The national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1860-1862, 1861-05-18
Proposals for Furnishing Mail Locks.

April o. 1861.
,RuEp PROPOSALS for furnishing mail looks and keys
Of new kinds, to be substituted Tor the locks and keys
used the United States mails will be received at
this Department until Hin< O'Clock a NJ the tenth day Of
July, 1851.
being desirable obtain locks and keys Of
strucon and Invented expressly for the exclusive use OF
the United states mails model s prescribed for bidders
the department relying Tor its selection on the results Of
mechanical skill aud ingenuity which fair competition,
that mail lock should be ssfIoing, and that Us
other principal requisites uniformity security yhness
strength, Durability nOreity Of construction, and facility
Two kinds Of mail otks and kcysone Of brass and the
other VI irondcrcnt in form aud construction arc re-
CURED and proposals should specify, separately the price
Of each iron lock- each key for each brass lock- and
each brass key for same
Duplicate samples patterns Of each kind Of locks pro-
posed. required to bu submitted with tue proposals
each kind sample locks be rvetcd up and hn
shed and another TO he open or unrvecL so that lis
erna structure may easily he examined Every sample
should be plainly marked with the bidders name.
The locks offered should not be patented, should their
Internal construction be otherwise publicly KNOWN be
similar to any locks heretofore used and they must be
warranted not any way tonrnge or interfere with any
The various sample locks presented by bidders will be
submitted board OF examiners be commissioned by
the Postmaster General for the purpose Of examining and
reporting them unless the Postmaster General shall
deem to be for the interest Oi the Department To reject all
the proposals and specimens submitted under this adrcr-
tsomcnt, contracts will upon The report Of the examiners,
be entered into as practicable with the successful
bidder whose locks adopted for furnishing similar locks
and keys for four years. they may be required aud or
dered with the right the part OF the Postmaster Gene
raj for tho time being extend and continue the contract
In force for an additional term of four years. on giving no
tee in writing to the contractor not less than SIX months
before the termination OF the first term of four years
the expiration OF the first Of four years. to contract
with any other party for furnishing similar or different
locks and keys tho Postmaster General may determine
The contractor must and be able TO furnish re-
CURED ordered 900 brass locks and 600 brass Keys
within three months from the time OF entering into con
tract aud 700 locks and 10 900 iron keys, within
eight months from such time. But the Postmaster General
will the right to increase or diminish as the wants
interests OF the service may Demand the Quantities Of
the locks and keys above specified with proportonae
allowance Of time to furnish them.
All the locks furnished by the contractor must be war
raned to keep good working order for two years. in the
ordinary Of the SERVICE when not subjected TO obvious
violence such become defective, during that time to
be replaced with perfect locks, without charge.
The contractor will be required to deliver the locks al his
expense at the Post Utcc Department, Washington,
d. c. put up sticks forming separate bundles OF i've
locks EACH and securely packed in wooden boxes contain
ing not than two hundred locks each The Keys are
to be delivered agent ST the Department. duly and
specially authorized in each to take charge Of and con
the from the factory to the Depart
ment where both locks and keys to be Inspected and
approved before they shall be paid for
The contractor will be required to give bond with ample
security in the Of twenty five thousand dollars for the
faithful performance oil the contract his part both as to
furnishing the supplies ordered aud guarding the mlnuac
OF the mail locks and keys with due privacy integrity
AMI care. No proposal will therefore be considered not
accompanied with written guarantee from the proposed
suretes (whose responsibility must be certified by tho
postmaster at the place oil their residence that they vii
become responsible the required bond for the fuhmcn
Of the by the bidder such proposals be
ceptef.
IN deciding the proposals and specimens the Posmas
ter General may deem expedent to select tho brass LOCK
OF one bidder aud the iron lock OF another He therefore
reserves the right Of contracting with different indy idas
for such different kinds OF locks rs he may Select.
Proposals shuul be carefully sealed, addressed TO the
Postmaster General, and endorsed tho envelope, Pro
pofdl for NdiI4.ockS'
apr 2I-wSw Postmaster General.