The national Republican., 1861-06-17
Proposals. for Furnishing Mail Locks.
Posr OsyicE DEPARTMENT,

- ApJil %, 1851.
g EAEp PROPOSALS for furnishing mall looks and keys
oil new kinds to be substituted Tor tho locks and keys
used the Cntcd mails will be received
this Department until mine Ocloeh ~ the tenth day OF
July, l-Gl.
Ii being desirable to obtain locks and keys Of now con
strueion and invented expressly for tho Exclusive use If
the United states Dias 0le Is pre- Jod Tor bidders
the Department relying or ,s selection tie results OF
mechanical skill anu ingenuity which fair competition,
10 state that mail lock should be seSkng and that s
other principal requisites UNIFORMITY, eca'y Iighines5,
strength, dlaLily, noseiy g construction, and Jaeiy Of
Two kinds Of mail locks and keys-onc Of brass and tho
CURED and proposals should specify separately tho price
of each iron lock- ech key for same each 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 to be rvetted and n
ishcd, and another 10 be unrvced 80 that It's Ia.
terna structure may easily be examined. Evory sample
should be plainly marked with the bidders name.
Tie locks should not patented should their
internal construction be otherwise publicly knowu be
similar 10 any locks heretofore used aud they must be
not in way, 0nirnge or Interfere with any
patented invention.
The various sample locks presented by bidders will bs
submitted u board ol exaniners TO be commissioned BY
the Postmaster General for the purpose OF examining and
reporting them and unless the Postmaster General sha
deem to be Tor the interest the Department " reject Nil
the proposals and specimens submitted under this advc
tisemcut will upon the or tho examiners,
be entered into, practicable, with the successful
aud keys for four years. as they may bo required and or
dercd with the right the part Vi the Postmaster Geue
ra for the v being 10 extend and continue the contract
In force for additional term Of four giving no
tee in writing 10 the contractor not less than Six mouths
before the termination o the FIRST term sl iour years
at the expiration OF the st term Of four years. to contract
with any other party for furnishing similar different
locks ad keys, the Postmaster General may determine
The contractor must agree and be able 10 furnish,
qurcd and Ordgrcd 5000 brass locks and 600 brass Keys
within three months the time Of entering into
tract and 80 900 iron locks and 90 900 iron KEYS within
eight months from such time. But the Postmaster General
will reserve the right ~ Increase or dnnsh AZ the wants
or Interests Of tue service may demand the Quantities Of
the locks aud Keys above scn!d, with prop0,uopats
allowance Of time 10 furnish them
All the ocSs furnished by contractor must be war
ruDed 10 keep good working order ior years, In the
ordinary OF the servicc when not subjected " obvious
VIOLENCE such rs become defective, during that tme 70
BE- replaced with perfect locks, without charge
The contractor will bg required to deliver The locks at hs
own expense ut the Post Ulce Department, Washington,
D. c. put up sticks, forming separate bundles OF avs
locks each, a securely packed III wooden boxes contain
ing net than two hundred locks each The keys e
10 be delivered agent Ol the Department, duly and
specially authorized III each case TO take charge of aud
vvy the the contractors factory " the Depart
ncn where both locks and keys to be Inspected Apd
approved before they shall be paid for.
The contractor will be required to giyo bond, with ample
security In the OF twenty five thousand dollars for lS
faithful performance OF the contract on his part both as to
furnishing the supplies ordered and guarding the manufac
oil the mail locks and keys with due privacy integrity,
and No proposal will therefore be considered, not
accompanied with written guarantee from the proposed
surccs, (whosc responsibility must bo certified by tbs
postmaster the place Of their residence that they viii
become responsible the required bond tho fulhmout
Of the contract by the bidder IN case such proposals 10
eepted
In deciding the proposals and specimens the POsmas
ter General deem erpedent " select the brass lock
OF bidder and the iron lock OF another He therefore
the right Of contracting with different ndviduaS
ior such different kinds oil locks as he may select.
Proposals should be carefully sealed addressed 70 Tie
Postmaster General aud endorsed on the envelope Pro
~ BLAIR,
apr 27-wSw Postmaster Geaeral