The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-03

S~-~-~-~-~-~----~~~-~~ ~~-~~-~-~-~-~-~-~~
OCEAN MAIL LETTINGS.
NOTICE TO BIDDERS.
Post once Department.


Washington, ID. c., November g. 1897.
In accordance with the provisions of an
Act of congress, approved March 3, 1891,
entitled IAN Act TO provide for ocean mail
service between the United States and
foreign ports ana TO promote commerce."
proposals viii be received at the Post Office
Department, in the city Of Washington,
until o'clock b. 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 ana 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 lst
day of July, 1895 The right is reserved
by the Postmaster General to authorize
service to begin under contract, in whola
or in part October ], 1898. instead of July l.
1893.
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 a week
from April LIST to September Both, inc.u-
elusive; and once a week from Octo-
Der LIST TO March 3lst inclusive. From
Philadelphia TO Port Antonio, Jamaica,
once a week, from October LIST to March
31st, inclusive, In vessels of the fourth
class, Time Of voyage from Boston to
Port Antonia five days; from Philadel-
phia to Port Antonio, four days. Bond
required with bid $1,000 Contract for
five years or for ten years.
The right is reserved to the Postmaster
General to substitute New York for Phila-
al - Of 20 ina .I,,v
ing the period from October 1st 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 10 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, I'm 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 i'm all other respects conform
ably to the requirements of Section 4 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 i'm
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 witt 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 addl-
tional compensation therefor.
NOTE.-On return voyages vessels NAV
touch at any ports not named in the sched-
ule IL by doing so the outward voyages are
not delayed.
Circulars containing a 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 aud
after December l, 1897.
JAMES A. GARY,
Postmaster General.