The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-03-11
PROPOSALS FOR MAIL BAGS.

Posr OFFICE DEPAurMENT,
DECEMBER "a, 1850.
q EALED PROPOSALS will be received at this
~ Department unti9 o'clock a. m. of the 2l lst day
Of April next for furnishing for four years from the
first day Of July next, in such quantities and at
such times may be required and ordered for the
mail service, Mail Bags of the following descrip-
ton, 10 witt
CANVASS MAIL BAGS.
Size No (43 inches in length and 62 inches in
circumfercnce) TO be made Of cotton canvass,
weighing ounces to the yard of % inches width;
the yarn the fabric to be doubled and twisted and
Size No. al inches in length and 4s inches in
circumfercncc) to be made of cotton canvass,
weighing Is ounces to the yard Of q 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 80 inches in
circumfcrcncc) 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 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: ssU
S. MAIL"
LEATHER AND CANVASS POUCHES,
Or mail bags with circular bottoms, opened and
fastened at one end:
Size No. l, 4s inches in length and 60 inches in
circumference.
Size No. 2, Al inches in length and 4S inches in
Size No. 3. s6 inches in length and AZ inches in
circumference.
Size No. 4, 80 inches in length and s6 inches in
Size No. s, IS inchcs in length and % inches in
circumference.
good and substantial bag leather, we'll tanned,
weighing for Nos. and not less than ounces.
and for the smaller sizes not less than the
square foot; the bottom and flap TO be of good skirt
ing leather, we'll tanned, and the TO be well
and strongly secured with the bestiron rivets well
timed.
The canvass pouches are TO be made of densely-
woven canvass, 80 as to resist water, like the
vass pouches now in use for the mail service.
HORSE MAIL BAGS, (Is SADDLE BAGS roRm.)
Size No. 1. Body as inches long and 40 inches in
circumference at widest parts.
Size No. 2. Body a inches long and SO inches in
circumference at widest parts.
Size No. B. Body 42 inches long and % inches in
circumference at widest parts.
| Ends or bottoms OF size No. I, IL by "a inches.
Do do do No. 2, II by % do
Do do do No 8. 10 by 20 do
The leather horse mail bags are to be made of
good and substantial bag leather, well tanned,
Weighing not less than ounces to the square foot
and the seams to be well and strongly sewed, or, 1t
ryeted to be 30 done as neither TO chae horse nor
| rider.
The canvass horse mail bags are to be made Of
the same quality Of fabric as the pouches above
described.
DROP LETTER POUCHES. (wrrH SIDE pocxEr.)
Size rs inches in length and % inchos in circum-
| ference.
Proposals for improvements in the construction
of any of the above described mail bags, in the
materials thereof will be received; and the relative
value and adaptation to the service, as well as
price of such improvement, will be considered In
determining tho lowcst and best bidder.
Gj- All the articles contracted for arc to be de-
sachusctts; New York and Buffalo, New York;
Philadelphia and Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; Balti-
more, Maryland; Washington, d. c.; Charleston.
South Carolina; Macon, Georgia; Hunt svillc, Ala
baIna; New Orleans, Louisiana; Nashville. Tenncs-
sec; Louisville, Kentucky; Cincinnati, Ohio; st
Louis, Missouri, in such proportions aad at such
are to be rigidly inspected, and mono to be re-
ceivcd 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
tho construction, quality OF materials, and work
| manship proposed. and also with evidence of the
competency and ability Of the bidder to execute the
| work according to contract.
| The specimens must be delivered at the Depart
mcnt on or before the 2lst day of April next, and
will, in connexon with the proposals, form the ba-
| sis of the contracts.
| The bidder or bidders chosen will be required to
give bond with sufficient surcties, Ito be certi
fed to by the Postmaster of the place where he or
they may residc,) in Of money double the
amount of contract, for faithful performance Of
the obligations entered into.
| It having been suggested by Postmasters Of cx-
periencc and others that the common canvass bags,
| FIRST above described, (of sizcs Nos and %
| should be made 30 as to be locked, proposals and
specimens invited for canvass bags constructed
accordingly, with the addition also Of handle at
the mouth and at the bottom Of each bag
For the information of bidders in reference to the
number Of mail bags which will probably be re-
qured, the number, kinds, and sizes of bags
manufactured for the use of the Department during
the year. from the lst July, l6I9 to the Both June,
1856, are given as follows: l52 No. !, 83S No. 2,
TIC No. 8. TAT No. 4, and 900 No. pouchss; 254
No. l, 1892 No 2, and 276 No. horse bags and
6,575 No. !, l,625 No. 2, and 274 No. common can
pass bags.
The proposals should be endorsed !" Proposals
for MoI Bags" and be addressed to thc Postmastey
General. n
N K. HALL, Postmaster General.
| Dec % "a