The republic., 1851-04-11
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
PosT OFrIcR DEPARrMENr,
MARCH IA. 1851,

MARCH IA, 1851.
TT BEING DESIRABLE to substitute locks and
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 Once
Department until the first day Of July next The
for examination and report. Upon this report,
contracts will, 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 force for additional term Of four
years. by giving to the contractor written notice
10 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 ab q
standard, the Department relying for q selection
on the mechanical skill and ingenuity which fair
competition, now invited, may develop. II 10, how
ever, proper to state, that lock suitable for the
mail service should possess the following quail
ties, viz durability, uniformity, lightness, 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 com
tract shall have been entered into; Afterwards the
annual supply will depend on the durability Of the
locks and keys adopted, as well as 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 il be like any al
ready in general use; nor will any one with whom
the contract may be made be allowed to make, cell,
or furnish any lock or key similar 10 those con-
tracted for for any other purpose thenthat of
the Post Office Department.
The kind Of lock adopted must be patented, and
the patentce will be required, entering into con-
tract, to make an assignment of his patent for tho
exclusive use and benefit of the Departments If the
Postmaster General shall deem such requirement
essential to the interests of tho service. In case of
the failure Of the contractor at any time 70 fulfil
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 annu said contract, and to contract anew
with any other party or parties az he may zee IT. for
furnishing similar locks and keys
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens
offered, the Postmaster General may deem Il oxpe-
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
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
give bond, with ample security, in the sum of
thirty thousand dollars, for faithful performance
OF the contract. The contract IL to contain provi
sons for the due and proper inspection of tho locks
and keys and also for guarding against their pass
ing into improper hands, the terms OF these pfovi-
stons to be arranged between the Department and
the successful bidder if bid should be accepted.
No application will be considered If not accom-
panied with satsfactory evidence of the trustwor-
thy character OF the bidder, and Of his ability to
fulfil the contract
N. X. HALL, Postmaster General.
Mar l7--1awtjyl