The republic., 1851-06-11
ruRsIsHIse MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
Posr OFFICE DErAnrnxsr,
M.pca II. 1901.


TT BEING DESIRABLE to substitute locks aao
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 furnisn tne sso
will be received and considered at the Foet Oineo
Depnrtm ent until the first day OF July next. Inc
different locks will be submitted to a commission
for examination and report Upon this report:
contracts will, az soon as practicable, De entesco
into for furnishing such locks and keys ior Iour
years. with the right the part Of the Postmaster
General for che time being 10 extend and continue
the contract In force for additional term oil iour
years, by giving TO tho contractor written Dotice
to that effect, not than nine lees than six
months before the termination Of the first term OF
four years.
With view of procuring the beat lock at the
lowest price, no kind of lock is prescribed as
standard, the Department relying for selection
on the mechanical skiil and ingenuity which ta,s
compe ttion, invited, may develop. II Ia, how
ever proper to state. that lock suitable Tor the
mail service should possess the following guam.
ties, viz durability, uniformity, lightness, and
strength :,
For the purpose of displacing simultaneously all
the mail locks and keys now in use, about thry
thousand new locks and twenty thousand keys
adapted thereto will be required be furnished by
the contractor within seven months after the con-
tract shall have been entered into; afterwards tne
annual supply will depend on the durabiiity OF the
locks and keys adopted, as well as the increase OF
the mail service; but it will probably never exceed
in amount three thousand of the former and one
thousand of the latter.
No lock Will be considered II II DC ike any al
ready in general use; will any one with whom
the contract may be made be allowed TO make, sel,
or furnish any lock or key similar to those con.
tactcd for for any other purpose use than that OF
The Post Office Department.
The kind of lock adopted must be patented, and
The patentee will be required. entering into con-
truct to mn ke assignment OF his patent Tor the
exclusive use and benefit Of the Department, II the
Postmaster General shall deem such requirement
Essential to the interests Of the service. In case OF
the failure of the contractor at any time to fuinl
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 10 contract anc"
with any other party parties as he may see nv ZOE
furnishing similar locks and keys.
In deciding upon the proposals aud speei"cnS
offered, the Postmaster General may deem II expe-
dient 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 Tor such different kinds OF
locks as he may select, and also the right to reject
all the specimens and proposals ii he shall deem
that course for the interest of the Department Ine
party or parties contracting will be required 10
give bond, with ample eecurity, in the sum Oh
thirty thousand dollars, for faithful performance
of the contract. The contract 10 to contain provl
sions 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.
si0ns to be arranged between the Department ana
the successful bidder, if bid should be accepted.
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 l7-Iawtiv1