The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-04-30

Posr OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
MARCH IA. 1851. H..

s 49, S~~NSN>
MARCH Ia, 1851.
TT BEING DESIRABLE to substitute locks and
i 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 fret day Of July next. The
different locks will be submitted to commission
for examination and report. Upon this report,
contracts will as soon as practicable, be entered
into for furnishing such locks and keys for four
years, with the right the part of the Postmaster
the contract in force for an additional term Of four
years. by giving to the contractor written notice
to that effect, not than nine less than six
months before the termination Of the first term Of
With q view of procuring the best lock at the
lowest price, no kind of lock ia prescribed
standard, the Department relying for selection
on the mechanical skill and ingenuity which fair
competition, now invited, may develop. II is, how
ever proper to state. that lock suitable for the
mail service should possess the following quail.
ties, viz durability, uniformity, ightness, and
strength. el 1 eeag 9ai
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 10 be furnished by
the contractor within seven months after the con-
tract shall have been entered into; afterwards the
annual supply will depend the durability of the
and keys adopted E ~ well e the increase Of
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 whom
the contract may be made be allowed to make sell,
or furnish any lock key similar to those con-
tracted for for any other purpose or use than that of
the Post Office Department. s,4 1. +a 8aa5sf
The kind of lock adopted must be patented and
the patentee will be required, on entering into con-
tract to make an assignment of his patent for the
exclusive use 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 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
with any other party or parties as he may fit, for
furnishing. similar locks and keys.
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens
offered, the Postmaster General may deem Il cxpe-
dcnt 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
give bond, with ample security, in the sum of
thirty thousand dollars, for faithful performance
of the contract. The contract is 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-
eions to be arranged between the Department and
the successful bidder, ifa 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
fulfil the contract 4
N. X. HALL, Postmaster General
Mar l7-1awtjyl
ID II. HOOE & CO., Wholesale and retail deal,
u crs in Carpetipg, Floor Oil Cloths, Mattings,
Rugs, Curtain Materials, Shooting, Blankets, and
house furnishing goods generally.
Pennsylvania avenue between th and 6thstrcets,
Washington, d. C.. Nf Ft
Aug 20-tf (Union.l
EBENExER COOK. as GsonoR b. SAneENT
COOK 4 SARGENT,
GENERAL LAND AGENTS,
Corner of Main and Second Streets,
DapenSorf To4nn