The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-04-26
FURNISHING MAIL LOOKS AND lknrs


MAacn IL, 1851
TT BEING DESIRABLE to substitute locks and
key: q some other kind for those now il ucs for
the mail service Of the United States, apecimsn
locks and keys, with proposals. 70 furnish The same.
will h. received and considered ct the Post Office
Department until the first day Of July nsxt.. The
for examination and report. Upon this report,
contracts will, a. soon a. praoticAbles ~ entered
into for furniahipg such locks and keys FIR four
years. with the right on the part Of the Ppstmaster
General for the time being TO extend and continue
the contract In forco for additional term az four
years, by giving to tho contractor written notice
to that effect. mot more than nine nor les than ak
months before the Termination Of the hrst term Of
with = view Of procuring the best lock 1t the
lowest price, no Kind Of lock i prescribed = :
on IS
composition, now invited, may develop. II Il, how
ever. proper to state. that lock suitable for the
mail service should possess the following quail
ties. Wig durability, uniformity, ightness, and
strength. " q, 49,, s. M - 8sfs ~
For the purpose OF displaciDg simultaneously air
the mail locks and keys now In use. about thirty
adapted thereto will Be required Is be furnishsd 81
the contractor within seven months after the CON-
tract shall have been entered into; aferwards tho
annual supply will depend on the durability Of the
locks and keys adopted, a. well Al tho increase Of
the mail service; but It will probably never exceed
in amount three thousand of the lormer and one
thousand Of the latter. M 49, 81 s.,.i N &C., ,1.g
no lock Will L CONSIDERED II ~ D. Ike any AL
ready IN general use; nor viii any one With whom
the contract may be made be allowed to make, sell,
or furnish any lock or key similar to those CON-
tracted for for any other purpose or use than that of
the Post Office Department. as ~ 49,
The kind Of lock adopted must be patented. and
the patentee will be required, entering into
tract, TO make assignment of bic patent for the
exclusive use and benefit Of the Department, If the
Postmaster General shall deem such requirement
essenal TO the interests Of the service IN case OF
the failure OF the contractor at any time 70 fulhl
faithfully the terms and conditions Of his contract,
the Postmaster General shall have the rieht, be-,
sides resort to the penal remedy hereinafter mem
toned 70 annu said contract, and to contract anew
with any other partyov parties he may it, for
furnishing similar locks and keys. VAN s,@
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens
offered, the Postmaster General may deem II exps-
bidder, and for the way malls that Of another He
reserves, therefore, the right OF contracting with
different individuals for such different kinda Of
locks a. be may select, and also tho right q reject
all tho specimens and proposals, II be ehaI deem
that for the interest Of the Department. The
party or parties contracting will DO required 70
give bond, with ample security, in the sum Of
thirty thousand dollars for faithful performance
Of the contract Tho contract II 70 contain provi-
sions for the duo 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 succeesful bidder, IL bid should BE accepted.
No application will be considered II mot accom-
panied with satisfactory evidence Of the truetwor-
Thy character Of the bidder, and Of bin ability to
NIX. HALL. Postmaster General
Mar 17-Is 'f1E .flit II fFt