The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-02-10
PROPOSALS FOR MAIL BAGS.

PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT.,
DECEMBER "a, $780,
S,EALED PROPOSALS will be received at this
~ Department until9 O'Clock a m of the 2lst day
April next for furnishing for four years from the
hrst 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 wit; l
CANVASS MAIL BAGS.
Size No (43 inches in length and 81 inches in
Icircumference) TO be made of cotton canvass,
weighing 10 ounces to the yard Of % inches width;
the yarn of the fabric TO be doubled and twisted and
five fold.
Size No. (4l inches in length and 4S inches in
lcircumference) to be made Of cotton canvass,
| weighing Is 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. 3 (32 inches in length and 3o inches in
Icircumfercncc) to DO 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 eyelet- holes, and
provided with strong cord to secure their mouths
All are to be marked inside and outside thus: ".
8. 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
SAAo ASos ~ ~ AhSACo IA vi uhu iAShCo Ah
circumference.
Size No. 4, 80 inches in length and sc 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 not less than ounces.
and for the smaller sizes not legs 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 rvets well
timed.
The canvass pouches are to be made of denscly-
woven canvass, to resist water, like the can
vass pouches now in use for the mail service.
HORSE MAIL BAGS, (IN SADDLE BAGS roRM.)
Size No. 1. Body 46 inches long and 40 inches in
circumference at widest parts.
Size No. 2. Body A inches long and SO inchesin
circumference at widest parts
Size No. 8. Body ~ inches long and 80 inches in
circumference at widest parts.
Ends or bottoms of size No. I, ~ by "a inches.
Do do do No. 9, II by % 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 done neither to chafe horse
rider.
The canvass horse mail bags arc to be made of
the same quality of fabric as the pouches above
described.
DROP LETTER POUCHES, with SIDE tocKEr.)
Size 26 inches in length and 2S inches in circum-
fere11e
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.
| @- All the articles contracted for are to be de-
livercd, at the expense, at Boston, Mns-
sachusetts; New York and Buffalo, New York,
Philadelphia and Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; Balti-
more, Maryland; Washington, d. c.; Charleston,
South Carolina; Macon, Georgia; Huntsville, Ala
bama; New Orleans, Louisiana; Nashville, Tennes-
see; Louisville, Kentucky; Cincinnati, Ohio; ST
Louis, Missouri, in such proportions and at such
times the Department may require; where they
are to be rigidly inspected, and none are to be re-
ceived which shall be inferior in any respect to the
specimensor 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 thu
competency and ability ofthe bidder to execute tn.
work according to contract.
The specimens must be delivered at the Depart
ment on or before the 2lst day of April next, ane
will, in connexon with the proposals, form the ba
sis of the contracts.
The bidder or bidders chosen will be required te
give bond. with sufficient sureties, Ito be 30 certi
fcd to by the Postmaster of the place where he OF
they may reside,) in sum of money double ths
amount of contract, for faithful performance o.
the obligations entered into.
II having been suggested by Postmasters of ex-
perience and others that the common canvass bags
first above described, (of sizes Nos and g.
should be made SO as to be locked, proposals and
specimens invited for canvass bags constructed
accordingly, with the addition also of handle al
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 let july lS49. to the 3Oth June
1850, are given as follows l52 No. !, S3S No. 2.
TIC No. 8, TAT No. 4, and 290 No. pouches; 254
No. /, 332 No. 2, and 276 No. 3 horse bags; and
6,575 No. l, l,525 No. g and 274 No. common can
vass bags.
The proposals. should be endorsed :" Proposals
for Mail Bags" and be addressed to thc Postmaster
General.
N. X. HALL, Postmaster General:
Dec %