The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-03-31

Posr OrrIcE DEPAarMxHr,
March IA lR61 .


MARCH IA, 1861.
TT BEING DESIRABLE to substitute locks and
IL keys of some 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. The
different locks will be submitted to commission
for examination and report. Upon this report,
contracts will, a. soon as practicable, be entered
into for, furnishing such locks and keys for four
years. with the right on the part Of the Postmaster
the contract in lorce for additioal term Of four
years. by giving TO the contractor written notice
TO that effect, not more than nine nor lese than six
months before the termination Of the first term Of
with view Of procuring the best lock at tho
lowest price, no kind Of lock 10 prescribed as
standard, the Department relying for selection
competition, now invited, may develop, 1t ia, how
ever, proper to state. that lock suitable for the
mail service should possess the following quail
ties, viz durability, uniformity, hghtness, and
For the purpose Of displacing simultaneously all
the mail locks and keys now in use. about thirty
thousand new locke and twenty Thousand keys
adapted thereto will be required to be furnishod BY
the contractor within seven months after the cone
tract shall have been entered into; afterwards the
annual supply will depend the durability Of the
the mail service but ii win probably never exceed
in amount three thousand Of tho former and one
thousand Of the latter. yiss,5 81 s..5b ID I'LL sei
NO lock Will Do COu6lQereQ II ~ DO llko any al
ready in general use; nor will any one with whom
the contract may be madc be allowed to make, sell.
or, furnish any lock or key similar to those oon-
ractcd for for any other purpose or use than that OF
tho Post Once Department. .s hsgifa $50 aYQ1t
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, il 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 fulfil
faithfully the terms and conditions of his contract,
the Postmaster General shall have the right, be-
sides resort TO the penal remedy hereinafter mon
toned to annul said contract, and to contract
with any other partyo parties as he may sec it, for
furnishing similar locks and keys.
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens
offered, the Postmaster General may deem il expe-
dent to select for the through mails the lock Of ono
bidder, and for the way mails that of another. He
different individuals for such different kinds Of
locks he may select, and also tho right to reject
all the specimens and propQealss il thQ ahall deem
that course for th6 interest AZ tke pepaTt Tho
party or parties contfacx1n9 Win 81 f64a4tGd ~
give bond, with auplU teduritys "a The gs&an o&
thirty thousand dolIasg TT fhfateuA ~ ru6ance
Of the contract. The comtTAct iesx0 cpn1 t~vt-
sions for the due and proper luepact1qn a. ~ n4f
and keys. and also ibf guarding 64htnSt &hear pa9e
ing into improper handss the terms of thdee pro9f
sions to be arranged between the Department agnd
the successful bidder, if bid should be accepted
No application will DO considered if not accom-
thy character Of the bidder and of his ability to
fulfil the contract.Gsf 100 s e'saW ,XfeP =
N. X. HALL, Postmastcr General.
Mar l7-1awfiv1 s