Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-07-17
NAIL CONTRACTS
Under Postal Aid Bin are How 10 bs
Bid For.

WASHINGTON. July l5,-The postmaster
general today issued an advertisement o.
mail letting under the postal aid bill pssset
BY the last Congress. II invites pfoposalI
| from steamship companies for carrying
American mails to foreign countries, il
| vessels Of American build, Of best con
srucEon and highest speed in their re
spec.ive cissses, over routes minusely de.
scribed. At present the United States hal
no power to compel the transportation OF
any mails to . foreign country. No shE
owner or ship master is obliged to receive
or carry American mails. When shiI
owners or ship masters do carry them. they
flx their own time Of depssture and follow
whatever sailing course they choose.
In many cases the service is SLOW aud
irregular. In the fiscal year ending june
80, 1890. sixty cents vas earned by Ameri-
can chips in carrying United States mail to
Europe. During the same period there was
paid to foreign ships sS97 ,66s.40 for con-
veying mails from United 8 Iares to Europe.
The postmaster general seeks BY the ad-
vertisement Issued today to change this
unfavorsble showiog by putting first. class
rapid, weekly service on two trans atlantic
routes, one to Great Britain direct, the
other to some continental port He seeks
also, by similar means. to expedite and
make more frequent and reliable mails to
Central and South American ports, Austrs-
Ha ard Asia. The details Of these arrange
menis appear in the advertisement.
American ports from which the service
is proposed to stars are; Boston, New
York, Philadelphia, Baltimore. Newport
News, Norfolk, Port Tampa with service
from Mobile, New Orleans, Galveston,
San Francisco, Seattle, Tacoma. An ab-
solutely new service for American ship is
invited for trans Atlantic lines from New
York, Boston. Baltimore line to Buenos
Ayres from New York, one from Philadel-
phia, line from Port Tampa to Venezuels
and to the east coast Of South America.
A new line to the same ports is projected
from New Otleaus and Galveston; = new
line from New Orleans to Aspinwal),
calling at ports on the north coast Of Cen
trail America and ports on the Spanish
main; q new line on the Pacific coast from
San Francisco to Chill and to the west
coast of South America; q proposed new
line from Seattle or Tacoma TO China and
Japan, also q new line from San Francisco
to Melbourne.
Provision is made to secure quicker ser
vice by all the old lines. THIS new ser
vice, in connection with the enlargement Of
the old, will require the building Of NUN.
Der of ships, probably not less than five
first class, seventeen second-clsss, i've
third-cla.s. and four fourth-clsss. an sggre-
gate in tonnage of l54 900 tons, with .
probable cost Of from $27 ,0OO,0 COO TO $780,
0OO, 900.
BY the provisions Of the postal aid bill
the postmaster general is empowered to
make contracts with American citiz ms,
during q term Of five TO ten years, for
carrying mails in American steamships be-
tween Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific coast
cities Gnd such foreign ports as will best
develope the American commercial inter-
ests. The most important requirements are
that only American built steamships con-
structed after. the latest types, with all the
modern appliances shall be employed; they
must be owned and cfficered by American
citizens.
OF the four classes Of steamships re-
quired, the first three shall be of iron and
steel, and wooden steamships are allowed
on fourth class only. The tonnage and
speed Of these classes respectively must be
not less than 5000 tons and 20 knots, 5000
tons and l6 knots, 2500 tons and IA knots,
and 1900 tons and II knots.
The first three classes must be constructed
to admit of prompt and economical CONVEX
sion into naval cruisers, capable OF Carry
ing at least four 6 inch rifled cannon. The
provides in accordance with
the provisions of the act Of congress, that
proposals be received at the post office de-
partment, until o'clock Monday, October
26, 1891, for convey ing mails By meaus Of
etc. Contracts are to be for
ten years, except where otherwise psrticu-
larry specified.