The republic., 1851-06-06
FunNIsaIso MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
Posr OrricE DKPARTMENT,
MARCH IA, 1851.

fO6T OFFlCB OkPAhTMEST,
MARcH a. 1851.
TT BEING DESIRABLE to substitute locks and
Il keys of some other kind for those now in for
| the mail service of the United States. specimen
and keys with proposals To furnish the same,
will be received and considered at the Post Office
Departn ent until the first day Of July next. The
different locks will be submitted to a commission
| Tor examination and report Upon this report.
contracts will, ms soon practicable, be entered
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 iorcc for additional term Of four
years, Dy giving To the contractor written notice
10 that effect not more than nine lrss than ak
months before the termination of the frat term of
| four years.
With view of procuring the beat lock nj the
lowest price, no kind Of lock ia prescribed as n
standard, the Depar relying for a selec,ion
on the mechanical skill and ingenuity which a fair
competition, now invited, may develop. II is how
ever, proper to state that lock suitable for
mail service should possess the following qua-
ties, viz durability, uniformity, lightness, and
strength.
For the purpose of dispacing simultaneously all
the mail locks and keys now in use, about thirty
thousand locks and twenty thousand keys
adapted thereto will tie required to be fu, -hed 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 tho
locks and keys adopted, as well the increase Of
the mail service; but il will probably never exceed
in amount three thousand Of the former and one
thousand OF the latter
No lock will be considered ioit be fike any al
ready in general use; will My one with whom
the contract may be made be allowed to Make SELL
or furnish any lock key similar TO those
trnced for for any other purpose than that Of
The Post Office Department.
The kind Of lock adopted must be patented, and
the patcntce will be required, entering into
tract, to make an assignment Of his patent fer tho
exclusive use and benefit Of the Department. If the
Postmaster General shall deem such requirement
essentiaro 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 n resort to the penal remedy hereinafter
toned, to annul said contract and TO contract
with any other party parties he may lit, for
furnishing similar locks and keys.
In deciding upon the proposals. and specimens
offered, the Postmaster General may deem il 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
all the specimens and proposals, if he shall deem
that for the interest of the Department The
party parties contracting will be required to
give bond, with ample security, in the sum of
thirty thousand dollars for faithful performance
of the contract. The contract is to contain provi
sons 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 the DepaI aItinent and
the successful bidder, if bid should be accepted.
No application will be considered If not accom-
panied with satisfactory evidence of the trustwor-
thy character Of the bidder, and Of bis ability to
fulfil the contract.
N. X. HALL, Postmaster General.
Mar 1T-1awtiv1