The republic., 1851-04-09
FuRN1sn1sG MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
Posr OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
MARCH IA. 1851. .L-


TT BEING DESIRABLE to substitute locks and
i keys of other kind for those now in use 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 Tho
different locks will be submitted to commission
for examination and report. Upon this report,
into for furnishing such locks and keys for four
years, with the right 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 is prescribed q
| standard, the Department relying for o selection
on the mechanical skill and ingenuity which fair
competition, now invited, may develop. It is. how
ever proper to state. that lock suitable for the
mail service should possess the following quail
ties, viz: durability, uniformity, ightncss, and
strength.
For the purpose of displacing simultaneously all
the mail locks and keys now in use, about thirty
thousand new locks and twenty thousand keys
adapted thereto will be 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. well a. 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 if it be like any al
ready IN general use; nor Will any one with WnOm
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 than that of
the Post Office Department.
The kind of lock adopted must be patented, and
the patentce will be required, entering into
tract to make an assignment 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 case of
the failure of the contractor at any time to lfull
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 oannul said contract, and to contract
with any other party parties as he may fit for
| furnishing similar locke and keys.
| In deciding upon the proposals and specimens
offered, the Postmaster General may deem II expe
dient 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 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 thcN of
thirty thousand dollars, for faithful performance
of the contract. The contract il to contain provi
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 tho Department and
| 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-lawtivI 4,