New-York tribune., 1898-01-17
Proposals,
OCEAN MAIL LETTINGS.
NOTICE TO BIDDERS.
Post Office Department,

Washington. d. c., November 3. 1897.
In accordance with the provisions OF an act OF
Congress approved March ). 1881. entitled an
Act to provide for ocean mail service between
the United States and foreign ports ana 10 pro-
mote commerce." proposals VIII DE recelNcu a.
the Post Office Department, In the city OF w ash-
incton. until 3 o'clock p. m. Tuesday. the
l5fh dav of February. ls9S, for conveying the
mails Of the United States by means OF steam,
shIns described in said Act, between the several
ports of the United States herein named. and the
nort of Port Antonio Jamaicn as SPECIFIED IN
the schedule published herewith
Each bidder is required TO submit proposals
for service on said route, under a contract for
five wears and also for ten years, which shall
commence on the lst day Of July, 1s9S. The
ripht ,s reserved by the Postmaster General 10
authorize service to begin under contract IN
Whole or in part, October l, 1e9S. instead OF
I-ndcr the law the right is reserved to the
Postmaster General to reject all bids not in his
oninion. reasonable for the attainment Of the
purposes contemplated by the Act
SCHEDULE.
poute No. TO. NJ. $" From Boston 10 Port
Antonio. Jamaica twice week from April 1st
70 September Goth. inclusive: and once week
from october 1st to March 3lst, Inclusive
From Philadelphia to Port Antonio Jamaica.
once a week from October 1st TO March 3lst,
inclusive In vessels of the fourth class.
Time Of VOYAGE from Boston 10 Port Antonio
five days; from Philadelphia 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 Cen
erai 70 substitute New York for Philadelphia as
one OF the terminal ports during the period from
october 1st to March 3lst, inclusive. in each
wear: after sixty days notice, and with the con-
sent OF the contractor. Time OF voyage from
New York to Port Antonio. four and one-halr
days.
PROPOSALS are also invited on said route for
service conforming to the schedule set out in the
preceding paragraph. as to number or trips,
time OF voyage terminal ports, and 10 all other
material provisions therein, in vessels or at least
1000 tons gross tonnage 10 be constructed as
10 the matter OF strength and their prompt ana
economical conversion into auxiliary naval YES
sells and in all other respects confOrmably 10 the
renuirements OF Section + OF the Act aforesaid,
applicable to vessels Of the third class except
as TO the matter Of tOnnage), and capable or
maintaining speed of fourteen knots an hour
at sea I'm ordinary weather, as prescribed Tor
vessels OF the third class in the third section or
the said Act Said vessels to be employed and
rated as OF the fourth class. and upon contract
for the periods named in the preceding para.
graph, to wit: for the period or nVe years, anu
also for ten years.
The contractor on this route will he permitted
10 substitute at any time during the contract
term, one or more vessels of the second or third
class without additional compensation therefor.
NOTE-On return voyages vessels may toucn
al any ports not named in the schedule If by
doing the outward voyages are not delayed.
Circulars containing copy OF the above-cited
Act a description OF the route instructions to
bidders. and blank forms OF proposals with ac-
companyng bonds be obtained of the
Superintendent of Foreign Mails. Post Office
Department, on and after December |. 1897
JAMES a. GARY
Postmaster General.