The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-02-27
Instructions TO Bidders and Post
masters:

AhSlAuCtAOhH ~ DAuutta anu GOst-
masters:
Containing also conditions to be incorporate
III The contracts TO the erteut the Deoart.
meHt may deem proper.
1. Seven minutes are allowed 10 each in
termediate Office, when not otherwise speci-
fed, for asserting the mails but on railroad
and steamboat routes there is to be no more
delay than is sufficient for an exchange OF
the mail pouches.
2. On railroad and steamboat lines, and
other routes where the mode Of conveyance
admits of it, the special agents Of the Post
Office Department, also post Office blanks,
mail bags, locks and keys, are to be con-
yeyed without extra charge.
8. On railroad and steamboat lines the
route agents Of the department are 10 be con-
Veyed without charge, and for the use of the
SCENTS a commOtiOus car, or apartment in
the centre Of a car, properly lighted.
warmed, and furnished, and adapted 10 the
convenient separation and due security of
the mails, is to be provided BY the c~ontrac-
tor, under the direction Of the department
Railroad and steamboat conpanies are
required TO take the mail from and deliver
it into the post Offices at the beginning and
end Of their %routes, and to and from all
offices not more than eighty rods from a sta
ton or landing. Proposals may be submit
ted by the companies for the performances Of
all other side servIce-that is, for offices over
eighty rods from o station or landing.
There will be "way bills" prepared by
postmasters, or other agents Of the depart
ment, TO accompany the mails conveyed on
railroads and steamers, specifying the nun
Der and destination Of the several bags.
On other principal routes, likewise, receipts
viii be required and way-bills forwarded !;
the latter to be examined by the several
Postmasters, to insure regularity in the de-
livery Of mails.
4. No pay viii be made for trips not per.
formed and for each Of such omissions.
not satisfactorily explained, three times the
pay Of the trip may be deducted. For ar
rivals 50 far behind time a. TO break con-
nection with depending mails, aud not suf-
f~ciently excused, one fourth Of the com
pensation Of the trip is subject to forfeiture.
For repeated deliuquencies ofthe kind here
10 specified, enlarged penalties, proportion
ed to the nature thereof and the Importance
Of the mail, may be made.
5. For leaving behind or throwing of the
mails, or any portion Of them, for the ad-
mission OF passengers, or for being con
eerned IN setting up OF running an express
conveying intelligence in advance oil the
mail, a quarters pay may be deducted.
o. zines viii be imposed, unless the de-
hnqueney be Promptlya and satisfactorily ex-
planned by certificates of p0stmasters or the
daV Of other credible persons, for fail
ing 70 arrive IN contract time for neglect
ing totake the mail from, OF deliver it into,
a post office for suffering Il % be vet, in
lured, destroyed, robbed, or lost and for
refusing after demand, 10 convey the mail
as frequently as the contractor runs, or is
concerned in running, acoach, car or steam
boat on q route.
Z. The Postmaster General may anuul the
contract for repeated failures 10 run sgrse- /
ably to contract; for violating the post
Office laws, or dis0beying the instructions OF
the department for refusing 10 discharge q
carrier when required by the department to
do SO; for running an express as aforesaid
OF for transporting persons or packages con-
veying mailable matter out Of the mail.
s. The Postmaster General may crder an
increase Of service on a route by allowing
therefor a pro rata increase on the contract
pay. He msy change schedules Of depar-
lures and arrivals in all cases, and partieu-
larly 10 make them conform 70 connections
with railroads, without increase Of pay, /
provided the running time be not abridged.
He may also order an increase Of speed,
allowing, within the restrictions Of the law,
a pro rata increase Of pay for the additional
stock or carriers, if any. The contractor
May, however, IN TIE case Of increase Of
speed, relinquish the contract, BY giving
prompt notice 10 the department. that he
prefers doing 30 TO carrying the order into
effect. The Postmaster General may also
discontinue or curtail the service, in whole
or in part, in order to place on the route =
degree OF service, or whenever the
public interests, in his judgment, shall re-
guire such d-iscontinuance or ourIailment
any other cause he allowing as q full
indemnity to contractor one months extra
pay on the amount Of service dispensed
with, and q pro rata compensation Tor the
amounts Of service retained and continued.
3. Payments will be made BY collections
or drafts on postmasssrs, or otherwise,