Daily national Republican., 1865-04-18
PROPOSALS FOR MAIL STEAMSHIP
l. SERVICE BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES
AND CHINA.
PosT OPPIcB DEPARTMENT.,
wAzUINUTON, March ~, ls1j, <


In accordance with the proVisionS Of an art Of
Congress, approved February ~, 1885, which Ia In
the words aud aeures following, via:
'AN ACT TO authOtlIe the establishment Of ocean
mail steamship service between tho United
States and China -H .
'Bs Il spdcfsdby he Senate and Houss NJ Rep.
rsSsHtdtfrcs " the United States Of Americd IN
CoHgresS assembled, That the Postmaster Gen.
era be, aud he IL hereby authorized to invite pro.
posals by public advertisement, for the period Of
sixty days, In une or moro newspapers Published
In the cities VI Washington, New York, Phlladsl.
phiA, BOstOn aud san Francisco, respectively, for
mail steamship service between the port OF San
Francisco, In tho United states, and some port or
ports In the Chlnese Empire, touching at Homo
lulu, In the Sandwich Islands, aud one or more
ports In Japan, by means Of monthly line Of
hrst-clHss American sea going steamships, to be
~ not less than three thousand tons burden each,
and ~ sufficient number to perform twelve round
trips per Hnnun brtwecn said ports, aud ~ con.
tract with the lowest responsible bidder for said
service for term " not mora than ten years, to
commence from the day the hrst steamship Of the
proposed line shall depart from the port Of san
Francisco with the malls for China: PrOvfisd,
That no hid shall be considered which shall
amount to more than ave hundred thousand dol
lars for the twelve round trips per aHnum, nor
unlcss the same II from citizen citizens Of the
Vnitsd. States, aud accompanied by Hn offer Of
good and sufficient surstiss (aIso citizens Of the
unitcJsRtes) for the faithful Performance Of such
contract
''Scc. . ind Be Il further enacted. That any
contract Nhlgh the fuNtlnNHler heueful may th-
ecute, under authority Of this net, shall 20 into
effect on or before the hrst day Of January,
ono thousand eight hundred and sixty seven,
aud SHALL Ia addition 10 the usual stipulations
Of ocean mail steamship contracts, provide that
the stea mslips accepted for tho service shall he
constructed ~ the hest material aud after ap-
proved models, with all the modern improve.
mcnts adapted 10 sea going steamships oI the
hFst class, aud shall he subj lsct 10 inspection and
survey by an experienced naval constructor, to
be detailed for that purpose by the Secretary "
lhe Navy, whose report shall be made to the
Postmaster GcueTal, That the Government Of
the United States shall be entitled to have trans
ported, fce of expense On each aud every
steamer, mail agent, u take charge Of and ar
range the mail matter, To whom suitable accom-.
mediation for thai purpose shall be assigned.
That in case of faiiuAe from any cause " perform
any Of the regular monthly voyages stipulated for
In the contract pro rata deduction shall be- made
from the compensation on account Of such omitted
! voyage or voyages. That suitable fines aud penal
ties may he Imposed for delays and irregulare.
ties IN the performance of TIVE service aud that the
Postmaster General shall have tho power to de-
t'rin,nc the contract at any time in case Of liz
being q IdcTlct or Assig ned To any other party.
approved, February ", 1855 -
PROPOSALS
VIII be received ut the Post otiee Department,
In the city II wqshingtou, until three o'clock,
p. IN, " TUESDAY, the 18th day of August,
| lsGj, for conveying the malls Of the Uuird States
by means Of n monthly line Of hrst Anrri-
can sea-g0ing steamships of not less than three
| thousand tons harden each, Government meas
urcmcnt, aud of Huaclcnt number to perform
| twelve round trips per anpnm, between the port
| OF San francisco, In the United States, ami some
port or ports In the Chinese Empire, touching At
| Honolulu, in the Sandwich Islands, and at one
or more ports In Japan, for q, contract term OF
day the hrst steamship " tho proposed line shall
depart from the port u San Francisco with the
mails for China.
Bidders must designate the port Of terminus in
.lras al luNa
In Japan aud China al which the steamships are
to call on their outward aud hOmeward passages
| to land aud receive malls.
BIDS proposing several terminal ports, either
one OF which may be selected by the Depart
mont, will be considered,
Tho Department reserves 10 itself tho right Of
changing The terminal port OF the Chineae Em-
piTe, upon reasonable notice to the eontraetoT,
and graduating the pay, pro rata within the
limit prescribed by the act OfCOngress aforesaid,
at any time during tho continuance OF the con-
tract. .I.. . ...
Zach bid should name the the time proposed to
be occupied In performing tho passages each way
between san Francisco, sand the port or ports Ia
tho Chinese Empire proposed for the terminus NJ
the route, including stoppagcs at Honolulu aud
other intermediate ports and also the length Of
named, aud each proposal should be accompanied
by map or diagram Of the route. Schedules Of
sailing days, stating the proposed dsys and
houn Of departure from each port, As wen a. the
proposed days and hours of arrival, shor d
also accompany each hid such schedules, how
| ever, To bo Eubl1ct 10 the approval OF the Post
master General and TO alteration by his order,
from time to time, ~ the Interests Of tho postal
service may require,
The steamships offered for tho service must be
American steamships Of the first class In all re-
spects, aud before acceptance will be subject 10
inspection aud survey by An experienced naval
constructor, to he detailed for that purpose by
the Secretary Of the Navy,
Proposals must conform Ia all particulars 10
the provisions and requirements of the afOre.
said act approved February IL, 1855, aud must
be property guaranteed, with satisfactory testl j.
moniRls that the bidder or biddera and their
EuArantor are men Of property aud abundantly
able 10 make good their tender aud guarantee.
The bidders name and residence, and the name
Of each member Of the firm, when a company
offers, should be distinctly stated In tho pro-
posaL
Proposals should besent, under seal, TO ''Tho
First Assistant Postmaster General, - ''For-
oign Desk, - with the words Mall Proposals, {"
''ROreign Mails, - written on the hea Of the
addreaA; and they should be- dispatchad In time
10 be received At this Department on or before
the 18th day Of August next which will bo the
last day for receiyihg proposals. under this Ad !.
vertisemenL WILLIAM DBNhIBOk,
mh2i-f9t PoStmast GensrAl.