American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-06-23
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
f POsT OFFICE DEPARTMENT,

March ID, 1851.
TT 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
poas to furnish the same viii 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
nishing such locks and keys FOR four years. with the right
the part of the Postmaster General tho time being
TO extend and continue the contract in force for add
onal 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
of four years.
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, invited may
develop 1t is however, proper TO state that lock suit
able for the mail service should possess the following quail
tiles, Wis durability, uniformity, lghtuess and strength
For the purpose Of dspacing simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys in use, about thirty thousand
twenty thousand win b.
required 10 be furnished by the contractor within
months after the contract shall have been into
afterwards the annual supply will depend the dura
bity of the locks and keys adopted az well as the in
Of the mail servce but IL will probably never ex
coed In amount three thousand Of the former and
thousand Of the latter.
No lock will be considered IL IL be like any already In
general use; will any with whom the contract
may be made be allowed 10 make, SELL or furnish any
lock or key similar TO those contracted for for any other
purpose than that Of the Post Office Department
The kind Of lock adopted must be patented and the pa
tenee will be required entering into contract to make
assignment Of his patent for the and hen
deem such requirement essential to the interests Of
service In Of the failure of the contractor any
time to fulfil faithfully the terms and conditions Of his
contract the Postmaster General shall have the right,
besides resort 10 the penal remedy hereinafter
toned to annul sad contract and contract anew with
any other party parties he may it, for furnishing
similar locks and keys.
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered
the Postmaster General may deem IL expedien select
for the through mails the lock Of bidder 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 10 reject all the specimens and proposals. II shall
deem that for the interest 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 is to contain provisions for the due and proper in
speeen 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 II bid should be accepted
No application will be considered If not accompanied
with satisfactory evidence Of the Trustworthy character
the bidder and of his ability 10 fulfil the contract
N X. HALL,
mar "a Postmaster General.