Daily American telegraph., 1851-12-23
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT,

q 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 pro-
posas to furnish the same win 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 w practicable be entered into for fur
nishng such locks and keys for four years. with the right
to extend and continue the contract in force for add
donal term of four years. buving 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
parment relying for selection the mechanical skill
and ingenuity which fair competition, invited may
develop 1t H. however proper to state that lock suit
able for the mail service should possess the following quail
tiles viz; durability uniformity ightness and strength
mail locks and keys in about thirty thousand
locks and twenty thousand will be
required to be furnished by the contractor within
months after the contract shall have been entered nto
afterwards the annual supply will depend the dura-
bty of the locks and keys adopted well the in-
the mail services but 1t will probably
ceed 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 will any with whom tho contract
may be made be allowed 70 make cell or furnish, any
purpose than that of the Post Office Department
The kind Of lock adopted must be patented and the pa
assignment of his patent for the exclusive and BEN
eft of the Department If the Postmaster General shall
service of the failure 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 annul said contract contract anew 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 It expedent select
for the through mails the lock of bidder and for the
way mails that of another He reserves therefore, tho
right of contracting with different individuals such
different kinds Of locks as he may select and also the
right TO reject all the specimens and proposals shall
deem that for the interest of the Department The
party parties contracting win be required give bond
with ample security, In the of thirty thousand dol
lars for faithful performance of the contract Tho con-
tract is to contain provisions for the due and proper
specton of the locks and keys, and also guarding
against their passing into improper hands, the
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 Of
the bidder, and of his ability to fulfil the contract
N. K HALL,
mar 4- Postmaster General.