The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-05-01

Posr Orrfcs DErARrMENT,
MAnCH IA. 1851.


Posr Orrrcs DrrAnrMxNr,
MANOR IA, 1851.
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
win be received and considercd at the Post Office
Department until the frat day Of July next Tho
different locks will DO submitted 70 { commission
Contracts will. as soon & piaotiesSie. s entered
into for furnishing such locks and keys for four
years, with the right the part Of the Postmaster
,Of sg Y anr s
years, by giving TO the contractor written notice
TO that effect not than nine nor less than six
months before the termination OF the first term Of
with view Of procuring the best lock at the
lowest price, no kind Of lock is prescribed q
standard, the Department relying for . 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 tho
mail service should possess the following quail
ties, viz durability, uniformity, ightness, and
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
tho contractor within seven months after the con-
tract shall have been entered into; afterwards the
annual supply will depend the durability Of the
the mail service; but it will probably never exceed
in amount three thousand of the former and one
thousand Of the latter Ssiff
/ No lock will be considered if It be like any al
ready in general use; nor will any one with whom
the contract may be made be allowed to make sell.
or furnish any lock or key similar to those
tacted for for any other purpose or use than that Of
the Post Office Department. 80 ,{n
The kind of lock adopted must be patented, and
the patentee WILDE required, entering into con-
tract, to make assignment Of his patent for tho
exclusive and benefit Of the Department, if the
Postmaster General shall deem such requirement
essential 70 the interests of the service In Of
the failure Of tho contractor at any time TO fulfil
faithfully the terms and conditions Of hs contract
the Postmaster General shall have the right, be-
sides resort 10 the penal remedy hereinafter
toned, to annu said contract. and to contract
with any other party parties he may see fit, for
furnishing similar locks and keys. 60
In deciding upon the proposals. and specimens
offered, the Postmaster General may dcem Il expo
dent to select for the through mails the lock Of one
bidder, and for the way mails that Of another. He
different individuals for such different kinds Of
locks he may select. and also the right 70 reject
all the specimens and proposals, If be shall deem
that course for tho interest of the Department The
party parties contracting will DO required TO
give bond, with ample security, In the sum Of
thirty thousand dollars, for faithful performance
of the contract. The contract il to contain provi-
and keys, and also for qua riding against their pass
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
NIX. HALL. Postmaster General.
Mar l7-lawtjyl