The republic., 1851-06-10
FunsIsaIsa MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
Posr OFYicE DEPARTMEsr,
MAucH ID. 1881

MARcH IL, 1901.
TT BEING DESIRABLE to substitute locks and
i keys of some other kind for lhose 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 commission
for examination and report Upon this report
contracts will, soon as practicable, be entered
into for furnishing such locks and keys for four
years. with the right the part Of the Postmaster
General Tor the time being to extend and continue
the contract in forcofor additional term Of four
years, by giving TO the contractor a written notice
to that effect, not than nine nor less than ak
months before the termination OF the frat term vi
four years
With view of procuring the best lock at the
lowest price, no kind Of lock ia preeo ii as "a
standard. the Department relying for Vselec, ZION
on the mechanical skill and Ingenuity which u fair
competition, now invited may develop. II IL, how
ever. proper to state. that lock suitable for the
mail service should possess the following quail
ties, viz durability, uniformity, lightness, and
strength.
For the purpose of dispIacing simultaneously all
the mail locks and keys now ia usc about thirty
thousand new locks and twenty thousand keys
adapted thereto will terequired 10 be furnished by
the contractor within seven months after the con-
tract shall have been entered into; afterwards the
annual supply will depend ON the durability OF the
locks and keys adopted, well the increase Of
in amount three thousand of the former and one
thousand of the latter.
No lock will be considered if 1t be like any al
ready in general use; nor will any with whom
the contract may be made be allowed to make, sell,
or furnish any lock or key similar to those con-
raced for for any other purpose than that OF
The Post Office Department.
The kind OF lock adopted must be patented, and
lhe patentee will he required, entering into con-
tract, to make an assignment of his patent for tho
exclusive and benefit Of the Department, If the
Postmaster General shall deem such requirement.
essential to the interests Of the service. In OF
the failure OF the contractor at any time to fulfil
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 anew
with any other party parties he may fit, for
furnishing similar locks and keys.
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens
offered, the Postmaster General may deem it expe-
dient to select for the through mails the lock Of
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 performs
OF the contract The contract is to contain provi-
sions for the due and proper inspection of the locks
and Keys and also for guarding against their pass
ing into improper hands; the of these proyi-
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 10
fulfil the contract
N. X. HALL, Postmaster General.
Mar I7--lawtjyl