American telegraph., 1851-05-23
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT, |

March Ia, 1891. !
TT being desirable to substitute locks keys
i other kind for those in for the mail service
Of the United States specimen locks and keys, with
posals 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 a 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 for the time being
to extend and continue the contract in force for add
ona 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 view Of procuring the best lock at the lowest
price, kind of lock is prescribed standard the De
partment relying for a selection the mechanical skill
and ingenuity which fair competition invited, may
develop 1t Is however proper to state that lock suit
tiles viz durability uniformity, lighness and strength
For the purpose of displacng simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys in use, about thirty thousand
new locks and twenty thousand keys thereto will be
required to be furnished by the contractor within seven
months after the contract shall have been entered into
Afterwards the annual supply will depend on the dura
bity of the locks and keys adopted well as the
Of the mail service; but 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 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 make
an assignment OF his patent for exclusive use and ben
eft of the Department. If the Postmaster General shall
such essential 10 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 TO the penal remedy hereinafter
toned to annul said contract and TO contract 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 it expedient to select
for the through mails the lock Of bidder aud for the
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 reject all the specimens and proposals IL he 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 to contain provisions for the due and proper
spection of the locks and keys and also for guarding
against their passing into improper hands, the Of
these provisions TO be 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
the bidder, and Of his ability to fulfil the contract
~ X. HALL,
mar a. Postmaster General.