The national Republican., 1861-06-04
Proposals for Furnishing Mail Locks.
PoSr OFFICE DEPARTMENT,

- 4ipril %, 1861.
y kinds, to be substituted Tor the locks and keys
used on the United States mails will be received at
this Department until nie O'Clock 4 ~ the tenth day Of
July, 1851.
Ii being desirabci TO obtain locks and keys Of new con
strucon and invented expressly for the exclusive use OF
the United States mails model is prescribed for bidders
the Department relying for its selection on the results Of
mechanical skill and ingenuity which fair competition,
that mail lock should be se locking, and that It's
other principal reg dstes uorsy aecay, 0hiness,
strength, durability noveity consrucion and tdciltiy Of
Two kinds Of mail locks and keysone Of brass and the
other q rondsrent In form and construction are re-
qured and proposals should specify separately the price
Of each iron lock- each sy for same sssh brass lock- and
each brass key for same
Duplicate samples patterns Of each kind Of locks pro-
posed, required to be submitted with the proposals
Of each kind Of sample locks " be rveed up and hn
shed and another be open unrveed that its in
ternai structure may easily be examined Every sample
should be plainly marked with the bidders name.
The locks offered should not be patented nor should their
similar any locks heretofore used and they must be
warranted not in any way tonrge or interfere with any
The various sample locks presented by bidders will be
submitted to board of examiners tO be commissioned BY
the Postmaster General Tor the purpose Of examining and
reporting Oh them and unless tho Postmaster General shall
deem 10 be for tue interest Of the Department TO reject a
the proposals and specimens submitted under this aver
semcn contracts will upon the report Of the examiners,
be entered into practicable with the successful
bidder whose locks adopted for furnishing similar locks
aud keys Tor years. they may bo required and or
dcrcd with tue right On part tho Postmaster Gene
raj Tor the beng To extend aud CONTINUE the contract
force for additional term Of four years. on giving no.
tce in writing the contractor not less than six months
before the termination o the first term OF iour years or,
the expiration 0 the first term OF four years to contract
with any other party for furnishing similar or different
locks and keys, the Postmaster General may determine
The contractor must agree and be able to furnish re-
qured and ordered brass locks and 600 brass Keys
within three months from the time Of entering into con-
tract and $4,000 iron locks and 30 900 iron keys within
eight months from such time But the Postmaster General
will the right to increase or diminish as the wants
or interests Of the service may demand the Quantities OF
tho locks and keys above specified with proportonate
allowance of time TO furnish them.
All the locks furnished by the contractor must be war
ranted to keep good working order for two years in the
violence such become detective, during that time to
be replaced with perfect locks, without charge
The contractor will be required TO deliver the locks at his
expense ut the Post Office Department, Washington,
d. C., put up sticks, forming separate bundles Vi five
locks each and securely packed in wooden boxes contain
ing than two hundred locks each The keys are
specially authorized in each to take charge Of and con
the from tho contractors factory to the Depart
men 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 the OF twenty five thousand dollars for the
faithful performance OF the contract his part both as to
furnishing the supplies ordered and guarding the manuiac
Of the mail locks and keys with due privacy integrity
and No proposal will therefore be considered, not
accompanied with written guarantee from the proposed
surees, (whose responsibility must bo certified by the
postmaster tho place Of their residence that they will
become responsible the required bond for the ument
Of the contract by the bidder case such proposals be
eepted.
In deciding on the proposals and specimens the Posmas
General may deem expedcnt select the brass lock
Of bidder and the iron lock OF another He therefore
the right Of contracting with different individuals
for such different kinds Of locks as he may select.
Proposals should be carefully sealed addressed to the
Postmaster General and endorsed on the envelope, Pro
posals for Mail Locks."
apr 27-wSw Poamdser General.