Daily American telegraph., 1851-12-30
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT,

J
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
poals to furnish the same viii be received and considered
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
nshing such locks and keys for four with the right
to extend ana Sontnue the contract In force for an ad
onal term of four years by giving to the contractor
written notice to that effect not more 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 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
ies viz durability, uniformity lightness and strength
For the purpose of displacing simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys in use, about thirty thousand
locks and twenty thousand thereto viii be
required to be furnished by the contractor within
months after the contract shall have been entered nto
afterwards the annual supply will depend on the dura-
bty of the locks and keys adopted, well the in
crease of the mail service but 1t will probably
coed in amount three thousand of the former and
thousand of the latter.
No lock will be considered If 1t 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 other
purpose than that of the Post Office Department
Tho kind Of lock adopted must be patented and the pa
entee will be required entering into contract make
assignment of his patent for the exclusive and BEN
eft Of the Department. If the Postmaster General shall
deem such requirement essential to the interests of tho
service 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 annu said contract and TO contract with
any other party parties he may fit for furnishing
similar locks and keys.
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered
the Postmaster General may deem Il expeden 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 he may select and also the
right reject all the specimens and proposals. If he shall
deem that for the interest of tho 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 Tho
tract IL to contain provisions for the due and i'm
pection of the locks and keys and also for guarding
against their passing into improper hands, the terms of
provisions TO be arranged between the Department
and the successful bidder, IL bid should be accepted
No application viii 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 "a Postmaster General.