The national Republican., 1861-05-14
Proposals for Furnishing Mail Locks.
Posr OrFIuE DEPARTMENT

Posi- OrroK DEPARTMENT,
SEAIED PROPOSALS for furnishing mail locks and keys
y OF kinds, 10 bo substituted tho locks aud key
now used on the United States mails will be received At
this Department until O'Clock NJ the tonth day oi
July, 1861.
II being desirable to obtain locks keys a
structon and invented expressly for tho exclusive
tho United mails model prescribed for bidders
tho Department relying for its selection the results OF
mechanical skill aud ingenuity which fair competition
invited, may produce. II s deemed necessary only
to that mail lock should BY seookn5, and that is
other principal requisites uniformity security, lghte
strength d"rab1y, noriy Of construction and taeility
Two kinds Of mail locks and kcysonc OF brass and tho
other Of iron-derent in form and construction,
qursd and proposals should specify separately the price
Of each iron lock- each key for same each brass lock- aud
Duplicate samples or patterns OF each kind Of locks pro-
possd required to bo submitted with tho proposals
Of each kind Of sample locks 10 be rvstted up and I'm
shed, and another 10 be open unrveed that It's in
terna structure may easily be oIaminsd Every sample
should be plainly marked with the bidders name.
internal construction be otherwise publicly KNOWN be
similar to any locks heretofore used and they must be
warranted any way tonrngs or interfere with any
patented invention.
The various sample locks presented by bidders will be
submitted to board Of examiners 70 be commissioned by
tho Postmaster General for the purpose OF examining and
reporting them unless the Postmaster General shall
deem TO be for tile interest Of the Department TO reject all
tho proposals and specimens submitted under this advsr
tsomcnt will upon the report Of tho examiners
bo entered into practicable with the successful
bidder whose locks arc adopted for furnishing similar
and keys for four years. they may DO required and
dorsd with the rght the part Of tho Postmaster Gouo
raj for the time being to oxtend aud continue the contract
In force for additional torn Of four years, giving
tce in writing, TO the contractor not less than months
before the termination OF tho nrst term Of four
at the expiration Of the first term Of four years. TO contract
with any othor party for furnishing similar different
locks and keys the Postmaster General may determine
Tho contractor must agree and be able to furnish
quod and ordered 600 brass locks and 600 brass keys
within three months from the time OF entering into con-
tract and iron locks and 900 iron keys within
eight months from such time But hs Posmastsr General
will the right to increase dinGish the wants
interests Vf the service may demand tho quantities Of
tho locks and keys above specified with pr0portonate
allowance Of time 10 furnish them.
Ali tho locks furnished by the contractor must be
ranted keep good working order years. in the
ordinary Of the SERVICE whom not subjected to obvious
violence such become Detective during that time, 70
be replaced with perfect locks, without charge.
The contractor will bo required TO deliver the locks hs
expense, at tho Post Office Department, Washington
D. c. put up ON sticks forming separate bundles Of Ave
locks each and securely packed wooden boxes contain
ing not than two hundred locks each The keys
70 be delivered to agent OF the Department. duly and
specially authorized In each take charge Of and
the same from tho contractors factory " the Depart
mont where both locks and keys 10 be inspected and
approved before they shall bs paid for.
Tho contractor will be required 70 give bond with ample
security in the Of twenty five thousand dollars for the
faithful performance Of the contract his part both
furnishing tho supplies ordered and guarding the manuac
urs of the mail locks and keys with due privacy integrity
and No proposal will therefore bs considered
accompanied with u written guarantee from the proposed
sursties, (whoss responsibility DO certified by the
postmaster the place Of their residence that they will
become responsible the required bond for thu fuhmen
Of tho contract by the bidder such proposals be
ssptod.
In deciding the proposals specimens tho Postmas
ter General may desn eIpedcn select tho brass lock
Of bidder and the iron lock Of another. o therefore
reserves tho right Of contracting with dnerOnt individuals
for such different kinds OF locks he may select.
Proposals should DO carefully sealed, addressed the
Postmaster General and endorsed tho envelope, Pro
~ BLAIR
apr 27-wSw POsknassr Gsnsra'.