The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-10-18
for BUILDING SIX SCHOON-
ERs FOR THE U. 8. REVENUE SERVICE.
TsEAsuaY DEPARTMENT, Sept. %, 1855

~~~N'
TREAsURy DEPARTMENT, Sept %, 1852.
SEALED PROPOSALS, distinctly endorsed
- Proposals for Revenue Vessels" and address.
ed to the Secretary Of the Treasury, will be re;
ceiyed at this Office until IL o'clock of the 22d
day of November next, for furnishing the mate
rails, constructing, equipping, and delivering
ahoat six schooners for the United States revenue
service, viz:
Two topsail and four fore and aft pilot boat built
schooners, the former one hundred and fifty and
the latter one hundred and twenty tons, custom
house measurement.
The models and plans to be furnished by the con-
tractor, and the vessels to be completed within four
months from the signing of the contract.
SPECIFICATIONS FOR ToPsAIL sCHooNERs.
The keels of white oak, to be ten inches wide and
twelve inches deep below the rabbit. The whole of
the floor timbers to be Of white oak, and their shape
to be Of natural growth Keelsons, Of same mate
rials ten by twelve inches. Every alternate floor
timber to be bolted through it and the keel with
copper bolts, seven -eighths OF an inch thick The
remaining floor timbers to be fastened through the
keel and keelson with copper bolts one inch thick.
Deadwood, Of white oak; apron, knight. heads,
and transoms of live oak, and all to be fully and
securely fastened with copper bolts seven eighths
of one inch diameter; all the copper bots in the
vessel to go through and be riveted on composition
rings.
Frames of white oak, to be placed two feet apart
from centre to CENTRE to mould twelve inches at the
heel and ak inches at the head, and to side eight
inches. Each futtock Of same materials as floors;
the shape to be of natural growth, and to scarf not
less than four feet, with two bolts in each scarf.
Top timbers to be of locust, and the frame to be
solid from aft as far as the poop-deck extends, and
forward from the fore rigging. Bulwarks to be
cold forward of the fore rigging, and to be planked
inside and out with two-inch white oak plank. The
remaining portion of the bulwarks to be single, and
of two inch white pine plank, and the whole of the
deck. bulwarks wales, &c, to be plugged.
Stancheons to be of locust, perfectly clean and
sound, and to side seven inches.
The bottom to be planked with the best white
oak plank, three inches thick. Wales of like
ma terias four inches thick. Three srakes of full
thickness, and two other strakes to diminish to
the thickness Of the bottom. The bottom to be
fastened with two composition spikes, seven inches
long, and two locust tree-nails one and one.
eighth inch in each frame, and to be butt bolted
throughout with copper bolts five eighths of one
inch diameter, and four strakes on the bilge to
be fastened with copper bolts three quarters of one
inch diameter, and not more than four feet
apart.
The ceiling to be of yellow pine two inches
thick except four bilge- strakes, which are to be
of oak, four inches thick, and be fastened with
two spikes in each frame.
inches thick and ten inches wide, and each strake
to scarf six feet each side with two bolts three:
quarters of one inch diameter in each frame and
strake, going through outside plank.
Deck frame to be of yellow pine; beams to mould
six inches the ends and nine inches in the
centres and to side not less than ten inches, with
carlines at proper intervals; beams on the average
not over four feet apart. To be thoroughly secured
with lodge and bosom knees, and hanging knees
under each alternate beam. The whole to be tho
roughly fastened, and no root knees will be ad-
mitted Waterways to be OF white pine nine by
thirteen inches, and to be thoroughly fastened to
the beams and side The deck edge Of the water
way to be chined on inches.
The main deck to be of white pine, free from
knots and shakes, three inches thick and six
inches wide, except three strakes on each side,
-. sc ~
materials and width, but four inches in thickness
which three strakes will be let over the beams and
carines, and bolted through the side and water
ways with bolts five. eighths OF one inch diameter
and not more than four feet apart. Main deck to
be fastened with two six inch iron spikes in each
beam and strake, and one in each carline.
Hatch and mast combings to be of mahogany,
covered with composition plates on the top and
corners.
Plank. shear and main rail Of yellow pine, three
inches thick.
Hammock rail and nettings to be finished in the
usual manner. Full poop deck, fush with the
main rail, and with cockpit aft. Beams OF poop
deck Of white pine, and deck of like materials
two and one half inches in thickness; and the
! whole to be securely kneed and fastened to the
frame.
Forecastle deck to extend to the bowsprit bits.
Berth deck to be of white ash and laid in matches,
and furnished with all necessary fastenings The
copper fastenings of the bottom to be carried one
foot above the load line. The bottom to be paned
and all the wood and iron work to be covered with
| three coats of best paint. The bottom to have a
coat of turpentine and tallow, and TO be cop
| pered to the load line with pure sheathng copper
| and Of twenty four and twenty, six ounce copper
| not less than one-half of twenty-six ounce. 10
furnish all the spars OF every description, fully
fitted, and placed in their proper positions. The
lower masts to be of white pine, and the residue Of
the spars Of spruce, free from knots. TO furnish
all the iron brass, and plumbers work, (includine
two patent closets) in any way connected with
the hull blocks, and rigging, with the excep-
ton ofanchors, chains, water tanks, and armament
To furnish and fit up on board OF each vessel two
copper pumps, Of suitable size and fixtures, with
| two complete sets of gear, and extra boxes Io
| furnish all the blocks with iron work complete
All blocks of greater dimensions than seven inches
| to be plank blocka, and provided with friction
rollers and all of less size with iron pins and
bushes. To furnish capstan, steering apparatus,
and six patent side lights Of the best description
To furnish the materials, fastenings, &C., usual
| on board Of revenue vessels, and execute every
description of work usually denominated joiner's
work, and in any manner connected with the YES
sells. In fact, to furnish all the materials neces.
sary; execute all the before mentioned work in O
faithful manner, and to the satisfaction Of the su
perintendent and deliver the vessels atioat in q
safe harbor the Atlantic, fully rugged, furnish
| ed, and equipped as above, and flushed to a clea
with the exception Of sails, chains, anchors, arma
ment, water-tanks, camboose, nautical instru
ments cabin and ward room furniture, and boats
The materials, spars, cordage, &c, TO be all o
son as may be designated by the Department t.
superntend the construction of these vessels; ant
all the iron work exposed to the weather TO b
properly galvanized. If none of the bids are salts
factory to the Department, it will be at liberty tf
decline accepting any OF them; and also OF increas
ing the number Of the topsail schooncrs instead o
the fore and aft schooners.
The same specifications for the fore and af
schooners to be rugged and finished above deck i!
the usual manner Of pilot boats, and with trunl
cabin.
No proposal will be considered unless receive.
from persons engaged in ship building: And eac
offer must be accompanied by the signatures Q
two responsible persons as suretics for the faithu
fuIflment Of the contract.
| One half OF the amount Of contract will be pail
on presentation of satisfactory evidence that th
vessels panked up, ceied, and the decks laid
and the balance the delivery of the vessels CON-
pleted.
Bidders will furnish with their offers sub. specif
cations of the manner in which these general spec
| ficafions are to be carried out.
1t is not the wish Of the Department to have a
these cutters built at any one port or by one col
tractor; and proposals therefore also invited ft
ono or both of the two topsail schooners, and or