The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-11-26
C CERTIFICATE OF POSTMASTER.


[. the undersigned postmaster at -, State
-, after the exercise of due diligence Il
form myself of The pecunary ability and re
visibility of the principal and his snreties il
/, aforegong bond and of the unincumberet
Il estate owned by them, respectively, d.
feby approve said bond and certify that tn.
d SURE ties are sufficient-sufficien to insur
:. payment of double the entire amount o.,
q said bond; and do further certify that tn
id bond was duly signed by -
i and - his sure
$ before signing this certificate.
lted-, 1877
SSTRUCTIONs TO BIDDERS AND POST
MASTERS.
obtaining also con titions to be incorporate
IN the contracts to the ertent the Department
may deem proper.
|. Seven minutes are allowed to each inter
ediate Office, when not otherwise specified.
II asserting the mails.
2, On routes where the mode Of conveyanc
limits Of it. the special agents Of the Post OF
ce Department, also post office blanks, mai
lgs. locks and keys, are to be conveyed with
1T extra charge.
3, SWAY bils'' or receipts, prepared b,
oStmasters OF other agents of the Department
III accompany the mails, specifying the mum
,er and destination of the sev""' ha"s. to b
examined by Il e postmastt rs, to insure regu-
,flty in the delivery OF uas> anu pouches
f. No pay will be made for trips not per
,rmed; and for each of such omissions, if til.
allure he occasioned by the fault Of the con-
factor or carrier, three times the pay of tn
rip will be deducted. For arrivals so far be.
lind time as to break connection with de
,ending mails, and not sufficiently excused.
me fourth of the compensation for the trip is
ubiect to forfeiture. For repeated delinquen
les of the kind herein specified, enlarged pen
lilies, proportional to the nature thereof ant
the Importance of the mail, may be made.
5. For leaving behind or throwing off tn
mails. or any portion OF them, for the admis-
sion of passengers, or for being concerned in
setting up or running an express conveying in
diligence in advance of the mail, a quarter :
)ay may be deducted.
6. Fines will be imposed, unless the dein-
luency be promptly and satisfactorily explain
ID by certificates Of postmasters or the atfiCa-
Wits of other credible persons, for failing to ar
rive in contract time; for neglecting to take TIN
nail from, or deliver it into post office; for sui
fering it to be wet, injured. destroyed robbed.
or lost; and for refusing. after demand. 10 con-
vey the mail as frequently as the contractor,
runs, or is concerned in running, coach, car.
or steamboat on a route.
7. The Postmaster General may annul the
contract for repeated failures to run agreeabl,
to contract; for violating the post office laws.
or disobeying the instructions OF the Depart
1nent; for refusing to discharge carrier when
required by the Department to do so; for run
ming an express as aforesaid; or for transport
ing persons or packages conveying mailabls
matter out of the mail.
g. The Postmaster General may order an in
crease of service on route by allowing
therefore pro rata increase on the contract
paw. He may change schedules Of de-
partures and arrivals in all cases, anG
particularly to make them conform to coll
nections with railroads, without increase of pay.
provided the running time be not abridged
The Postmaster General may also discontinue
or c,lrtail the service, in whole or in part in or:
der to place OH the route superior service, OF
whenever the pu bile interests, in his judgment
shall require such discontinuance or curtall
ment for any other cause; he allowing, as full
indemnity, to contractor, one months eXtr;
paw OH the amount of service dispensed with
and a pro rata compensation for the amount o.
service retained and continued.
8. Payments will bt made by collections
from. or drafts on, postmasters or otherwise
after the expiration Of each quarter-say il
November, Februaty. May and August, provi
ded that required evidence Of service has beer
received.
10. The distances given are believed to b
substantially correct; but no increased pa,
will be allowed should they be greater than ad
yertised, if the points to be supplied are cor
rectly stated. Bidders must mt orm Memselve
on this point, and also in reference to TIN
weight of the mail. the condition of hills
roads, streams, &C.. and all toll-bridges, turn
pixies, plank-roads, ferries, or distractions o
any kind by which expense may be incurred
| No claim for additional pay. based OH sllcl
ground, can be considered; nor for alleged mis-
takes or misapprehensions as to the degree o
service; nor for bridges destroyed. ferries dis
continued, or other distractions causing or in
creasing distance OF expense occurring durin
the contract term. Offices established afte
this advertisement is issued, and also dnrh
| the contract term, are to be visited withOu
extra pay if the distance be not increased.
IL. Bidders are cautioned to mail their pre-
posals in time to reach the Department by tn
day and hour named in the advertisement, d
bids received after that time will not be consic
cred in competition with bids of reasonabl
amount received in time, Neither can bids
considered which are without the bond, oatl
and certificate It quired by section 245, act {
June %, 1874.
-. Bidders should first propose for serve
strictly according to the advertisement, all
+! then, if they desire, separately for differes
service; and il the regular bid be the lowest o
fered for the advertised service, the other prof.
ositions may be considered.
13. There should be but one route bid II
in proposal. Consolidated or combinatio
bids (''prnposing one sum for two or mo-
routes'9 cannot be considered.
IA. The route, the service, the yearly pa
the name and residence Of the bidder, THAT
his usual post-office adlress,) and the name
each member of a firm where a company Q
fers, should be distinctly stated.
10. Bidders are requested to use. as
as practicable, the printed proposals fu
, nished by the Department, to write out in fl
, the sum Of their bids, and to retain copies
them
Altered bids should not be submitted. I
, Withd travail Of bid will be allowed unless t
withdrawal is received twenty-four hours pl
vious to the time fixed for opening the PROF
:. sails.
l6, In case of failure of the accepted bidd
to execute contract. or of the abandonme
of service during the contract term, the seryi
will be re-advertised AMI re-let at the exper
Of the failing bidder or contractor.
II. The Postmaster General reserves t
right 10 reject any bid which may be deem
extravagaht; and also to disregard the hi
Of failing contractors and bidders, Act
June s, 1872. section 249.
~ T. L. l.