The national Republican., 1861-05-22
Proposals for Furnishing Mail Locks.
Posi- OrYrcg DEPARTMENT,


CEuED PROPOSALS for furnishing mail looks and keys
OF new kinds be substituted for the locks and keys
used the United states mails, will be received at
this Department until nine O'Clock A N the tenth day oil
July, l561.
Ii being desirable obtain locks and keys Of con
strucon and invented expressly the exclusive Of
the United states mails model prescribed for bidders
the department relying for It's selection the results Of
mechanical skill and ingenuity which fair competition,
Mvncd may produce. 1t is deemed necessary only
state that mail lock should be socing and that It's
other principal requisites uniformity security hghtness
strength, Durability, noely Of construction, and Jacy@
Two kinds Of mail and kcys-one Of brass and the
other Of ron-drrCnt in form and construction are re-
qured and proposals should specify separately the price
of each iron lock each key for same each brass lock- and
each brass key for
Duplicate samples patterns of each kind OF locks pro-
posed required to be submitted with the proposals
Of each Kind OF sample locks to be rvced up and hn
she and another 10 he open unryCtted 50 that s IN
crna may easily he examined Every sample
shoud he plainly marked with the bidders name.
The locks offered should not be patented nor should their
internal construction be otherwise publicly KNOWN be
similar to any locks heretofore used and they must be
warranted not in any torngc or interfere with any
patented invention.
The various sample locks presented by bidders will be
submitted board Of examiners to be commissioned by
the Postmaster General tor the purpose OF examining anu
reporting them and unless the Postmaster General shall
deem To be for the interest Of thu Department TO reject all
the proposals and spccmens submitted under this adrer
scmcnt contracts will upon the report OF the examiners
be entered into practicable with the successful
bidder whose locks adopted for furnishing similar locks
and keys for four years they may be required and Or
dered with the right on the part OF the Postmaster Gene
the time beng extend aud continue the contract
in force for an additional term Of four years. on giving no
tcc writing the contractor, not less than SIX months
before the termination OF the arst term OF four years or
the expiration Of the FIRST term o four years to contract
with any other party for furnishing similar or different
locks and keys the Postmaster General may determine
The contractor must and be able to furnish re-
qucd ordered 5000 brass locks and 600 brass keys
within three months from the time OF entering into CON
tract and 80 600 locks and 80 900 iron keys, within
eight months from such time. But the Postmaster General
viii the right 10 Increase or diminish as the wants
or interests Of the service may demand the quantities. OF
the locks aud keys above specified, with proportonate
allowance Of time TO furnish them.
All the locks furnished by the contractor must be war
rancd keep good working order for two years in the
ordinary O the service, when not subjected to obvious
violence such become detective during that time 10
| be replaced with perfect locks, without charge.
The contractor will be required TO deliver the locks ut his
expense, at the Post Office Department, Washington
D. C., put up sticks forming separate bundles oI i've
locks each and securely packed In wooden boxes contain
not than two hundred locks each The keys are
be delivered to agent OF the Department duly and
specially authorized each to take charge OF and con
vy the from the contractors factory to the Depart
mrn where both locks and keys to be inspected and
| approved before they shall be paid for.
The contractor will be required 10 give bond with ample
security in the Oi twenty five thousand dollars Tor the
faithful performance Of the contract his part both as
furnishing the supplies ordered and guarding the manuiac
OF the mail locks and keys with due privacy integrity
and care No proposal will therefore be considered, no
accompanied with written guarantee from the proposet
surctes, (whOse rcsponsi sibty must be certified by tn
postmaster at the place oil their residence that they vii
become responsible the required bond for the fuhmc
Of the by the bidder such proposals be &C
| ccpted.
u deciding the proposals and specimens the rostmas
General may deem cxpedcn TO select the brass luc
Of bidder and the iron lock Of another He therefor
the right Of with different ndIv vdual
for such different kinds Of locks as he may select
Proposals should be carefully scaled addressed to th
Postmaster General and endorsed ON the envelope P'6
| losrlS for Mail Locks y
| apr 27-wsw P0tmdSisr CshiHui