American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-05-07

March IA, 1851.
TT being desirable substitute locks and keys
other kind for those in for the mail service
of the United States specimen locks and keys with
posa furnish the same will be received and considered
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 as soon as practicable be entered INTO for fur
nshing such locks and keys for four years with the right
the part of the Postmaster General for the time being
to extend and continue the contract in force for add
onal of four years. by giving to the contractor
written notice that effect not than nine less
than ak months before the termination of the first term
of four years. ..t.
With view of procuring the best lock at the lowest
price, kind of lock is prescribed standard the De
partment relying for selection the mechanical skill
and ingenuity which fair competition, now invited may
develop 1t is however proper to state that lock suit
able for the mail service should possess the following quail
tiles, viz: durability uniformity lghtness and strength
For the purpose of displacing simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys now in use, about thirty thousand
new locks and twenty thousand thereto will be
required to be furnished by the contractor within
months after the contract shall have been entered into
afterwards the annual supply will depend the dura-
bty Of the locks and Keys adopted as wei as the in
coed in amount three thousand Of the former and one
thousand Of the latter. 81 . .4 i
general use will any with whom the contract
may be made be allowed to make, sell, furnish, any
lock key similar to those contracted for for other
purpose than that of the Post Office Department
The kind of lock adopted must be patented and the
entee will be required entering into contract to make
assignment Of his patent for the exclusive and BEN
eft of the Department. IL the Postmaster General shall
deem such requirement essential to the interests of
service In Of the failure of the contractor any
time fulfil faithfully the terms and conditions of his
contract, the Postmaster General shall have the right
besides resort TO the penal remedy hereinafter men
toned annu said contract and to contract with
any other party parties he may fit for furnishing
similar locks and keys
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered,
the Postmaster General may deem 1t expedient to select
for the through mails the lock of bidder and for the
way mails that Of another He reserves therefore the
right of contracting with different individuals for such
different kinds of locks he may select, and also the
right 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 and proper in
specon of the locks and keys and also for guarding
against their passing into improper hands, the terms of
these provisions to be arranged between the Department
and the successful bidder, If bid should be accepted
No application will be considered IL not accompanied
with satisfactory evidence of the trustworthy character OF
the bidder, and Of his ability to fulfil the contract
........s' N. K HALL,
mar 24- Postmaster General