The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-03-27

Posr OyylcH DnYARrl9nnr,
MACK "a. 1881.

MAncH IA, 1851.
TT BEING DESIRABLE 70 substituta locks and
the mail service Of tho United States. apscimen
locks and keys, with proposals to furnish The same
will be received and considered at tho Poat Once
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, a coon practicable. BE- entered
years. with the right On the part q the fostaster
General for the time being TO extend ana oontinue
the contract in force for additional term az four
years, by giving to tho contractor written notice
to that effect, not more than nine nor eas than sx
months before the termination Of the Hrst term Of
four years.
lowest price, no Kind Of lock Il prescribed u I
standard, the Department relying for selection
on the mechanical skill and ingenuity which fair
composition, now invited, may develop. It IL, how
mail service should possess the following quail
ties. Wig durability, uniformity, lghtness. and
strength. n
For the purpose of displacing simultaneously all
the mail locks and keys now ia use, about thirty
thousand new locks and twenty thousand keys
adapted thereto will be required to be furnished BY
the contractor within seven months sller the com
tract shall have bean entered into; afterwstds the
annual supply will depend on the durability dfthc
locks and keys adopted, we'll a. the increase of
the mail services but y win probably never s4csed
in amount three thousand of the 1ormcr and one
thousand of the latter.
No lock viii be considered IL it be liz any a..
ready in general use; nor will any ono with Whbm
the contract may be made be allowed makG. peil,
or furnish any lock or key smilar to those con-
tracted for for any other purpose 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 assignment Of his patent for tho
exclusive and benefit Of the Department, II the
Postmaster General shall deem such requirement
essential to the interests Of the service. In Of
the failure Of the contractor at any time 70 lul6l
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 annu said contract, and 10 contract
with any other party parties he may 80 at, for
furnishing similar locks and keys.
In deciding upon tho proposals and specimens
offered, the Postmaster General may deem X oxpe-
dent 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 as he may select, and also the right 70 reject
all the specimens and proposals., If h0 shah deem
that course for the interest of the Depertnent Tho
party or parties contracting will Be required to
give bond, with ample security, in the sum Of
Of the contract The contract II 70 contain provi-
sions for the due and proper inspection Of the locks
and keys, and also for guarding against their paas
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 IL not accom-
panied with satisfactory evidence Of the trustwor-
thy character Of the bidder, and Of his ability to
fulfil the contract.
NIX. HALL. Postmaster General
Mar 17--1awjyl