The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-05-15
MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
Posr OFFIcE DEPARTMENT,
MARCH Ia. 1851.

POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
MARCH Ia, 1851.
TT BEING DESIRABLE, to substitute locks and
j. keys OF some other kind for those now in for
tho 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
Af{erent locks will be submitted to commission
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 the part Of the Postmaster
General for the time being TO extend and continue
the contract in force for additional term Of four
years, by giving to the contractor written notice
TO that effect not moro than nine nor less than six
months before the termination Of the first term of
four years.
With view of procuring the beat lock at the
lowest price, no kind of lock is prescribed a
standard, the Department relying for a 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, 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 con-
tract shall have been entered into; afterwards the
annual supply will depend ON the durability of the
locks and keys adopted, NJ we'll the increase Of
the mail service; but it will probably never exceed
thousand of the latter.
No lock will be considered If ii be like any al
ready in general use; nor will any with whom
the contract may be made be allowed to make, SELL
or furnish any lock or key similar to those con-
trncted for for any other purpose than that OF
the Post Office Department.
The kind Of lock adopted must be patented, and
the patentee will be required entering into
tract, to make assignment Of his patent for tho
exclusive use 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 men,
toned, to annu said contract and to contract
with any other party parties he may ft for
furnishing similar locks and keys.
In deciding upon the proposals. and specimens
offered, the Postmaster General may deem II expo
dent 70 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 a. he may select, and also the right to reject
all the specimens and proposals., If he shall deem
party or parties contracting will be required 10
give bond, with ample security, in tho sum Of
thirty thousand dollars for faithful performance
Of the contract. The contract 10 to contain proyi-
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 b arranged between the Department and
No application will be considered II not accom-
panied with satisfactory evidence Of the trustwor-
thy character Of tho bidder, and Of his ability to
fulfil the contract.
TX. HALL Postmaster General.
Mar l7-lawtjyl