American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-06-11
FURNI.HING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
posr OY-IcI DEPARTMENT,
~

March II, 1861.
being desirable TO substitute locks and keys Of some
III other kind for those In Tor the mail Ice
Of the United States specimen locks and keys with pro
posals TO furnish the will be received considered
next The different locks viii be submitted 10 commits
sion for examination and report Upon this report
tracts WILL practicable, be entered into for fur
nishing such locks and keys for onr years. with the right
the part OF the Postmaster General for the time being
to extend and continue the contract In force for add
aonsi term Of four yesss BY giving to the contractor
than six months before the termination Of the first term
Of four years. $500. ...
price, kind Of lock prescribed Standard the De
partment relying for selection on the mechanical skill
and ingenuity which fair competition nov nvited may
develop 1t H. however, proper 10 state that lock suit
able for the mail service should possess the following quail
tiles, viz durability uniformity, Hghtness and strength
For the purpose OF displacng simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys in use about thirty thousand
locks twenty thousand Keys viii b.
required TO be furnished by the contractor within
months after the contract shall have been entered into
afterwards the annual supply viii depend the dura
bity Of the locks and keys adopted, well the In
crease Of the mail service; but viii probably
coed in amount three thousand Of the former and
thousand of the latter
No lock win be considered II II be like any already In
general will any one with whom the contract
may be made be allowed 20 make, sell, furnish any
lock key similar to those contracted for for any other
purpose than that Of the Post Once Department
The kind Of lock adopted must be patented and the pa
entee will be required ON entering Into contract 10 make
assignment o. his patent for the
eft Of the Department., n Postmaster General shall
deem such requirement. essential interests OF
service In Of the failure Of the contractor any
time 10 fulfil faithfully the terms and conditions Of hs
contract the Postmaster General shall have the right
besides resort to the penal remedy hereinafter
toned, to annulaid contract and 10 contract with
any other party parties he may IT. for furnishing
| similar locks and keys.
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered
the Postmaster General may deem IL expedient 10 select
for the through mails the lock Of bidder and for the
way mails that Of another He reserves, therefore
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. he shall
deem that course for the interest of the Department The
party parties contracting viii be required 10 give bond
with ample security in the Of thirty thousand dol
lars for faithful performance Of the contract The
tract rs TO contain provisions for the due and proper In
specton Of the locks and keys and also for guarding
against their passing into improper hands, terms Of
these provisions to be arranged between the Department
and the successful bidder II bid should be accepted
No application will be considered II not accom- panied
with satisfactory evidence Of the Trustworthy character Of
the bidder and of his ability to fulfil the contract
N, k. HALL.
mar "a Postmaster General