The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-01-23

NOTE.-Wnen Inc OaLn Is taken before u JUSTICE
of the peace, the certificate of the clerk of a
court of record should be added, under his seal
of office, that the person who administered the
oath is a duly qualified justice of the peace.
INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDERS AND POST
MASTERS:
Containing also conditions to be i,acor-
porated in the contracts to the ertea the
Department may deem proper.
l. Seven minutes are allowed to each inter-
mediate Office when not otherwise specified, for
asserting the mails.
2. On 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 conveyed without extra
charge.
8. sway bills" or receipts prepared by post
masters, or other agents of the Department, will
accompany the mails, specifying the number
and destination of the several bags, to be ex-
amined 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-
sor or re three Times tne pay 9, Inc .l
| time as to break connection with depending
mails, and not sufficiently excused, one-fourth of
the compensation for the trip If subject to for,
herein specified, enlarged penalties, proportoned
| to the nature thereof, and the importance of the
mail, may be made
s. 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.
g. Fines will be imposed, unless the delnquen-
| cy be promptly and satisfactorily explained by
certificates of postmasters or the aflidavits of
other credible persons, for failing to arrive in
| contract time; for neglecting to take the mail
from, or deliver it into, post office for suffer-
ing it to be wet, injured, destroyed, robbed, or
| lost; and for refusing, after demand, to convey
the mail as frequently as the contractor runs, or
is concerned in running, a 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 carrier when required
| by the Department to do so; for running an ex-
press as aforesaid; 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 pay. He
| may change schedules of departures and arri-
walls in all cases, and particularly to 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 place on the route superior
service, or whenever the public interests, in his
| Judgment, shall require such dscontinuance or
curtailment for any other cause; he allowing as
full indemnity to contractor one months extra
pay on the amount of service dispensed with,
and a pro rata compensation for the amount OF
service retained and continued.
| 8. Payments will be made by collections from,
or drafts on, postmasters 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
if the points to be supplied are correctly stated
Bidders must Inform themselves on this point, and
also in reference to the weight of the mail. the
condition of hills, roads, streams, &C., and all
toll bridges, turnpikes, 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 degree
of service nor for bridges destroyed, ferries dis
continued, or other distractions causing or in
creasing distance or expense occurring during
| the contract term. Offices established after this
advertis ement is issued, and also during the con
tract term, are to be visited without extra pay i
the distance be not increased.
| H. Bidders are cautioned to mail their propo
sails in time to reach the Department by the day
and hour named Is p. m, March 8, 1879, for bids
received after time toill not be considered in com
petition with bids, Of reasonable amount, re
which are without the guarantee required by
law, and certificate of the sufficiency of suef
} 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, ant
them if they DESIRE separately for different serv
ice: and if the regular bid be the lowest Offered
for the advertised service, the other proposition
may be considered.
IS. There should be but one route bid for in
proposal Consolidated or combination bid
('proposing one sum for two or more rontes''
cannot be considered.
! IA. The route, the service. tine yearly pay, tn
name and residence of the bidder lthat is hi