The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-06-02

Posr OFFICE DEPARTMEST,
Rr.. IA lAEl

Posr OFFICE DEPARTMENT.,
MARCH IA, 1851.
TT BEING DESIRABLE to substitute locks and
i KEYS of some other kind for those now In use Tor
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 Ouice
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 on the part OF the
General for the time being TO extend and continue
the contract in force for additional term OF four
years, by giving TO the contractor written notice
TO that effect not than nine nor less than six
aonths before the termination OF the first term OF
four years.
With view of procuring the best lock ut the
lowest price, no kind Of lock Is prescribed as
standard, the Department relying for selec ton
on the mechanical skill and ingenuity which n falr
competition, now invited, may develop. IL is. how
ever, proper to state. that lock suitable for the
mail service should possess the following quail.
ties, viz: durability, uniformity, hghtness' and
strength.
For the purpose of dispacing simultaneously all
the mail locks and keys now In use. about thirty
thousand new locks and twenty thousand keys
adapted thereto will he required to 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 as well as the increase OF
the mail services but il will probably never exceed
in amount three thousand Of the former and one
thousand of the latter.
No lock will be considered if it be like any al
ready in general use; nor will any one with whom
the contract may be made be allowed to make, sell,
or furnish any lock or key similar to those con-
racted for for any other purpose or 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-
tract TO make asst gnment of his patent for the
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 fulfill
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 annul said contract, and to contract anew
with any other party parties he may tit for
furnishing similar locks and keys.
Ia deciding upon the proposals and specimens
offered, the Postmaster General may deem II expe-
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 proyi-
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
sions to be arranged between the Department and
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 17-1awtjyl