The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-03-21
FURNISHING MAIL LOOKS AND KEYS.


Posr OFFICE DEPARrMENT,
MAHcH IA, 1851.
TT BEING DESIRABLE to subssitute locks and
i keys Of some other kind for those now In use for
the mail service of the United States, specimen
locks and keys with proposals to furnish the same
will be received and considered at the Post Office
Department until the first day Of July next. The
different locks will be submitted to q commission
for examination and report. Upon this report,
contracts will as soon as practicable, be entered
into for furnishing such locks and keys for four
years, with the right the part Of tho Postmaster
General for the time being 70 extend and continue
the contract in force for additional term Of four
years, by giving to the contractor written notice
to that effect not more than nine nor less than six
months before the termination Of the first term of
four years
With view Of procuring the best lock at the
| lowest price, no kind of lock is prescribed
| standard, the Department relying for selection
| on the mechanical skill and ingenuity which fair
competition, now invited, may develop. II ia, how
ever, proper to state. that lock suitable for the
| mail service should possess the following quail
| ties, viz durability, uniformity, ightness, and
strength.
For the purpose of displacing simultaneously all
the mail locks and keys now in use, about thirty
| thousand new locks and twenty thousand keys
adapted thereto will be required to be furnished BY
the contractor within months after the con-
tract shall have been entered into; afterwards the
annual supply will depend the durability Of the
locks and keys adopted, as well the increase Of
the mail service; but it will probably exceed
| in amount three thousand of the former and one
No lock will be considered If it be like any al
| ready in general use; will any one with whom
the contract may be made be allowed to make, SELL
or furnish any lock or key similar to those
trncted Tor Tor any other purpose than that Of
the Post Office Department
The kind of lock adopted must be patented, and
tho paentee will be required, entering into con-
tract to make assignment of his patent for tho
exclusive and benefit of the Department, if the
Postmaster General shall deem such requirement
essential to tho interests of the service In of
faithfully the terms and conditions Of his contract.
| the Postmaster General shall have the right, be-
sides resort to the penal remedy hereinafter men
toned to annul said contract, and to contract
with any other party parties he may fit for
furnishing similar ocks and keys.
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens
offered, the Postmaster General may deem it expo
dent to select for the through mails the lock of one
bidder, and for the way mails that of another. He
reserves, therefore, the right of contracting with
different individuals for such different kinds of
locks he may select and also the right to reject
all the specimens and proposals., if he shall deem
that course for the interest Of the Department The
party or parties contracting will be required to
give bond, with ample security, in the sum of
thirty thousand dollars, for faithful performance
OF the contract. The contract is to contain provi-
sons for the due and proper inspection Of the locks
and keys and also for guarding against their pass
ing into improper hands; the terms of these provi
sions to be arranged between the Department and
No application will be considered if not accom-
panied with satisfactory evidence Of the trustwor-
thy character of the bidder, and of his ability to
fulfil the contract.
N. X. HALL, Postmaster General.
Mar I7--1awtjyl