Daily American telegraph., 1851-12-24
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
Posr 0FFIoE DEPARTMENT, l

TT being desirable to substitute locks and keys of
other kind for those in use for the mail service
Of tho United States specimen locks and Keys with pro-
posas furnish the same win be received and considered
at tho 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
nshng 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
tonal term 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 a Wow OF procuring the best lock at the lowest
price kind Of lock prescribed a Standard the De-
partnent reying 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 the following quail
tiles, viz: durability, uniformity, lightness, and strength.
For the purpose OF dsplacing simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys in use, about thirty thousand
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 on the dura
bty OF the locks ana Keys adopted ss wei as the IN
ceed in amount three thousand Of the former and
thousand of the latter.
general use; win any with whom the contract
may made be allowed TO make, SELL furnish any
lock key similar 10 those contracted for for any other
purpose or than that Of the Post ONCE Department
The kind of lock adopted must be patented and the
tenteo will be required on entering into contract TO make
an assignment OF his patent for the exclusive use and BEN
eft of the Department. II the Postmaster General shall
deem such requirement essential to the interests Of the
service In OF the failure Of the contractor at 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 said contract and with
any other party parties he may m for furnishing
similar locks and keys.
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered
the Postmaster General may deem IL expedent 10 select
for 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
deem that course the Of the Department The
party parties contracting will be required 10 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 due proper
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, bid should be accepted.
No application will be considered IL not accompanied
with satisfactory evidence Of the trustworthy character
the bidder, and Of his ability to fulfil the contract
N. X. HALL;
mar 24- Postmaster General.