American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-11-12
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.

March IA, 1851. 7 x
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
posas to furnish the same will be received and considered
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
nshng 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
tona term OF four years. by giving to the contractor
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 now invited may
develop. 1t Ia 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 displacing simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys In USE about thirty thousand
locks and twenty thousand keys thereto will be
required to be furnished by the contractor within seven
afterwards the annual supply will depend on the dura-
bty Of the locks and keys adopted as well as the in
crease of the mail service but it will probably
coed in amount three thousand Of the former and
thousand Of the latter.
No lock win be considered II It 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 or use than that of the Post Office Department
The kind of lock adopted must be patented and the pa
tentee will be required entering into contract to make
assignment of his patent for the exclusive and ben
deem such requirement essential to the interests of the
service In 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
toned to annul said contract and to contract with
any other party parties as he may see fit for furnishing
similar locks and keys.
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered,
the Postmaster General may deem IL expedent to select
for the Through mails the lock Of bidder and for the
way mails that Of another lie 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 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 to contain provisions for the due and proper in
specon 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, If bid should be accepted
No application will be considered II not accompanied
with satisfactory evidence of the trustworthy character
the bidder, and Of his ability to fulfil the contract
N. X. HALL,
mar a. Postmaster General