The times., 1901-06-08
POSTAL SUPPLY CONTRACTS.
American Cotton Cord to he Used for
Binding Letters.

A specia. committee organized to sched-
ule and award contracts for postal sup
plies for the coming fiscal year yester-
day recommended the purchase of equal
quantities of imported jute twine and
American cotton cord for use by the
mailing clerks at all postoffices in the
United States. Last year the sum paid
for such binding twine was $165,OO0 By
the course indicated the department is
expected to save next year about $4,000
and purchase 24O0OO,00c pounds of a su-
perior domestic twine at cost of about
$4,000.
Jute cord was adopted by the postal au-
thorities because it was the only cord
strong enough to tie packets of mail
securely and cheap enough to be used
freely 1t cost proportionately four or
i've years ago about two-thirds Of its
cost today and gave a moderate degree of
satisfaction. Year by year, however, the
price has been advanced, and last winter
the Postmaster General was forced to ask
Congress for a deficiency appropriation of
S65 900 to pay for jute cord already used.
In addition to the increase in cost COM
plants had been received from many
sources during the, year that the cord
rubbed, "scarfed,2 and filled the nostriIs
of clerks. Those two considerations were
responsible for the change. When bids
were asked for 10000 pounds of jute
cord, therefore, the department added to
the usual specification the following note:
Under item III, bids will be received
and considered for portion of this twinc,
not less than 25D 00J, pounds, and for
twines made of any oUher materials which
shall fulTill all the requirements set forth
IN the respective specifications given
above" Five jute and twelve cotton
samples were received. The committee
recomm ended the acceptance Of bids sub
mitted " NJ. d. Helm, of New York; the
Bibb Manufacturing Company, OF Macon,
Ga; J. F. White i& Co., of New York;
f. Colt johnson. of New York, and Davis
5. Walton, of New York. The Helm con-
tracts for tute twiRe- amount TO $59.bl5.
tco twine and involve about $4,000 each.
Tie position taken by the committee of
award Is that cotton at IA points and jute
al II points tensile strength is sufficient
to properly tie up letter packages; that
cotton twine. being cleaner, Of greater
cOrdage, Of domestic materials, and not
affected by foreign wars or plaques, is
therefore to be generally preferred
The entire report was submitted and
approved yesterday. It carries the award
Of contracts for all the supplies ef the
postal service. The amount involved IS
about $3.50 zoe. The report covers about
19J typewritten pages and was prepared
by Messrs. J. NJ. Masten, chief clerk 10
the First Assistant Postmaster General;
Thomas +. Graham, chief of the mail
equipment division and l.. $. Elmer. OF
the POSTMASTER Generals office. Among
its chief items are twine, writing and
wrapping papers, rubber bands. pencils
and other desk supplies, pOstmarking and
rating stamps, and hiking pads. On rub
Der bands the committee effected d saw
ing Of about $685. the allowance this
year being but S6,S3B, and on wrapping
paper saving of about 5000. Postmark-
ing stamps are the only commodity that
has advanced in price.