The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-07-06

INSTRUCTIONS TO BIDDERS AND PosTMAsT-
Frs;
Containing also conditions to be incorporated in the
contracts to the extent the Department may
deem proper.
The Postmaster General warns bidders and their
suretes to acquant themselves fully with the laws
of Congress- relating contracts for the carrying OF
the mails (the important provisions of which are
cited herein,) and also to famliarize themselves
with the instructions and forms herein furnished
before they shall assume any liabilities such bid
derS SuretleS, and to prevent misrepresentation
or cause of complaint thereafter
Postmasters are required to make themselves ia
they may be able to inform and direct others -.
l. Seven minutes are allowed to each intermedi-
ate Office when not otherwise specified, for assort-
.. on routes where the mode OF conveyance ad
mits OF it. the special agents OF the Post Office De-
and keys, are to be conveyed without extra charge
Way bills OF receipts Is 4 prepared by postmast
pany the mails specifying the number and destina
ton OF the several bags to be examined by the post
masters to insure regularity in the delivery OF bags
4. No pay win be made for trips not performed;
and for each OF such omissions il the failure be
casioned by the fault of the contractor carrier,
three times the pay OF the trip will be deducted
ton with depending mails, and not sufficiently
| cused one-fourth OF the compensation for the trip
cies OF the kind herein specified enlarged penalties
propcrtioned to the nature thereof and the impor
lance OF the mail. may be made.
s.. For leaving behind throwing OF the mails,
any portion Of them, for the admission OF pas
ming an express conveying intelligence in advance
Of the mail. q quarters pay may be deducted
be promptly and satisfactorily explained by cerif-
Gates OF :postmasters or the affidavits OF other
time ;for neglecting to take The mail from or dev-
er it into post office for suffering it to be wet,
after demand,to convey the mail as frequently as
the contractor runs, or is concerned in running,
COACH car, Or st steamboat on route.
7. The Postmaster General may annul the contract
for repeated failures to run agreeaby to contracts
las ASSIGNING the contract for violating the post
partment for refusing to discharge carrier when
an express aforesaid or for transporting persons
or nackages.conveying mailable matter out of the
mail. ..:--s ..: n
8. The Postmaster General may order an increase
OF service on route by allowing therefora pro rata
increase the contract pay. He may change sched-
ules of departures and arrivals in ali cases and mar
ticularly to make them conform to connections With
railroads, without increase OF pay, provided the
running time ID, be not abridged The Postmaster
in whole or in part, in order to place the route
superior service or whenever the public interests,
or curtai!ment for any other cause; he allowing as
fall idemnity to contractor one months extra pay
rata compensation for the amount of service retain
ed and continued.
drafts on postmasters or otherwise, after the expi
rationof each quartz. say in November, February.
Of service has been received = :.
10. The distances given are believed to he SUBJ
lowed should they be greater than advertised if the
points to be supplied are correctly stated Bidders
erence to the weight OF the mail, the condition Of
hills roads, streams, &C.. and all toll bridges turn
kind ~ which expense may Be incurred No C ca ANY
for additional pay, based ON such ground, can be
henson to the degree OF service; nor for bridges
destroyed, ferries discontinued, other obstruc-
curing during the contract term. oces estanls S
ed after THIS advertisement IS issuad, and also du
ring the CONTRACT are to be visited without
IL. Bidders al cautioned to mail their proposals
10 time to reach the Department by. the day and
hour named in the advertisement, as bids received
after that time aolmot be considered in competition
With bids Of rens1nabls amount received in time
she bond certificate required by section
II. Bidders shou first propose for service strictly
according to the advertisement, and then, il they
desire separately for different service and if the
regular bid be the lowest offered for. the advertised
service, the other propositions may be consdered
49, There should Debut one route bid for in pro-
one sum for two or more routes) cannot be consid,
IA. The route the service, the yearly pay. the
name andresidence of the biader {thatis his usmal
post Office address, and the name Of each member Of
stated . ;"'i.-''''y
IS Bidders are requested to use as far as prctica
BILE, the printed proposals furnished by the Denarf
ment, to write out in ffthe sum of Their bids and
to retain copies of them. - -
Bids altered in the route, the service, the, yearly
pay, the OF the bidder by erasnres nr in
terlineatiOns, should not be submitted and If %
submitted will not be considered in AWARDING the
contracts No withdrawal OF bid will be allowed
unless the withdrawal is received twenty-four hours
previous to the time fixed for opening the nronosas
It, In case OF failure of the accepted bidder TO ey
ecute contract, or OF the abandonment Of servica
during the contract term, the service viii he re-
advertised and reet at the expense OF the falling
bidder or contractor, and any accepted bidder WIG
shall refuse or fail to enter into contract
in due form, and 70 perform the seavice described
in his proposal, may be deemed guilty OF INSIDE
meanor, and, on conviction thereof be fined and i'm
prisoned therefor. fFse - - ~
II. The Postmaster General reserves the right to
reject any bid which may be deemed extravarant
and also to disregard the bids of failing CONTRIBUTORS
and bidders.
No contract for carrying the mail shall be made
with any person who has entered. or proposed to
enter, into any combination to prevent the making
of any bid for carrying the mail, or who has made
any agreement, or given or performed, or promis-
ed to give or perform, any consideration whatever
to induce any other not to bid for any such
contract. 80
No bidderfor carrying the mails shall be released
from his obligation under his bid or proposal not.
Withstanding an award made to lower bidder until
contract Tor the designated service shall have been
duly executed by such lower bidder and his sure
ties, and accepted and the service entered upon by
the contractor to the satisfaction of the Postmaster
General. ~ sasss5 .,..4. III
By regulation Of the Department. no carrier can
be employed who is under sixteen years of age and
no bidder Will be accepted who is under twenty-ope
nj WI n 10 q I'D