The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-05-12
MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
Posr OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
MARCH Id, 1851.

Posr OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
MARCH Id, 1851.
TT BEING DESIRABLE to substitute locks and
i keys of some other kind for those 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 first 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
General for the time being to extend and continue
the contract in force for an additional term of four
years, by giving to the contractor written notice
to that effect, not more than nine nor lees 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 n
standard, the Department relying for a selection
on the mechanical skill and ingenuity which fair
competition, now invited, may develop. 1t ia, 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 dsplacing 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, as well the increase of
the mail service; but it will probably exceed
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 or key similar to those con-
ractcd for for any other purpose or use than that of
tho Post Office Department.
The kind of lock adopted must be patented, and
the patentce will be required, entering into
tract, to make assignment Of his patent for the
exclusive 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 10 the penal remedy hereinafter men,
toned to annul said contract, and to contract
with any other party parties he may fit for
furnishing similar locks and keys.
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens
offered, the Postmaster General may deem il expe-
dent 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 he may select and also the right to reject
all the specimens and proposals, if he shall deem
that for the interest Of the Department. The
party or parties contracting will be required to
give bond, with ample security, in the 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
sions 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 bis ability TO
fulfil the contract.
N. HALL, Postmaster General
Mar l7--lawuyi