The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-02-05

PosT OFFIcE DEPARTMENT.

POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
DEceMBER "a, 1850.
CEAI.ED PROPOSALS will be received at this
- Department until O'Clock q IN Of the 2lst day
Of April 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
ton, to witt
CANVASS MAIL BAGS.
Size No (43 inches in length and 62 inches in
circumference) TO be made Of cotton canvass.
weighing IS ounces TO the yard Of - inches width
the yarn Of the fabric to be doubled and twisted and
five fold
Size No. . al inches in length and 4S inches in
circumferencc) 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
circumference) to be made Of cotton canvass
weighing 10 ounces to the yard, and the cloth to
be woven above described.
The canvass bags Of sizes Nos and are 10 be
made with sufficient number of cyelet- holes, and
provided with strong cord to secure their mouths
All are to be marked inside and outside thus: "U
s. MAIL"
LEATHER AND CANVASS POUCHES,
Or mail bags with circular bottoms. opened and
fastened at one end:
Size No. l, 45 inches in length and 60 inches in
circumference.
Size No. 2, Al inches in length and 4s inches in
circumference.
Size No. 4, 80 inches in length and 36 inches in
circumference.
Size No. s. 26 inches in length and IS 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 not less than ounces.
and for the smaller sizes not less than ounces the
square foot; the bottom and flap to be of good skirt
ing leather well tanned, and the seams 10 be well
and strongly secured with the bcstron rivets well
timed
The canvass pouches are to be made of denscly-
woven canvass, us to resist water, like the
vass pouches now in use for the mail service.
HORSE MAIL BAGS, (IN sADDLE-BAos ronM.)
Size No. L. Body as inches long and 40 inches in
circumference at widest parts
Size No. 2. Body "a inches long and 36 inches in
circumference at widest parts.
Size No. 3. 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. 2, IL by % do
Do do do No. 3, 10 by 90 do
The leather horse mail bags are to be made #
good and substantial bag leather, well tanned;
weighing not less than to the square foot,
and the to be well and strongly sewed, or IF
riveted to be go done neither to chafe horse
rider.
The canvass horse mail bags are to be made of
the same quality of fabric as the pouches above
described.
DROP LETTER POUCHES, with SIDE pooKEr)
Size 26 inches in length and % inches in crcuni-
ference.
Proposals for improvements in the construction
of any of the above described mail bags, or 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 the lowest and best bidder
o. All the articles contracted for are to be de-
livered at the contractor expense, at Boston, Mns
suchusctts; New York and Buffalo, New York;
Philadelphia and Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; Balti-
more, Maryland; Washington, d. c.; Charleston,
bama; New Orcans, louisiana; Nashville, Tennes-
see; Louisville, Kentucky; Cincinnati, Ohio; St.
Louis, Missouri, in such proportion. and at such
times as the Department may require; where they
are to be rigidly inspected, and to be re-
ceycd which shnl be inferior in any respect to the
specimens standard bags.
No proposal will be considered il not accompn-
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 10 execute the
work according to contract.
The specimens must be delivered at the Depart
ment on or before the 2lst day of April next, and
will, in connexion with the proposals, form the ba-
sis Of the contracts.
The bidder or bidders chosen will be required TO
give bond, with sufficient sureties, Ito be 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 a faithful performance OF
the obligations entered into.
IL having Oeen suggested oy rostihasteEs oi ex-
perience and others that the common canvass bags,
first above described, (of sizes Nos and -
should be made 80 as to be locked, proposals and
specimens are invited for bags constructed
accordingly, with the addition also of handle ut
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-
quired, the number, kinds, and sizes Of bags
manufactured for the use of the Department during
the year, from the lst July, S49, to the 30th June,
1850, arc given follows: l52 No. l, S3S No 9,
776 No 5, TAT No. 4, and 800 No. pouches; 254
No. |, 332 No. 2, and 276 No. horse bags; and
6,575 No. l, 1925 No. 2, and 274 No. common can
pass bags.
The proposals should be endorsed "Proposals
for Mail Bags, and be addressed to the Postmaster
General.
N. X. HALL, Postmaster General.
Dec 2S