The national Republican., 1861-05-27
Proposals for Furnishing Mail Locks
Posr Orr1cE pEPARTMENr,

April D. 1861.
cEAIED PROPOSALS for furnishing mail looks and keys
OF kinds, to be substituted Tor the locks and Keys
now used the United States mails will be received at
this Department until nine o'clock 4 w. the tenth day OF
Ii being desirable obtain locks and keys OF
sructon and invented expressly for the exclusive use Of
the United mails model is prescribed for bidders
the Department relying for lis selection on the results Of
mechanical skill and ingenuity which fair compctton
invited, may produce II Is deemed necessary only
that mail lock should be sell locking, aud that it
other principal requisites uniformity security, ghness
strength, durability norely q construction, and tdc'dy
Two kinds Of mail locks and Keystone of brass and tho
other iron-dcrent in form and construction,
qucd and proposals should specify, separately the price
Of each iron lock- each key for same each brass lock- and
each brass key Tor same
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 veted up and nn
shcd and another TO be open unrveed so that It's in
tcrna structure may easily be examined Every sample
should be plainly marked with the bidders name.
The locks offered should not be patented should their
internal construction otherwise publicly KNOWN be
similar any locks heretofore used and they must be
warranted not In any way tonrnge or Interfere with any
patented invention.
The various sample locks presented by bidders will be
submitted to board Of examiners to bc commissioned by
the Postmaster General for the purpose Of examining and
reporting them unless the Postmaster General shall
deem be for tho interest Of the Department to reject all
the proposals and specimens submitted under this adNer
tsemcnt will upon tue 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
dered with the right the part OF tho Postmaster Gene
raj for the time being to extend and continue tue contract
force for additional term Of four years, On giving no.
tcc in writing to the contractor not less than SIX months
before the termination ot the first term Of four years
at tho expiration Of the rst term Of four years to contract
with any other party for furnishing similar or different
locks and keys the Postmaster General may determine
The agree and be able to furnish If re-
qued ordered 900 brass locks and 600 brass keys
within three months from the time Of entering into con-
tract locks and 80 900 iron keys, within
eight months from such time But the Postmaster General
will the right To increase or diminish as tho wants
Of the may demand the quantities oil
md Ravl
allowance Of time to furnish them.
All tho locks furnished by the contractor must bo war
raned keep good working order for two years in the
ordinary SERVICE when subjected to obvious
violence such become defective during that time, TO
be replaced with perfect locks, without charge.
The will be required 10 deliver the locks at his
expense, the Post Office Department, Washington
D. c. put up sticks forming separate bundles oi hve
locks each and securely packed IN wooden boxes contain
ing than two hundred locks each. The Keys are
be delivered agent OF the Department, duly and
specially authorized In each TO take charge Vi and con
the from the contractors factory TO the Depart
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 Tor the
faithful performance Of the contract on his part both as tG
furnishing the supplies ordervd aud guarding the manuac
OF tho mail locks and Keys with due privacy integrity
and No proposal will therefore be considered moi
accompanied with written guarantee from the proposet
surcues (whose responsibility must be certified by III,
at the place ot their residence that they vii
become responsible the required bond for the ulhmen
Of the contract by tho bidder in case such proposals be nc
| copied
In deciding the proposals and specimens the Postmas
General deem exedcnt 10 select the brass loci
Of bidder and the iron lock OF another He therefor
the right OF contracting with different Individual
for such different kinds OF locks as he may select
Proposals should DO carefully seaod addressed to tn
Postmaster General and endorsed on the envelope, fTG
f'~' w. NJ BLAIR,
| apr 27-wSw Postmaster GeTlerdl.