All the bids, except that of Beals & Dixon, are indefinite as to the quality of cutting (or hammering) proposed, namely: cornice, architrave, capitals, bases of capitals and bases of antæ.

This want of explicitness in most of the bids, and some striking peculiarities (which can hardly be attributed to accident or ignorance) in two or three of them, seem to warrant the conclusion that they were designed to mislead the department as to results, and to avoid a due execution of the work on the part of the contractor, as to style, and the use of proper materials. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Hon. N. P. BANKS, Jr.,

JAMES GUTHRIE.

Secretary of the Treasury.

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

No. 1.-ADVERTISEMENTS FOR PROPOSALS.

TREASURY DEPARTMENT, June 26, 1855.

Proposals will be received at this department until the 27th day of August next, at 12 o'clock m., for furnishing (wrought, fitted, and delivered in a proper state to put into the building) all the material for the exterior walls of the south wing of the extension of the Treasury Department building, which will be either granite or marble, as may hereafter be determined. The bidder whose bid is accepted, to have the privilege of furnishing the material for the outside of the remainder of the building when Congress may have made the neces sary appropriations for its construction, provided that at that time it is deemed for the interest of the United States to give it to him. The department reserving the right to reject the proposals hereby invited, should the interest of the United States require it.

The stones must all be wrought to the dimensions, sizes, models, &c., which may be furnished by this department, by which all measurements will be governed.

On the court or rear side of the exterior, the walls will be plain ashlar, with plain window openings of equal height in the three upper stories, and crowned with a cornice similar to the rear of the present building, without the architrave and frieze.

On the remainder of the exterior walls, the columns and antæ, their capitals and bases, the entablature and balustrade, the window and door dressings, &c., the style of architecture of the present building, so far as ornament is concerned, will be preserved throughout, with the exception of the door and window openings, which may be varied, except those in the east end of the two wings. The sizes. shape, and dimensions of the columns, antæ, capitals, bases, and cross section of the entablature and balustrade, will be the same as in the present building.

If of granite the shaft of the columns may be either in one or three pieces of equal length. The base and capital of the columns and

antæ will each be in one piece. The architrave of the entablature will extend in one length from centre to centre of antæ or column, and those over the latter to be composed of but one block, with both sides and bottom wrought, together with such parts of the top as may be required. Those over the antæ, the outer face and the top and bottom edge.

The face of the ashlar must be perfectly wrought to the sample, with all the necessary heads, rebates, returns, &c., required; the beds, builds, ends, &c., rough hammered to the square. All rebates, mouldings, ornamental and bevelled work must be clean wrought, and agreeable to the directions given by the superintendent.

If marble is used, the shafts of the columns may be in four or five pieces; the architrave in one length from centre to centre of the columns or antæ ; but over the former may be composed of three separate blocks, one lying flatwise, forming the underside and the first member on each edge; forming the inside and outside faces of the same. Those over the antæ must be in one block.

The measurement of the material and work delivered, and the payment thereon, will be made agreeably to the following form and schedule, and all bids must be made accordingly:

Schedule or rule for the measurement of materials to be delivered, viz:

Cornice, per foot in length, including cost of stock, freight, and workmanship..

Architrave over column, including cost of stock, freight, and workmanship....

Architrave over antæ, including cost of stock, freight, and workmanship...

Capitals of columns, each, including cost of stock, freight, and workmanship...

...

Capitals of antæ, each, including cost of stock, freight, and workmanship..

....

Bases of antæ, each, including cost of stock, freight, and workmanship..

Bases of column, each, including cost of stock, freight, and workmanship.

Shafts of column in one piece, including cost of stock, freight, and workmanship...

Shafts of column, in three or more pieces, including cost of stock, freight, and workmanship...

Plain steps, (with a cross section of 1' 7" by 6 to 8 inches,) per foot in length, including cost of stock, freight, and workmanship..

Platforms, 3 feet wide, length not exceeding 10 feet, including stock, freight, and workmanship, per superficial foot of surface seen · ·

For any greater width than 3 feet, up to 8 feet, an increase of price per superficial foot for each additional 3 inches of width of...

$

All the other stones of the building whose width does not exceed three times their thickness will he measured as follows: The stock in all stones whose contents do not exceed 30 cubic feet will be measured and paid for by the cubic contents, at per cubic foot.....

For all stones exceeding 30 feet and not exceeding 70 cubic feet, for each additional foot an additional price of, per cubic foot.....

.....

For all stones exceeding 70 cubic feet in contents. for each additional foot an additional price of, per cubic foot....

For stones of greater width than three times their thickness, there will be paid an additional price of per cent. for each additional three inches in width.

The work on the above will be measured and paid for by the superficial foot. For each superficial foot of fine hammered granite work seen, equal to

No. 1 hammering on Boston custom-house, per superficial

foot....

No. 2 hammering on Boston custom-house, per superficial foot....

No. 3 hammering on Boston custom-house, per superficial foot...

No. 4 hammering on Boston custom-house, per superficial foot...

For all beds, builds, ends, backs, &c., hammered full to the square, as ordered, per superficial foot....

$

Each bidder to furnish a sample-a cube of one foot of the stone he proposes to deliver, with five faces hammered, giving on four sides his understanding of the above four qualities of hammering, the fifth side, his rough hammering; while the sixth may show the rough stock; and this will be used as a standard in judging of the stock delivered.

If of marble, the face of the ashlar must be hammered in the most perfect manner, agreeably to a sample of the size above named, to be furnished by the bidder; and the surface seen will be measured and paid for at $per superficial foot.

For hammering of beds, builds, backs, &c., full to the square, as per same, $ per superficial foot.

If the above is sand-rubbed,

per cent. is to be added.

For hammering of channels and rebates, not exceeding 4 by 2 inches, cent additional per lineal foot.

For hammering of mouldings of one curve, tional upon the cost of plain work; of two curves,

plain work, per superficial foot.

Each arris on same,

cents per

lineal foot.

per cent. addi

per cent. upon

For hammering bevelled work, per cent. additional to plain work; but to apply only to the part cut off from the square work. and which is in no case to be measured in the plain work.

For hammering of circular work, work.

per cent. additional to plain

Ninety per cent. of the amount of the work done and material delivered, according to the contract price, (said amount to be ascertained by the estimate of the superintendent appointed for that purpose,) will be paid from time to time as the work proceeds, and ten per cent. retained until the completion of the contract and acceptance of the work, &c., by the superintendent aforesaid.

Contracts will be awarded only to master-builders or mechanics; and the assignment thereof, except by consent of the Secretary of the Treasury, will be a forfeiture of the same.

Every proposal must be accompanied by a written guarantee, signed by two responsible persons, (certified to be so by the district attorney or judge of the said district,) that the bidder will, when required, if his proposals be accepted, enter into a contract and bond, with proper and sufficient securities, in the sum of fifty thousand dollars, for the faithful performance of the same. if for the whole work, and of a proportionate amount if for a part thereof. Any information touching the matter can be obtained by application to the Treasury Department.

Proposals will also be received up to the aforesaid date for furnishing and delivering at the site, by the perch, the rough stone for the foundation, cellar, and area walls of said building, and must be of the very best description for that purpose. They will be required in such quantities and at such times as will be most for the convenience of the operation on the work, and in quality to the entire approval of the superintendent. The department reserving the right to reject the proposals hereby invited if the interest of the United States should require it.

The proposals must be sent to this department, directed to the superintendent, under cover to the Secretary of the Treasury, (indorsed "Materials for the Treasury Building Extension,") and will be opened at one o'clock p. in. of the last day fixed for receiving the same, in the presence of the bidders, if any choose to attend.

Enquirer, Richmond, Va.; Sentinel, Alexandria, Va.; Intelligencer and Star, Washington, D. C.; Sun and Republican, Baltimore, Md.; Pennsylvanian, Philadelphia; Day Book and Sun, New York; Post, Boston; Argus, Portland, Me.; Patriot, Concord, N. H.; and Argus, Albany, N. Y., two times each week for sixty days. Bill to be sent to Secretary of the Treasury.

A. H. BOWMAN, Sup't of Treasury Building Extension.

No. 2.-BIDS AND PROPOSALS.

Treasury Extension.-Synopsis of bids for granite, and lowest marble bid.