The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-01-09
PROPOSALS FOR MAIL BAGS.

Posr OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
DECEMBER "a 1850.
CtEALED PROPOSALS will be received at this
- Department until9 O'Clock a. IN. of the 2Ist 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, 10 wit
CANVASS MAIL BAGS.
Size No (43 inches in length and 62 inches in
circumference to be made of cotton canvass.
weighing Is ounces to th' yard of % inches width;
the yarn of the fabric to be doubled and twisted and
five fold.
Size No. 2 al inches in length and as inches
circumference) to be made OF cotton canvass.
weighing l5 ounces to the yard OF II inches IN
width, and the cloth to be woven in every respect
like that of the frat size of bags.
Size No. (32 inches in length and 3S-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. l and 2 are TO be
made with sufficient number OF eyelet- 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 /, 4S inches in length and 6O inches in
circumference.
Size No. 2. Al inches in length and is inches in
circumference.
Size No 3, SO inches in length and AZ inches i'll
Size No. 4, 80 inches in length and 80 inches in
circumference.
Size No. 5, 20 inches in length and y 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 ounces.
and for the smaller sizes not less than ounces the
square foot; the bottom and flap to be OF good SKIRT.
ing leather, we'll tanned, and the seams 20 be well
and strongly secured with the bestlron rive's wen
timed.
The canvass nouches are to be made of densely-
woven canvass SO as to resist water, like the can
vass pouches in for the mail service.
HORSE MAIL BAGS, (IN sADDLE-BAds roRM)
Size No. /. Body 46 inches long and 40 inchesin
circumference at widest parts.
Size No. q Body ~ inches long and SO inchesin IN
circumference at widest parts.
Size No. 3. Body ~ inches long and 80 inches in
circumference at widest parts.
Ends or bottoms of size No. l, IL by "a inches
Do do do No. 2, IL by % do
Do do do No. 3, 10 by % do
The leather horse mail bags are to be made Of
good and substantial bag leather, we'll tanned,
Weighing not ess than ounces to the square foot,
and the seams to be well and strongly sewed or, II
riveted, to be done neither to chafe horse nor
rider. r
The canvass horse mail bags to be made of
the same quality of fabric as the pouches above
described.
DROP LETTER POUCHES, (wITH SIDE PocxET)
Size % inches in len 9Th and % inches in crcum-
ference.
Proposals for Improvement ts 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 as
price of such Improvement, will be considered In
determining the lowest and best bidder.
Grj- All the articles contracted for are to bede-
lvered at the contractors expense, at Boston Mas
snchusetts; New York and Buffalo, New York;
Philadelphia and Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; Bal.i-
more, Maryland; Washington, ID. c.; Charleston,
South Carolina; Macon, Georgia; Huntsville, Ala
bama; New Orleans, Louisiana; Nashville. Tennes-
see; Louisville, kentucky; Cincinnati, OHIO; 81.
Louis, Missouri, in such proportions and at sSch
times as the Department may require; wnere tney
are to be rigidly inspected and none are to % re-
ceived 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 Inc
competency and ability ofthe bidder to execute tho
work according to contract.
The specimens must be delivered at the Depart
rnent on or before the 2lst day of April next and
will, in connexion with the proposals. form the ba
ss of the contracts.
The bidder or bidders chosen will be required to
give bond with sufficient sureties Ito be SO csrti-
fed TO by the Postmaster of the place where he or
they may resde,) in sum of money double the
amount of contract, for faithful performance Oh
the obligations entered into.
I 1t having been suggested by Postmasters of ex-
perience and others that the common canvass bags,
first above described, (of sizes Nos. and %
should be made 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-
auircd, the number, kinds and sizes OF bags
manufac tured for the of the Department during
the year from the let july lS+9, TO the 3Oth june
! 1850, are given follows l52 No. !, S3S No. 2,
/ 776 No. 3, TAI No. 4, and 290 No pouches; 25t
4 No |, 332 No ., and 276 No. 3 horse bags; and
6575 No. l, ,525 No. 2, and 274 No. common can
rass bags
The proposals should be endorsed " Proposoi'
for Mad Bags" and be addressed to the Postmaster
| General.
NJ X. HALL, Postmaster General.
| Dec 2S