Nebraska advertiser., 1861-12-26
#Seo act of Congress of March 3.1845, section Is
INSTRUCTIONS,
Containing conditions to be incorporated
In the contracts to the ertent the de-
n1rfmeuf nldU deem proper.

partment mag deem proper.
l.. Seven minutes are allowed to each interme1i->
ate Office, when not otherwise specified, for assort-
ing the mails but on railroad and steamb at routes
there is to be no more delay than Is suthelent Tor an
exchange Of the mail bags.
2 On railroad and steamboat lines, and other
routes where the mode of conveyance admits of 1t,
the special agents of the Post OGice Department. al
so post Office blanks, mail bags, locks, and keys, are
to be conveyed without extra charge.
8. On railroad and steamboat lines the route
agents of the department, also the British and Can
ada mails, when offered, and the agents accompany
ing them, are to be conveyed without charge, and
for their exclusive use, while travelling WITH the
mails, a cOmmOdiusc car, or apartment IN the centre OF
n car, properly lighted, warmed, and furnished, and
adapted to the convenient separation and due secu-
rity of the mails, is to be provided by the contractor,
under the direction of the department.
Railroad and teamb0ato companies are required to
take the mail from and deliver it into the post offices
at the commencement and end of their routes. and
to and from sll Offices not more than eighty rods rom
. station or landing. Proposals may be submitted
for the performance of all other side service-that
is, for Offices over eighty rods from q station or
landing,
Receipts will be required for mail bags conveyed
in charge of persons employed by railroad compa-
MES. There will also he way bills" prepared by
postmasters, or other agents of the department, to
accompany the mails, specifying the number and
destination of the several bags. On the principal
stage routes, likewise, receipts will be required and
way bills forwarded the latter to be examined by
the several postmasters, to insure regularity in the
delivery of mail bags.
4. No pay 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 as to break
connection with depending mails. and not sufficiently
| excused, one fourth CT the compensation for the trip
is subject to forfeiture. Deduction will also be or
dered for a grade of performance inferior to that
| specified in the contract. For repeated delinquen-
| cies of the kind herein specified, enlarged penalties,
proportioned to the nature thereof, and the import
ance Of the mail, may be made.
5, For leaving behind, or throwing of the mails, or
any portion of them. for the admission of Passen-
gers. or for being concerned in setting up or running
an express conveying intelligence in advance oil the
mai, a quarters pay may be deducted.
8. Fines will be imposed, unless the delinquency
be promptly and satisfactorily explained by eeTtlh
Gates Of postmateTs or the afidavits OF other credible
persons, for falling to arrive in contract time for
neglecting to take thu mail rom or deliver it into a
most Office: for suffering it to b. wet. injured. des-
troved, robbed, or lost and for refusing, after de-
mand, to convey the mail as frequently as the con-
tractor runs, or lie concerned in running, a coach, car,
or steamboat on the route.
z, The Postmaster General may annul the con-
tract for repeated failures to run agreeably to con-
tract : for violating the post Office law or dlso0ey-
ing the instructions of the department for refusing
to discharge q carrier when required by the depart
| ment 70 do so Tor running dn express u 1iOiCS"-
or for transporting persons OF packages conveying
maiIab BE matter out Of the mail.
8. The Postmaster General may order an increase
of service on a route by allowing therefor q pro rata
increase on the contract Iay. lie may change
schedules of departures and arrivals in all eases, and
particularly to make them conform to connections
with railroads. without increase of pay, provided
the running time be not abridged. he may ahs' or
der an increase of speed, allowing, within tina re-
s%trietions of the law, a pro rata increase OF pay for
the additional stock or carriers, if any, Tho con-
tractor NAV. however, in the case If increase OF
speed. relinouish the contract, by giving prompt no.
tee 10 the department that be prefers doing 50 to
carving the order into effect. The Postmaster Cen
eraI NAV also curtail or discontinue the service, in
whole or in part, at pro rata decrease of pay, allow
inc one months extra compensation on the amount
dispensed with, whenever, in his opini>n, the public
the public interest require the change, or in case he
/ desires to supeTeede it by a different grade of trans
pOrtatiOn.
g. Payments will be made by collections from OF
/ drafts on postn,asters, or otherwise, after the expiFa-
ton 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 allowed
should the points be greater than advertised, If the