The republic., 1851-01-27
PROPOSALS FOR MAIL BAGS.

Posr OFFICE DEPARrmENr.
DEcEMBER "a, 1850.
SEALED PROPOSALS will be received at this
~ Department until O'clock a. m of the 2lst day
of April next for furnishing for four years from the
nrst 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, to wit:
CANVASS Mali. BAGS.
Size No (43 inches in length and 81 inches in
circumference to be made Of cotton canvass,
weighing l5 ounces to the yard of % inches width
the of the fabric to be doubled and twisted and
five fold.
Size No al inches in length and 4S inches in
circumfcrence) to be made of cotton canvass
weighing Is ounces to the yard of u 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 3S inches in
circumierence) 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 eyelct- holes, and
provided with strong cord to secure their mouths
All arc to be marked inside and outside thus: "U
S. MAIL"
LEATHER AND CANVASS POUCHES,
Or mail bags with circular bottoms, opened an
fastened at one end:
Size No. l, 4s inches in length and 60 inches in
circumference.
Size No. 2, al inches in length and 48 inches in
Size No. 8, SO inches in length and 40 inches in
circumference.
Size No. 4, 80 inches in length and SO 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. l 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 to be well
and strongly secured with the bestiron rives well
timed.
The canvass pouches to be made of densely-
woven canvass, to resist water, like the can
vass pouches now in use for the mail service.
HORSE MAIL BAGS, (IN sADDLEBAos FoRM.)
Size No. l. Body 46 inches long and 40 inches in
circumference at widest parts
Size No. 2. Body II inches long and sc 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 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, if
riveted to be 80 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.
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 viii be received and the relative
value and adaptation to the service, as well as
price of such improvement, will be considered in
determining theiowest and best bidder.
Or All the articles contracted for are to be de-
vered, at the contractors expense, 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
haI Lou
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 rigidly Inspected and none are to be re-
ceivcd which shall be inferior in any respect to the
specimens or standard bags.
No proposal will be considered if not accoinpa
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 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 cert
lied to by the Postmaster OF the place where he or
they may reside,) in cum of money double the
amount of contract, for faithful performance of
the obligations entered into.
II having been suggested by Posmasters of cx-
perience and others that the common canvass bags,
first above described, (of sizes Nos. | 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
qured, the number, kinds, and sizes of bags
manufactured for the of the Department during
the year, from the let july lS49, 10 the Both June
1850, are given follows l52 No. /, 1888 No. 2,
TIC No. 8, TAT No. 4, and $50 No. pouches; 254
No. l, 1872 No 2, and 276 No horse bags; and
e575 No. l, 1925 No. 2, and 274 No common
bags.
The proposals should be endorsed I" Proposals
for Mail Bags" and be addressed to thel Postmaster
General.
N. X. HALL, Postmaster General
Dec %
UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.
DEC. d. 1880