The republic., 1851-06-07
FuRsIsalse MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
Posr OrFIcE DEPARTnEsr,
MARCH IA. 1851.


MARcH IA, 1851.
TT BEING DESIRABLE to substitute locks and
i keys Of some other kind for those now in 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 a commission
for examination and report Upon this report.
contracts will as soon as practicable, be catered
into for furnishing such locks and keys for four
years. with the right ON the part OF the Postmaster
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 more than nine 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 ID prescribed as a
standard. the Department relying for selection
ON the mechanical skill and ingenuity which fair
competition, now invited, may develop II is, how
ever, proper 10 state, that "A lock suitable for the
mail service should possess the following quali-
ties, viz durability, uniformity, hghtness, and
strength.
For the purpose OF displacing simultaneously all
the mail locks and keys now In use. about thirty
thousand locks and twenty thousand keys
adapted thereto will he required to be furnished by
the contractor within months after the con-
tract shall have besn entered into; afterwards the
annual supply will depend ON the durability OF the
loc ks and keys adopted, well as the increase Of
the mail service; but it will probably 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 simiar to those con-
racted for for any other purpose than that of
The Post Office Department.
The kind Of lock adopted must be patented, and
the patentee will he required, on entering into con-
tract, to make assign nent Of his patent for the
exclusive use and benefit Of the Department. if the
Postmaster General shall deem such requirement
essential to the interests of the service Ia of
faithfully the terms and conditions Of hs 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 anew
with any other party or parties as he may tit, for
furnishing similar locks and keys.
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens
offered, the Postmaster General may deem il expe-
dient 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
all the specimens and proposals. if he shall deem
that for the interest of the Department The
party parties contracting will be required to
give bond, with ample security, in the sum OF
thirty thousand dollars for faithful perfor ormance
of the contract. The contract 10 to contain provi
sons for the due and proper inspection Of the locks
and keys and aiso for guarding against their pass
ing into improper hands; the terms of these provi
sions 10 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 l7-lawtjyl