The national Republican., 1861-05-15
Proposals for Furnishing Mail Locks.
Posi- OrTIoE DEPARTMENT,

Posi- OfFI0E DEPARTMENT,
Apyii %, 1851,
SEALED PROPOSALS for furnishing mail looks and keys
- Of kinds to be substituted Tor the locks and keys
used the United States mails, will DO received at
this Department until nine O'Clock A. NJ the tenth day of
July, 1851.
II being desirable to obtain locks and keys Of a new
strucn and invented expressly for the exclusive Of
the United States mails model prescribed for bidders
the Department relying for its selection on the results Of
mechanical skill and ingenuity which fair competition,
now invited may produce II is deemed necessary only
to state that mail lock should be SELF locking and that It's
other principal requisites uniformity security lghne
strength, durability, norsy Of construction and Jae'ily
other Of ron-diorcn in form and construction, are re-
qurod and proposals should specify separately the price
OF each iron lock- each key for same each brass lock- and
each brass key for same.
Duplicate samples patterns Of each kind OF locks pro-
posod required to be submitted with the proposals
each kind sample locks TO ba rvetted up and fin
shed and another to be unrvetcd that its in
ternai structure may easily DO examined Ev0ry sample
should bo plainly marked with the bidders name
The locks offered should not bo patented should their
internal construction be otherwise publicly KNOWN be
similar to any locks heretofore used and they must be
warranted not in any way infringe 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 and
reporting on them and unless the General shall
deem be for the interest Of the Department to reject all
tho proposals and specimens submitted under this advar
tsenent WILL upon the report of the examiners,
bo entered practicable with the successful
bidder whose locks adopted for furnishing similar locks
and keys for four years they bo required and
dorsd the right, the Oi postmaster
raj for the time being extend aud continue the contract
In force for additional term Of four years, giving no.
ee writing to the contractor not less than six months
before tho termination Of the FIRST term Of four
the expiration Of the first term Of four years to contract
with any other party for furnishing similar or different
locks and keys tho Postmaster General may determine
The must agree and be able to furnish, If
qured and ordered brass locks and 600 brass keys
within three months from the time Of entering into
tract and $4,000 iron locks and 80 900 iron keys, within
eight months from such time But the Postmaster Genera
will reserve the right to Increase or diminish
| or
the locks and keys above speShsd with proportonate
| allowance Of time 70 furnish them.
All the locks furnished by the contractor must be
ranod to keep good working order for two years. in the
ordinary Of thu servco whom not subjected TO obvious
violence such as become defective, during that time u
| bo replaced with perfect locks, without charge
Tho contractor will bo required to deliver the locks at bis
expense, at the Post Office Department Washington
D. c. put up on sticks forming separate bundles Of five
locks each and securely packed in wooden boxes contain
ing not than two hundred locks each The keys
to be delivered to an agent of the Department duly and
specially authorized in zach to take charge Of and
the from the contractors factory 10 ths Depart
msnt where both locks and keys 10 BE- inspected and
| approved before they shall be paid for.
The contractor will be required 10 give bond with ample
security in the Of twenty five thousand dollars for the
faithful performance Of the contract his part both "
furnishing the supplies ordered and guarding the manuac
turs Of the mail locks and keys with due privacy integrity
and No proposal will therefore be considered II
accompanied with written guarantee from the proposed
surees, (whoss responsibility must be certified by the
postmaster the place OF their residence that they will
become responsible the required bond for tho fuhmen
Of the contract by the bidder in case such proposals be ae
| oepted.
In deciding the proposals and specimens tho Posmas
tor General deem expOdcnt To select the brass oct
OF bidder and the iron lock Of another He therefore
the right Of contracting with different ndvidua
| for such different kinds of locks us he may select.
Proposals should be carefully sealed addressed to thu
Postmaster General and endorsed the envelope Pro
| NJ BLAIR
| apr 27-wSw Postmaster General.