The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-02-18
INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDERS AND POST
MASTERS:

Containing also conditions to be incor-
| pOrdted in the contracts to the ertent the
Department may deem, proper.
| l. Seven minutes are allowed to each inter-
| mediite Office, when not otherwise specified, for
| asserting the mails.
2. On routes where the mode of conveyance
admits of 1t, the special agents of the Post Office
| Department, also post office blanks, mail bags.
locks and keys, are to be conveyed without extra
| chsrge.
| 8. "Way bills'' or receipts prepared by post
| masters, or other agents of the Department, will
accompany the mails spec tying the number
| and destination of the several bags, to be ex-
| aInned by the postmasters, to insure regularity
| in the delivery of bags, and pouches.
4. No pay will be made for trips not per
| formed; and for each of such omissions, if the
failure be occasioned by the fault of the contrac
tor or carrier, three times the pay of the trip
will be deducted. For arrivals SO far behind
time as to break connection with depending
mails, and not sufficiently excused, onefourth of
the compensation for the trip if subject to for.
feiture For repeated delinquencies of the kind
herein specified, enlarged penalties proportional
to the nature the eof 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
passengers or for being concerned in setting up
| or running an express conveying intelligence in
advance OF the mail, quarters pay may be
deducted.
| 8. Fines will be imposed, unless the delinauen.
| cy be promptly and satisfactorily explained by
| certificates OF postmasters or the affdavits of
other credible persons, for failing to arrive in
contract time; for neglecting to take the NAL
from, or deliver it into post office for suffe :
ing it to be wet, injured, destroyed, robned, or
lost; and for refusing, afteI demand, to convey
the mail as frequently as the contractor runs, or
| is concerned in running, coach, car, or steam
| boat on a route.
| 7. The Postmaster General may annul the
| contract for repeated failures to run agreeably
to contract for violating the post Office laws or
| disobeying the instructions of the department |;
for refusing to discharge u carrier when required
1 by the department to do So for running ex.
pres, as afor said; or for Transporting persons
OF packages conveying mailable matter out of
the mail.
s. The Postmaster General may order an in
| crease OF service on a route by allowing there-
| for a pro rata increase on the contract paw. He
may change schedules of departures and arri-
| walls in all cases, and particularly 10 make them
| conform to connections with railroads, without
| increase OF pay, provided The running time be
not abridged The Postmaster General may
| also discontinue or curtail The service in whole
or in part, in order to plac the route superior
service. or whenever the public interests, in his
| judgment, shall require such discontinuance or
4 curtailment for any other cause; he allowing as
| full Indemnity cont actor one months extra
pay on the amount of service dispensed with
| and pro rata compensation for the amount OF
| service retained and continued.
! g.. Payments will be made by collections from
or drafts on. Iostmasters or otherwise after the
expiration of each quarter-say in November
February, May, and August provided that re-
quired evidence of service has been received.
| 10. The distances given are believed to be sub
| stantially correct; but no increased pay will be
| allowed should they be greater than advertised
II the points to be supplied are G. rrectly stated
Bidders must Inform themselves on this point, and
also in reference to the weight of the mail. t. e
condition of hills, roads, streams, &C., and all
toll-bridges, turnp kes, plank-roads. ferries, OF
distractions of any kind by which expense may
be incurred. No claim tor additional pay, based
on such ground, can be considered; nor for alleg
ed mistakes or misrepresentation as to the degr
of service; for bridges destroyed, ferries dis
| continued or other distractions causing OF in
| creasing distance or expense occurring durnC
| the contract term. Offices established after thi
advert ement is issued and also during the con
tract term, are 10 be visited without extra pay /
the distance be not increased.
IL. Bidders are cautioned to mail their propo
sails In time to reach the Department by the day
and hour named Is M, March 8, 1881 for bid
petition with bids, of reasonable amount, re
ceiyed In time. Neither can bids be considered
which are without the guarantee required by
law, and certificate of the sufiiciency of sucf
guarantee, and the oath of the bidder according
| to section 246, act of June s, 1872.
IL. bidders should first propose for service
strictly according to the advertisement, an,
then, If they desire separately for different serv
ice; aud If the regular bid be the lowest offares
for the advertised service, the other proposition
may be considered
49, There should be but one route bid for In
proposal Consolidated OF combination bid
C'pr posing one sum for two or more rontes''
cannot be considered.
IA. The route, the service, tine yearly pay, tn
name and residence of the blddsr chat is hi