The Portland daily press., 1869-02-20
INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDERS AND POST



Containing also conditions to be Incorporated In The
contracts to the ertent the Department may deem
proper.
Office when not otherwise specified for asserting the
mails; but on railroad and steamboat routes there
is to be more delay than is sufficient tor an ex-
change OF the mail pouches.
2. On railroad and steamboat lines, and other
routs where the mode Of conveyance admits OF 1t,
the special agents ofthe Post Office Department, al
post office blanks, mail bags, locks and keys, ar
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, conveyed without charge; and for the
of the United States agents q commodious car
or part Of car, properly lighted, warmed and fur
nished and adapted the convenient separation and
due security of the mails, is to be provided by the
contractor, under the direction of the Department.
Railroad and Steamboat companies are required
to take the mail from and deliver it into the post Of
nee at the beginning and end Of their routes. and te
and from all offices not more than eighty rods from
station or landing. Proposals may be submitted
by the companies for the performance Of ali Other
side scrvice-that is for offices over eighty rods from
q station or landing.
There will be ''way bills" prepared by postmas-
ters or other agents Of the Department, to accom-
pany the mails conveyed on railroads and steamers
specifying the number and destination of the
al bags On other principal routes, likewise, re-
latter to be examined by the several posm asters to
insure regularity in the delivery of mails.
4: No pay viii be made for trips not performed /;
planned three times the pay of the trip will be de-
Quoted. For arrivals far behind time as to break
connexion with depending mails and not sufficiently
excused onefourth of the compensation Tor the trim
is subject to forfeiture. For repeated delinquencies
of the kind herein specified enlarged penalties pro
portoned 70 the nature thereof and the importance
Of the mail, may be made.
8. For leaving behind or throwing off the mails
or any portion Of them for the admission of
gers or Tor being concerned in setting up or running
an express conveying intelligence in advance of the
mail, quarters pay will be deducted
o. Fines will be imposed, unless, the delinquency
De satisfactorily explained by certificates OF post
masters or the afdavits of other credible persons,
ior 1atng to arrive In contract tmej for negectng
for suffering TO be wet injured destroyed, robbed
or LOST and for refusing, after demand, 70 convey
the mail as frequently the contractor runs, or Is
concerned in running, coach, car, or steamboat on
route.
7. The Postmaster General may annul the con-
tract for repeated failures to run agreeably to con-
tract for violating the post ofiee laws, or dsobey
to discharge carrier when required by the DEPART
ment to do SO; for running an express as aforesaid
or for transporting persons or packages conveying
mailable matter out OF the mail.
g. The Postmaster General may order an increase
of service route by allowing therefor pro rata
increase the contract pay. He may change sehed-
ules of departures and arrivals in all cases. and
particularly to make them conform to connexions
with railroads, without increase OF pay, provided
the running time be not abridged. He NAV also or
der an increase Of speed, allowing, within the re
strictions OF the law pro rata increase Of nav for
the additional stock or carriers, If any, The con-
tractor may, however, IN the case Of iacrease a,
speed, relinquish the contract, by giving PROMPT no
tce to the department that be prefers doing SO to