American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-09-26
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.


March IA, 1851.
being desirable to substitute locks and KEYS of some
i other kind for those in for the mail service
of the United States specimen locks and keys with pro-
posa to furnish the same will be received and considered
at the Post Office Department until the first day of July
next The different locks will be submitted TO commits
sion for examination and report Upon this report
tracts WILL soon practicable be entered into for fur
nshng such locks KEYS for four years with the right
on the part of the Postmaster General for the time helm
TO extend and continue the contract in force for add
tonal term of four years. by giving to the contractor
written notice to that effect not than nine less
hnn six months before the termination of the first term
of four years.
price, kind of lock is prescribed standard the
partment relying for selection the mechanical skill
and ingenuity which fair competition, invited may
develop Ii is however, proper to state that lock suit
able for the mail service should possess tho following quail
tiles, viz: durability uniformity lghtness and strength
For the purpose of displacing simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys in use, about thirty thousand
new locke and twenty thousand keys thereto will
required to be furnished by the contractor within
months after the contract shall have been entered
afterwards the annual supply will depend the dura-
bity of the locks and keys adopted as well as the in
crease Of the mail service; but il will probably never
coed in amount three thousand Of the former and
thousand of the latter.
general use nor will any with whom the contract
may be made be allowed TO make, SELL or furnish any
lock key similar to those contracted for for any
purpose than that of the Post Office Department
The kind ofock adopted must be patented and the pa
tentee will be required entering into contract make
assignment of his patent for the exclusive and ben
eft Of the Department, If the Postmaster General shall
deem such requirement essential to the interests the
service In of the failure of the contractor at
time to fulfil faithfully the terms and conditions of his
contract the Postmaster General shall have the right
besides resort TO the penal remedy hereinafter
toned TO annu said contract, and to contract with
any other party parties he may n for furnishing
similar locks and keys
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered
the Postmaster General deem IL expedent to select
for the through mails the lock of bidder and for tho
way mails that of another. He reserves therefore the
right contracting with different individuals for such
different kinds Of locks he may select, and also the
right 10 reject all the specimens and proposals. II he shall
that for the interest of the Department The
party parties contracting will be required TO give bond
with ample security, in the of thirty thousand dol
lars for faithful performance of the contract The
tract is TO contain provisions for the due proper in
specon of the locks and keys and also for guarding
against their passing into improper hands, the terms
these provisions to be arranged between the Department
and the successful bidder If bid should be accepted
No application will be considered II not accompanied
with satisfactory evidence of the trustworthy character
the bidder, and Of his ability to fulfil the contract
N. X. HALL,
a. Postmaster General