after
that date, whether The con racts be executed or not.
No proposition to transfer will be considered until
the contracts are executed and received at the de-
par, ment: and then no transfer will be allowed I'm
less good and sufficient reasons therefor are given,
10 be determined by the de. artment. In all cases
the retiring contractor will be required to become
one of the sureties on the new contract.
IL. Posimasiers nj offices on or near railroads,
but more than eighty rods from n station, will. i'm