American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-04-02
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS q KEYS,

March IL, 1851.
being desirable to substitute locks and keys of
other kind for those now in use for the mail service
the United States specimen locks and keys, with
posas furnish the same, viii be received and considered
at the Post Office Department until the first day Of July
next different locks will be submitted to commits
sion for examination and report Upon this report
nshng such locks and keys for four years. with the right
on the part of the Postmaster General for the time being
to extend and continue the contract in force for add
tona 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
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, now invited may
develop it Is however, proper to state that lock suit
able for the mail service should possess the following quail
tiles, viz durability, uniformity ghtness and strength
For the purpose Of dsplacing simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys now in about thirty thousand
new locks twenty thousand keys adapted thereto will be
required furnished by the contractor within seven
months after the contract shall have been entered into
afterwards the annual supply will depend on the dura
blty Of the locks and keys adopted as well as the in
coed in amount three thousand Of the former and one
thousand Of the latter.
No lock will be considered if IT be like any already in
general use; win any with whom the contract
NAV be made be allowed to make SELL or furnish, any
lock key similar to those contracted for for any other
or than that Of the Post Office Department
The kind of lock adopted must be patented and the pa
tence will be required entering into contract TO make
an assignment Of his patent for the exclusive use and BEN
deem such requirement essential to the interests OF the
service In case of the failure Of the contractor at any
time 10 fulfil faithfully the terms and conditions Of his
contract the Postmaster General shall have the right
besides resort to the penal remedy hereinafter men
toned to aunu said contract and TO contract anew with
any other party parties he may see it, for furnishing
similar locks and keys.
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered,
the Postmaster General may deem 1t expedient to select
for the through mails the lock Of bidder and Tor 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, he shall
deem that for the interest Of the Department The
party parties contracting viii be required to give bond
with ample security in the Of thirty thousand dol
lars for faithful performance of the contract The
tract contain provisions for the due and proper in
spection of the locks and keys and also for guarding
against their passing into improper hands, the terms Of
these provisions to be arranged between tho
and the successful bidder IL bid should be accepted.
No application will be considered II 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