The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-03-24
Posr OFFICE DEPARrMEsT,
MARCH ii. 1851.

PosT OFFICE DEPARrMEST,
March ID, 1851
TT BEING DESIRABLE to substitute locks and
i keys Of some other kind for those now in 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
Departm ent until the first day OF July next. The
different locks will be submitted to a commission
for examination and report. Upon this report,
contracts will, as as practicable, be entered
into for furnishing such locks and keys for four
General for the time being to extend and continue
the contract in force for additional term Of four
years, by giving to the contractor q written notice
to that effect not more than nine nor less than six
months before the termination Of the first term of
four years.
With view of procuring the best lock at tho
lowest price, no kind Of lock is prescribed
standard, the Department relying for a selection
on the mechanical skill and ingenuity which a fair
competition, now invited, may develop. 1t 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.
For the purpose of displacing simultaneously all
the mail locks and keys now in use. about thirty
thousand 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, we'll as the increase of
the mail service; but it will probably never exceed
in amount three thousand of the former and one
thousand Of the latter. i
No lock will be considered if it be like any al
ready in general use; will any 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 than that of
tho Post Office Department.
The kind Of lock adopted must be patented, and
the patentce will be 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 to the interests Of the service In 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
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 expo
dent to select for the through mails tho 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
party or parties contracting will be required to
give bond, with ample security, in the sum Of
thirty thousand dollars, for faithful performance
Of the contract. The contract 10 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
sions to be arranged between the Department and
the successful bidder, if bid should be accepted.
No application will be considered if not accom-
panied with satisfactory evidence of the trustwor-
thy character of the bidder and of his ability to
fulfil the contract.
N. X. HALL, Postmaster General.
Mar 17-1awtiyl