Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1865-05-16
PROPOSALS FOR MAIL STEAMSHIP
Il SERVICE BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES
AND CHINA.
PosT 0FEIcE DEPARTMENT,
MAaHfNaToN March %. 1898.

wAsHrSaroS, March %, 1888.
In accordance with the provisions Of an act Of
Congress, approved February ~, 1885, which il In
the words aud hgures following, yiIi
''AE ACT TO authorize the establishment Of ocean
mail steamship service between the United
States and China.
'.Bs q snactsdJy the S.nats and I7ouss Of Ran.
ressRtatfues If the United States Of Amsrfca IN
Congress assembled, That the Postmaster Gen
eral be- and he IL hereby authorized to invite pro-
posals by publie advertisement, for the period Of
sixty days, In one or more newspapers published
IA the cities Of Washington, New York, Philadel.
pha, Boston, and San francisco, respectively, for
mall steamship service between the port Of San
Francisco In the United States, aud some port or
ports In the Chinese Empire, touching at Homo.
tulu, In thy. Sandwich Islands, and ons or more
ports In I1|np, by means Of q monthly line Of
hrst-elass Aaisriean sen going steamships, to be
Of not less than three thousand tons burden each
and OF sufficient number to perform twelve round
trips per Rnnum between said ports, and TO con.
tract with the lowest responsible bidder for said
service for term Of not more than ten years. 10
commence from tho day the hrst steamship Of the
proposed limo shall depart from tho port Of San
Francisco with the malls for ChlnAi Provided,
That no bid shall he considered which shall
amount 10 more than Ave hundred thousand dol.
lars for the twelve round trips per annum, nor
unless the same Is from citizen or citizens OF the
good and sufficient sureties (also citizens Of the
United satsS for the faithful performance Of such
contract.
''see q And b aJtrthsr enacted, That any
contract which the Postmaster GENERAL may ex.
ecuth, under authority ~ this act, shall 20 into
effect on or before the FIRST day Of January,
one thousand eight hundred aud sixty seven,
aud shall, In addition to the usual stipulatlOni
Of ocean mall steamship contracts, provide that
the steamships accepted for the service shall 10
constructed OF tho best material and after Ap.
proved models, with all tho modern Improve.
ments adapted 10 sea- going steamships Of thu
Hrst class and shalt be subject TO Inspection and
v In aNuaFiRn rad na Ia
be detailed for that purpose by the Secretary OF
tho Navy, whose report shall be made TO the
Postmaster General. That the Government OF
the United States shall be entitled 10 have trans
ported, free Of expense on each and every
steamer, mall agent, To take charge Of aud ar.
range tho mail matter, to whom suitable accom-
mediation for that purpose shall be assigned.
That In case Of failuie from any cause to perform
any ofthe regular monthly voyages stipulated 10,
In the contract pro rata deduction shall ba mad,
from the compensation on account Of sach omitted
voyage or voyages. That suitable fines and Pena
ties may be imposed for delays aud irregulare.
ties In the performance Of service and that IN,
Postmaster General shall have tho power to de-
tormlne the contract ut any time In case Of It,
being underlst Or a.slgned to any other party.
Approved, February IL, 1898. :"
PROPOSALS
VIII be received at the Post once Department,
In the city Of Washington, until three o'clock,
p, m, Of TUESDAY, the 18th day Of August,
1895, for conveying themaila Of the United states
by means OF a monthly line Of hrst -olAss AIneri.
can sea. going steamships q not less than three
urement, and Of sufficient hunber TO perform
twelve round trips per annum, between the port
Of San Francisco, In the United States, and some
port or ports In the Chinese Empire, touching Al
Honolulu, In the Sandwich Islands, aud at one
or more ports In japan, for contract term o.
not moro than ten years, TO commence from the
day tho nrst steamship Of tho proposed line shall
depart from the port Of San Francisco with the
Bidders must designate the port Of terminus in
the Chinese Empire; also, the immediate ports
IN japan aud China Mt which the steamships are
TO call on their outward and homeward passages
Bids proposing several terminal ports, either
ment, will be considered.
The Department reserves to itself the right Of
changing The terminal port Of tho Chinese I'm.
pire, upon reasonable notice to the contractor,
and graduating the pay, pro rata, within the
limit prescribed BY the act ofCongress Aforesaid,
At any time during the continuance Of the con.
tract
Each bid should name the the time proposed TO
be occupied In performing the passages each way
between San Francisco, aud the port or ports in
the Chinese Empire proposed for the terminus Of
the route, including stoppages at Honolulu and
other intermediate ports and also the length Of
stoppagos at each Of the intermediate ports
named, aud each proposal should be accompanied
by map or diagram Of the route. Schedules Of
sailing days, stating the proposed days and
hours Of departure from each port, as wen a. the
proposed days and hours OF arrival, should
also accompany each bid such schedules, how
ever, TO be subject to the approval Of the Post
master General aud TO alteration by his order,
from time to time, as the interests Of the postal
service may require,
The steamships offered for the service must be
American steamships 81 the hrst class IN all re-
spects, and before acceptance will be subject to
Inspection and survey BY an experienced naval
constructor, 70 be detailed for that purpose by
the Secretary Of the Navy,
Proposals must conform In all particulars 10
the provisions and requirements Of the afore.
said act, approved February ~, 1855, and must
be properly guaranteed, with satisfactory teati-
monlAis that tho bidder or bidders aud their
RnArantors arc men Of property and abundantly
able TO mako good their tender and guarantee
The bidder y name aud residence, and the name
Of each member Of the arm, when a company
offers, should be distinctly stated In the pro-
pOaal
Proposals should besent, under seal, 10 'sTha
First Assistant Postmaster General, - For
eign Desk, :, with the words ''RAll Proposals, "
'fOrolgn Mails, - written on the face Of the
address, and they should Be dispatched In time
10 be received Il this Department on or before
the l5th day Of August next, which will be the
Last day for resolving proposals. under this "a.
Vertlasmsni. WILLIAM DENNIHON,
mhSt-nl Postmaster 0saeri,