In compliance with the resolution of the Senate of the 20th instant, information in relation to the mail-letting on route No. 17401, from Santa Fé to El Paso. MARCH 23, 1871.-Referred to the Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads and ordered to be printed. POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, March 22, 1870. SIR: In answer to the resolution of the Senate of the 20th instant, which is as follows, viz: IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES, March 20, 1871. Resolved, That the Postmaster General be directed to communicate to the Senate copies of the bids and awards and generally all information in his possession in regard to the mail-letting March, 1870, on route No. 17401, from Santa Fé to El Paso, New Mexico. Attest: GEO. C. GORHAM, Secretary. I have the honor to submit the following report: This route, with others in New Mexico, was advertised September 30, 1869, under the provisions of the law directing the publication of advertisements for mail service, in the usual manner, and in the following terms, viz: POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, Proposals will be received at the contract office of this Department until 3 p. m. of Marchi 1, 1870, for carrying the mails of the United States, from July 1, 1870, to June 30, 1874, in the Territory of New Mexico, on the routes and by the schedules of departures and arrivals herein specified. Decisions announced by March 14, 1870. 17401. From Santa Fé by Juan Lopez, Peña Blanca, Algodones, Bernalillo, La Mesa, Albuquerque, Las Lunas, Sabina, Lamitar, Socorro, Fort Craig, Paraje Almion, Leasburgh, Fort Selden, and Messilla to El Paso, 356 miles, and back, three times a week. Leave Santa Fé Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 8 a. m. Arrive at El Paso in five days. Leave El Paso Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 8 a. m. Arrive at Santa Fé in five days. Under this advertisement the bids named below were received, viz: C. W. Lewis was the lowest bidder at the rate of $9,000 per annum, and was accepted as contractor March 14, 1870. The accepted bidder failed to execute contract or call for the mails by July 1, 1870, as required by the advertisement. The postmaster at Santa Fé, (the office at the end of the route,) under the general printed instructions, (a copy of which is attached hereto, marked A), employed temporarily Messrs. Barlow & Sanderson, (old contractors,) at the rate of $3,750 per month, until the service on the route could be regularly let. After examining the bids received, and ruling out all above $43,000 as too high, a circular was sent to each of the other bidders, on the 14th July, 1870, making offer to contract with them at their bid. A copy of this circular is hereto attached, marked B. In adopting this course, I followed the plan which had been adopted under the joint resolution of Congress dated May 5, 1870, instructing the Postmaster General to enter into contract with the lowest of the bidders who would execute contract at his bid. In reply, acceptances were received from two bidders, one (Bradley Barlow) at $43,000 per annum, and the other (J. L. Sanderson) at $39,000 per annum; two withdrawals were filed, and no other replies were received prior or subsequent to the order to contract, which was made August 16, 1870, one month after the circulars were sent out, and is in terms as follows, viz: "Contract with Bradley Barlow and J. L. Sanderson, of St. Albans, Vermont, at J. L. Sanderson's bid of thirty-nine thousand dollars ($39,000) per annum, from September 1, 1870, to June 30, 1874, making failing bidder and his guarantors liable." The contracts under this order were duly executed and returned to the Department, and the service has been regularly performed by the contractors since its date. Respectfully, your obedient servant, Hon. SCHUYLER COLFAX, President of the Senate. JNO. A. J. CRESWELL, Postmaster General. A. INSTRUCTIONS. The postmaster will report by letter to the Second Assistant Postmaster General, Contract Office 1. The day on which this service is begun by contractor, or his carrier or agent. 2. The mode of conveyance. 3. The name of the person who takes the mail; and, if different from that of the contractor, whether as his agent, or otherwise. In case the contractor fails to appear in person, or by his agent, for the mail, the postmaster will report that fact, and the reasons, if known, to the Second Assistant Postmaster General. But, before making report, diligent inquiry should be made as to the cause of the contractor's non-appearance, and he should be written to on the subject, if necessary. Make no report without full knowledge of all the facts. In case of the failure of the contractor, temporary mail service is to be employed only by the postmaster at Santa Fé, being the office at the head of the route. The other postmasters on the route are to communicate to him the offers they may receive, if any. Substitute service is not to be engaged but in case of ABSOLUTE and UNQUESTIONABLE FAILURE on the part of the contractor. The postmaster is to have no interest, direct or indirect, in the temporary engagement. He is to make engagements upon the best terms for the Department that can be obtained, and, in no event, at an extravagant cost; and he is to report all the facts, without delay, to the Second Assistant Postmaster General. It is the duty of the postmasters to see that contractors and all carriers, before they begin service, take and subscribe the oath required by law, and they will deliver the mail to no person as carrier or contractor who is not sworn as such. Contractors must be of legal age; carriers not under sixteen years. Blank forms of oath are sent to the office above named at the head of the route. The mail must be carried precisely according to the annexed schedule, until changed by order of the Department. Registers of the departure and arrival of the mail, and special reports of mail failures and irregularities, must be addressed, "INSPECTION DIVISION, CONTRACT OFFICE," Post Office Department. Oaths of contractors and carriers are to be sent to the Department in the same manner. B. POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, CONTRACT OFFICE, Washington, June 20, 1870. SIR: Your name appears on the books of this Department as one of the bidders, under the advertisement of September 30, 1869, for carrying the mail from July 1, 1870, to June 30, 1874, on route No. from to in the State or Territory of at $ per annum. The lowest bidder for this service having failed to execute the contracts, with sureties, within the time required by law and usage, although due notice has been given him, it may become necessary for the Department to set aside his bid, and enter into contract with one of the other bidders, as authorized by the second section of a resolution of Congress, approved May 5, 1870, providing for the execution of contracts, and for other purposes. You not being the lowest bidder, and, consequently, no action having been taken on your proposal within the time for making decisions named in the advertisement, you and your guarantors are released from obligations to perform the service, but you are requested to say, immediately, if you will (should your services be needed) now accept the contract at the sum of your bid, and execute contracts in the usual form. This circular is addressed to all the bidders for the route in question whose bids are not excluded as being too high, and seasonable notice will be given to the person, if any, whose services may be required. Respectfully, &c., JNO. A. J. CRESWELL, |