The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-06
PROPOSALS WANTED.
OCEAN MAIL LETTINGS.
NOTICE TO BIDDERS.
Post Office Department.

Washington, ID. c., November 8, 1897.
In accordance with the provisions of an
Act of congress, approved March g. 1891,
entitled IAN Act to provide for ocean mail
service between the United States and
foreign ports and to promote commerce."
proposals will be received at the Post Office
Department, in the city of Washington,
until O'Clock p. M, on Tuesday, the 18th
day of February, 1898, for conveying the
mails of the United States by means of
steamships described in said Act between
the several ports of the United States here
in named, and the port of Port Antonio,
Jamaica, as specified in the schedule pub
lished herewith.
Each bidder is required to submit propo-
sails for service on said route, under a
contract for five years, and also for ten
years, which shall commence on the list
day of July, 1885, The right 10 reserved
by the Postmaster General to authorize
service to begin under contract, In whole
or In part, October !, 1898, instead of July /,
1898
Under the law the right IS reserved to
the Postmaster General to reject all bids
not in his opinion, reasonable for the at
tainment of the purposes contemplated by
the Act.
SCHEDULE.
Route No. 40. NJ S." From Boston to
Port Antonio, Jamaica, twice week
from April LIST to September 30th inclu-
elusive; and once week from Octo-
Der LIST to March 31st, inclusive. From
Philadelphia to Port Antonio, Jamaica,
once week, from October list to March
3ist, inclusive, in vessels of the fourth
class Time of voyage from Boston to-
Port Antonio, five days; from Philade-
phia to Port Antonio, four days. Bond
required with bid, $4,000. Contract for
five years or for ten years.
The right Is reserved to the Postmas ter
General to substitute New York for Phia-
delphia as one of the terminal ports dur
ing the period from October LIST to March
31st, inclusive, in each year; after sixty
days notice, and with the consent of the
contractor Time of voyage from New
York TO Port Antonio, four and one-half
days.
Proposals are also invited on said route
for service conforming to the schedule set
out In the preceding paragraph, as to num-
Der Of trips, time of voyage, terminal
ports, and to all other material provisions
therein, IN vessels of at least 2OOO tons
gross tonnage, to be constructed as TO the
matter of strength and their prompt and
economical conversion into auxiliary naval
vessels and in all other respects conform
ably to the requirements Of Section or
the Act aforesaid, applicable to vessels OF
the third class Except as TO the matter Of
tonnage), and capable of maintaining a
speed of fourteen knots an hour at sea in
ordinary weather, as prescribed for vessels
of the third class in the third section ~
the said Act. Said vessels to be employ
ed and rated as of the fourth class and
upon contract for the periods named in
the preceding paragraph, to wit: for the
period of five years, and also for ten years
The contractor on this route will be per
mitted to substitute, at any time during
the contract term, one or more vessels of
the second or third class without addi-
| tional compensation therefor
| NOTE.--On return voyages vessels NAV
/ 49, a4r nfa 81 4 A.
ule If by doing so the outward VOYAGES are
not delayed.
II Circulars containing copy of the above
| cited Act description of the route. in
/ structions to bidders, and blank forms OF
| proposals with accompanying bonds, can
| be obtained of the Superintendent of For
eign Mails, Post Office Department. on and
| after December /, 1897.
| JAMES A. GARY.
Postmaster General.