The republic., 1851-01-29
PROPOSALS For MAIL BAGS.

Posr OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
DEcEMBER "a, 1850.
SyEALED PROPOSALS will be received at this
- Department until 8 O'Clock u. m. of the 2istday
ofApr next for furnishing for four years from the
first day of July next, in such quantities and at
such times as may be required and ordered for the
mail service, Mail Bags Of the following descrip
tion, 10 wit:
CANVASS MAIL BAGS.
Size No as inches in length and 62 inches in
circumference) to be made Of cotton canvass,
weighing 10 ounces TO the yard Of 22 inches width;
the yarn Of the fabric to be doubled and twisted and
five fold.
Size No. 2 al inches in length and 4s inches in
circumference) to be made Of cotton canvass,
weighing 16 ounces to the yard Of 81 inches in
width. and the cloth to be woven in every respect
like that of the first size Of bags.
Size No. (32 inches in length and 36 inches in
circumfcrence) to be made of cotton canvass,
weighing 10 ounces to the yard, and the cloth TO
be woven as above described
The canvass bags Of sizes Nos. and 2 are to be
made with sufficient number Of eyeet- holes, and
provided with strong cord to secure their mouths.
All are to be marked inside and outside thus: 'U.
8. MAIL
LEATHER AND CANVASS POUCHES,
Or mail bags with circular bottoms. opened an
fastened at one end:
Size No. /. 4s inches in length and 60 inches in
circumference.
Size No. 2, IL inches in length and 48 inches in
Size No. 8, 36 inches in length and AZ inches in
Size No. 4, 30 inches in length and 36 inches in
circumference.
Size No s, 26 inches in length and 2S inches in
circumference.
The body of the leather pouches is to be made of
good and substantial bag leather, well tanned,
weighing for Nos. and 2 not less than 8 ounces.
and for the smaller sizes not less than ounces the
square foot; the bottom and flap to be OF good skrf
ing leather, well tanned, and the seams to be well
and strongly secured with the bestiron rivets we'll
tinned.
r
woven canvass, as to resist water, like the can
vass pouches now in use for the mail service.
HORSE MAIL BAGS, (Is SADDLE. BAGS roRM.)
Size No. 1. Body 46 inches long and 40 inches in
circumference at widest parts.
Size No. 2. Body ~ inches long and 36 inchcsi in
circumference at widest parts.
Size No. g. Body AZ inches long and 80 inches in
circumference at widest parts.
Ends or bottoms of size No. IL by "a inches.
Do do do No. g. II by % do
10 do do No. 3, 10 by 20 do
The leather horse mail bags are to be made Of
Roed and substantial bag leather, well tanned,
Weighing not less than ounces to the square foot,
and the seams to be we'll and strongly sewed, orr II
rveted be 80 done as neither to chafc horse nor
rider.
The canvass hcrsc mail bags are to be made Of
the same quality Of fabric as the pouches above
described.
DROP LETTER POUCHES, (wITH side PocKET.) }
Size 26 inches in length and % inches in circum-
ference.
Proposals for improvements in the construction
of any Of the above described mail bags, or in the
materials thereof, will be receivcd and the rentve
value and adaptation TO the service, as well as
price Of such Improvement, will be considered In
determining the lowest and best bidder.
0J- All the articles contracted for are to be de-
ivered at the contractorsex at Boston, Mas
sachusetts; New York and Buffalo, New YORK;
Philadelphia and Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; Balti-
more. Maryland; Washington, d. c.; Charleston,
South Carolina; Macon, Georgia; Huntsville, Ala
see Louisville, kentucky; Cincinnati, Ohio; St.
Louis, Missouri, in such proportions and at such
times as the Department may require; where they
are to be rgidly inspected and none are to be re-
ceiyed which shall be inferior in any respect to the
specimens or standard bags.
No proposal will be considered if not accompa-
MED with samples of each article bid for, showing
the construction. quality Of materials, and work
manship proposed, and also with evidence of the
competency and ability ofthe bidder to execute tho
work according TO contract.
The specimens must be delivered at the Depart.
mont on or before the 2lst day of April next, and
will, in connexion with the proposals, form the ba-
eis of the contracts.
The bidder or bidders chosen will be required to
give bond, with sufficient surees Ito be 30 certi-
fed to by the Postmaster Of the place where he or
they may reside,) in sum OF money double the
amount of contract, for faithful performance of
the obligations entered into.
1t having been suggested by Postmasters OF ex-
pcriencc and others that the common canvass bags,
first above described, (of sizes Nos. and %
should be made 90 as to be locked, proposals. and
specimens invited for canvass bags constructed
accordingly, with the addition also OF handle at
the mouth and mt the bottom 0f each bag.
For the information of bidders in reference to the
number of mail bags which will probably be re-
quircd, the number, kinds, and sizes Of bags
manufactured for the OF the Department during
the year, from the lst july l649 to the goth June,
1885, are given as follows: is2 No. l. 1898 No. 2,
776 No. 8, TAI No. 4, and 290 No. pouches; 254
No. l, 1872 No 9, and 276 No. horse bagsJ and
6675 No. l. ,525 No. 4. and 274 No. common
pass bags
The proposals should be endoFaed 4" Proposois
for Mai Bags," and be addressed to the Postmaster
General.
N. X. HALL, Postmaster General.
Dec %
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
DEC. %, 1850.