American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-09-03
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT,



March Il, 1851. I
being desirable to substitute locks and keys Of SOM
other kind for those now in use for the mail servic'
If 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 Jul.
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
nhng such locks and keys for four years with the right
the part of the Postmaster General for the time being
extend and continue the contract in force for add
iona term Of four by giving to the contractor
written notice to that effect not than nine less
than six months before the termination of the first tern
II four years.
With view of procuring the best lock at the lowest
price. kind Of lock Is prescribed standard the De
lartment relying for selection the mechanical skill
and ingenuity which fair competition now invited may
develop IL is however proper TO state that lock suit
able for the mail service should possess the following quail
ties, viz: durability uniformity, ligness and strength
For tho purpose of displacing simultaneously all thu
mail locks and keys in use, about thirty thousand
locks and twenty thousand keys thereto will b.
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
blity Of the locks and keys adopted well the in
crease Of the mail service but will probably
coed in amount three thousand Of the former and
thousand of the latter.
No lock viii be considered II be like any already r
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 any Other
purpose than that Of the Post Office Department
The kind of lock adopted be patented the pa
tentee will be required entering into contract make
assignment of his patent for the exclusive and ben
such requirement essential to the interests of tn,
service In Of the failure Of the contractor ut any
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 annul said contract and to contract with
any other party parties he may h for furnishing
similar locks and keys.
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered
the Postmaster General deem II expedient TO select
for the through mails the lock Of bidder and for the
way mails that Of another He therefore, the
right Of contracting with different individuals for such
different kinds of locks as he may select and also the
right reject all the specimens and proposals. II he shall
deem that for the interest Of the Department The
party will be required to give bond
with ample security In the Of thirty thousand dol
ars faithful performance Of the contract. The
tract contain provisions for the due and proper
spection Of the locks and keys and also for guarding
against their passing into improper hands, the terms
hese provisions to be arranged between the Department
and the successful bidder II bid should be accepted.
No application will be considered II accompanied
with satisfactory evidence of the trustworthy character
the bidder, and Of his ability TO fulfil the contract
N. K HALL
mar N Postmaster General