American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-06-02
SHIRTS! SHIRTS /!
FURNISHING MAIL JOCKS AND KEYS.

March IL, 1851.
IT being desirable to substitute locks and keys of
other kind for those in for the mail service
of the United States specimen locks and keys with pro
posals 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 a commits
sion for examination and report Upon this report
tracts WILL practicable be entered into for fur
niRhing such locks 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
tonal of four years, by giving to the contractor
written notice to that effect, not than nine 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 is prescribed standard the De
partmcnt relying for selection on the mechanical skill
and ingenuity which fair competition now invited, may
develop 1t Is however, proper 10 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 displacng 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 no
afterwards the annual supply will depend the dura
by 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 If IL be like any already in
general use; nor will any one with whom the contract
may be made be allowed TO make sell or 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 must he patented and the pa
tenee will be required entering TO make
assignment Of his patent for the exclusive and ben
eft Of the Department, If the Postmaster General shall
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 annul said contract and TO contract with
other party parties as he may see h for furnishing
similar locks and keys
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered
the Postmaster General may deem IL expedent 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 as he may select and also the
right to reject all the specimens and proposals. IL he shall
deem 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 TO contain provisions for the duo proper in
spection of the locks and keys and also for guarding
against their passing into improper hands, the terms Of
these provisions TO he arranged between the Department
and the successful bidder If bid should be accepted
No application will be considered If not accompanied
with satisfactory evidence of the trustworthy character of
the bidder and of his ability to fulfil the contract
N. X. HALL,
mar 24- Postmaster General