The republic., 1851-04-17
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND xnYs.
Posr OFrIcs DEPARr11RNr,
MARCH II. 1851.

.l I
TT BEING DESIRABLE to substitute locks and
Il keys of some other kind for those now in uss for
the mail service Of the United States. specimen
lock, and keys With propo:as 70 furnish tie .sms,
Department. until the first day Of July next. The
different locks will be submitted TO commission
for examination and report. Upon this report.
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 continne
the contract In force for an additional torn Of four
years. by giving 70 the contractor written notice
to that effect, not than nins nor less than six
months before the termination Of the frat term Of
with view of procuring the best lock Il he
lowest price, no Kind Of lock 10 prescribed q q
standard, the Department relying for selection
on the mechanical skill and ingenuity which fair
composition, now invited, may develop. y H. how
ever, proper to state, that lock suitable for the
mail service should possess the following Quatf-
ties, viz: durability, uniformity. lightness, and
strength. fia.I bUI8. NJ sDaifIa FaSasesreo ~
For the purpose of displacing simultaneously all
the mail locks and keys now in use, about thirty
thousand new locks and twenty thousand keya
adopted theretowil be required to be furnished 6y
the contractor within seven monthe after the con.
tract shall have been entered into; afterwards tho
annual supply will depend on the durability of the
locks and keys adopted. well a. the increase Of
in amount three thousand Of the former and one
thousand of the latter. s W aat ~ 1900 Az.
No lock will be considered If It be like any AZ.
rceOy In g0ueral u6cS nor Will any one with W1Om
the contract may be made be allowed to make voIl
or furnish any lock or key similar to those com
tracted for for any other purpose use than that Of
tho Post Office Department..
The kind of lock adopted must be patented. and
the patented will be required on entering into con-
tract, to make 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 10 euhl
faithfully the terms and conditions Of his contract
the Postmaster General shall have the right, be-
sides resort to tho penal remedy hereinafter fnon
toned, to annu said contract and to contract anew
with any other party or parties he may sce t, for
furnishing similar locks and keys.
In deciding upon the proposals and srecimcns
offered, the Postmaster General may deem it expo.
dent to select for the through mails The lock of one
bidder, and for the way mails that of another. BE
reserves, therefore, the right Of contracting with
different individuals for such different kinds of
locks NJ he may select and also the right TO reject
that course forhc interest Of the The.
party or parties contracting win bc required to.
give bond, with ample security In the sobrn Of
thirty thousand dollars, for faithful performances
Of the contract. The contract il to contain provi-
sons for tho due and proper inspection of tho locks
and keys, and also for guarding against their pasa
ing into improper hands; the terms of these provi-
sions to be arranged between the Dopavtsne and
the successful bidder, il bid should Be- scoonted
No application will be considered II NOT sccon-
panied with satisfactory evidence of the trustwor-
thy character Of the bidder, and Of his ability to
fulfil the contract 1G7Nl E77 Z tFss
n. X. HALL. Postmaster General.
Mar l7--lawtjyl 8ir e-i