The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-22
Post ofice Denartmene.

Post Office Department,
Washington, ID. c., November s, 1897.
In accordance with the provisions of an
Act of congress, approved March 8, 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 3 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, 1898 The right is reserved
by the Postmaster General to authorize
service to begin under contract, in whole
or in part October l, $685. 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. TO NJ. s." From Boston to
Port Antonio, jamaica, twice a week
from April list to September 30th, inclu-
elusive; and once a week from Octo-
Der LIST to March 31st, inclusive. From
Philadelphia to Port Antonio, Jamaica,
once week, from October LIST to March
31st, inclusive, in vessels of the fourth
class, Time of voyage from Boston to
Port Antonio, five days; from Philadel-
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 Postmaster
General to substitute New York for Phila+
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
Tor 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 1000 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 of
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 Of
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 add-
tional compensation therefor.
NOTE.-On return voyages vessels may
touch at any ports not named In the sched-
ule If by doing SO the outward voyages are
not delayed.
Circulars containing a copy of the above
cited Act, a description of the route, in
structons 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.