American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-09-15
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
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PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
March IA, 1851. I
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
posas to furnish the 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 practicable be entered into for fur
ushng 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
oual term of four years by giving to the contractor
written notice TO that effect not than nine nor less
than six months before the termination of the first term
of four years.
with view Of procuring the best lock at the lowest
price kind Of lock 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
ties viz durability uniformity lightness strength
For the purpose Of displacing simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys now in USE about thirty thousand
new locks and twenty 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 durp-
bity of the locks and keys adopted well the in
of the mail service but IL will probably
coed in amount three thousand of the former and
thousand of the latter
No lock will be considered II II be like any already in
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 any otha
purpose than that of the Post Office Department
The kind Of lock adopted must be patented and the pa
tenec will be required entering into contract max
eft of the Department If the Postmaster General shall
deem such requirement essential TO the interests of the
service In Of the failure Of the contractor
time 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 10 contract with
other party parties as he may fit for furnishing
similar locks and keys.
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered
the Postmaster General may deem II expedient TO selec;
for the through mails the lock Of bidder for thu
way mails that Of another lie therefore, thu
right Of contracting with different individuals for such
different kinds of locks he may select and also tn
right reject all the specimens and proposals. II he shall
deem that for the interest Of the Department Th
party parties contracting will be required give bond
with ample security in the Of thirty thousand dol
lars faithful performance of the The con
tract to contain provisions for the due and proper
spectiop Of the locks and keys and also for guardn
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 viii be considered ii not accompanic
with satisfactory evidence of the trustworthy character
the bidder, and of his ability to fulfil the contract
N. X. HALL
mar 2-- Postmaster Genera