American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-08-06
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
Posr OFFICE DEPARTMENT, /
aHT


March IA, 1851. I
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 furnish the same will be received 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 will practicable be entered into for fur
nhnr such locks and KEYS for four years with the right
on the part of the Postmaster General for the time being
10 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
price, kind Of lock is prescribed standard the De-
partment relying for selection the mechanical skin
and ingenuity which air competition, now invited may
develop is however, proper to state that lock suit
able for the mail service should possess the following quail
tiles, Via durability, uniformity ghtness and strength
For the purpose Of dsplacing simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys in use about thirty thousand
locks and twenty thousand thereto viii be
required 10 be furnished by the contractor within seven
months after the contract shall have been entered into
Afterwards the annual supply will depend the durp-
bility Of the locks and keys adopted well the in
Of the mail services but IL will probably
coed In amount three thousand Of the former and
thousand Of the latter.
No lock win be considered II Il be like any already IN
general will any one with whom the contract
may be made be allowed to make, sell, furnish, any
lock key similar 10 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
tentee will be required entering into contract make
an assignment Of his patent for the
eft OF the Department II the Postmaster General shall
deem such requirement essential TO the interests of the
service In Of the failure of the contractor any
time 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 10 contract with
any other party parties he may h for furnishing
similar locks and keys.
In deciding upon tho proposals and specimens offered
the Postmaster General deem IL expedient TO select
for the through mails the lock Of bidder and for the
way mails that o. another He reserves therefore, the
right OF contracting with different individuals such
different kinds Of locks a. he may select and also the
right reject all the specimens and proposals. IL shall
deem that for the interest of the 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 The
tract IL to contain provisions for the due and proper in
specton of the locks and keys and also for guarding
against their passing into improper hans the of
these provisions to be arranged between the Department
and the successful bidder If bid should be accepted
No application will be considered II accompanied
with satisfactory evidence of the trustworthy character
the bidder, and of his ability to fulfil the contract
M X. HALL,
mar "a Postmaster General.