The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-12-17

l, the undersigned postmasterat ---, State
Of, after the exercise Of due diligence t.
inform myself Of The pecunary ability and re-
sponslbility Of the principal and his sureties III
the aforegong bond, and Of the unincumbered
real estate owned by them, respectively, dc
hereby approve said bond and certify that the
said sure ties are sufficient-sufficient to insure
the payment Of double the entire amount OF
the said bond and do further Gel tify that thu
said bond was duly signed by
and - - and his sure
ties before signing this certificate.
Dated, 1877
INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDERS AND POST
MASTERS.
Containing also conditions to be Incorporated
IN the contracts to the entent 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 Of
ice Department, also post office blanks, mail
bags, locks and keys, are to be conveyed with
out extra charge.
3. sway bills'' or receipts, prepared by
postmasters OF other agents of the Departm mt,
VIII accompany the mails, specifying the mum
Der and destination Of the several bags. to be
examined by the postmasters, to insure regil-
| .arlty i'll tile 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 occlsoned by the fault Of the con-
tractor or carrier, three times the pay of the
rip will be deducted. For arrivals so far be-
lind time as to break connection with de-
pending mails, and not sufficiently excused,
me fourth of the compensation for the trip is
subject to forfeitur. For repeated Delinquent
lies of the kind herein specified, enlarged PEN
llties, proportioned to the nature thereof and
.he Importance Of the mail, may be made.
5. For leaving behind Or throwing off the
mails or any portion of them, for the admis-
sio of pass myers, Or for being concerned in
setting up or running an express conveying in
,.,.4.cnct III advance Of the mail, a quarters
.,ay may be deducted.
6. Fines will be imposed, unless the deln-
luency be promptly and satisfactorily explain
d by certificates OF postmastars or the at1ida-
its OF other credible persons, for falling to ar
i've in contract time; for neglectng to take the
naibtrom. Or deliver it into post Offices for SUI
tering it to be wet, injured. destroyed, robbed,
II lost; and for refusing. after demand, 10 con-
Fey the mail as frequently as the contractor
llns, or is concerned in running, Il COACH, car,
IL steamboat on a route.
Z. The Postmaster General may annu the
ontract for repeated failures to run ayreeably
20 contract; for violat ng the post office laws,
II disobeying the Instructions Of the Depart
nent; for refusing to discharge Il carrier when
.equired by the Depar, ;lit to do SO; for run
,ing an express as aforesaid; OF for transport
lg persons or packages conveying maable
natter out OF the mail.
8. The Pos master General may order an in
,rease of service on a route by allowing
lerefore pro rata increase on the contract
Jay. lie may change schedules of de-
artures and arrivals in all cases, and
lections with railroads, without increase Of pay,
provided the running time be not abridged.
The Postmaster General may also discontinue
u curtail the service, i'll whole Or in part, in OF
Ter to place on the route superior service, or
whenever the pg bic interests, in his Judgment,
nall require such discontinuance or curtal-
nent for any other cause; he allowing. us full
-.ldemnity, to contractor, one months extra
pay OH the amount of service dispensed with,
.ud a pro rata compensation for the amount OF
service retained and continued.
8. Payments will b. made by collections
from, or drafts on, postmaslers OF otherwise.
liter the expiration OF each quarter-say in
November, februaty, May and August, provi-
led that required evidence Of service has been
received.
10. The distances given are believed to be
y
will be allowed should they be greater than adj
vertised, if the points to be supplied are cor
rectly stated. Bidders must form themselves
on this point and also i'll reference to the
weight of the mail, the condition of hills,
roads, streams, &C., and all toll bridges, turn
pixies, plank-roads, ferries, OF distractions of
any kind by which expense may be incurred.
No claim for additional pay. based Oil such
ground, can be considered; nor for alleged mis-
n n cin Tf
service; nor for bridges destroyed, ferries dis
continued, or other distractions causing or in
creaslng distance or expense occurring during
the contract term. Offices established after
this advertisement is issued, and also during
the contract term, are to be visited without
extra pay if the distance be not increased.
IL. Bidders are cautioned to mail their pro-
posals in time to reach the Department by the
day and hour named in the advertisements as
bids received after that time acW not be consid-
cred in competition with bids of reasonable
amount received in time. Neither can bids be
considered Which are without the bond, oath.
and certificate L, CURED by section 245 act of
June %, 1874.
II. Bidders should first propose for service
strictly according to the advertisement, and
then, if they desire, separately for different
service; and ii the regular BID be the lowest Of
fered for the advertised service, the other prop
ositions may be considered.
Is. There should be but one route bid for
in Il proposal. Consolidated Or combination
bids c'proposing one sum for two or more
rontes') cannot be considered.
IA. The route, the service, the yearly pay,
the name and res tlence of the bidder, Chat is,
his usual post-ofice address, and the name OF
each member of a firm where q company Of
fers, should be distinctly stated.
10. Bidders are requested to USE as fal
as practicable, the printed proposals fur
nished by the Department, to write out in full
the sum Of their bids, and to retain copies Of
| them.
| Altered bids should not be submitted. Nc
withdrawal of Il BID will be allowed unless the
withdrawal is received twenty four hours pre-
vious to the time fixed for opening the propo
! sails.
! Is. In case Of failure Of the accepted bidder
to execute a contract. or OF the Abandonment
of service during the contract term, the service
will be re-aavertised an re-et at the expense
of the failing bidder or contractor
| II. The Postmaster General reserves the
right to reject any bid which may be deemed
| eXtravayant; and also to disregard the bids
of failing contractors and bidders (Act OF
June 8, 1872, section 249)
| IS. The bid should be sealed. s,perscribec
snail Proposals, State of Virginia" addressed
'.Second ssistant Postmaster General, Con
tract Office
49, Every proposal must be accompanied BIZ