Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-05-30
MAIL LOCKS ANDKEYS.
Posi- OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
Adl Ii IlEl

PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT.,
March ID, 1851.
TT BEING DESIRABLE to substitute locks and
Il keys of some other kind for those now for the
mail service of the United States, specimen locks and
KEYS with proposals ournsh The same, will be received
and considered at the Post Office Department until the
mitted to commission for examination and report
Upon this report contracts will, as as practicable,
be entered into Tor furnishing such locks and keys tor
four years. with the right the part of the Postmaster
General for the time being to extend and continue the
contract in force for additional term of four years. by
giving to the contractor written notice to that effect,
not more than nine nor less than six months before the
termination OF the first term OF four years.
With view oil procuring the best lock at the lowest
price, no kind o!oc isprescrbed standard the De-
partment relying for selection on the mechanical skill
may develop. 1t is, however, proper to state, that
lock suitable for the mail service should possess the fol-
lowing qualities,viz durability, uniformity lightness
and strength
For the purpose OF displacing Simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys in use, about thirty thousand
new locks aad twenty thousand KEYS adapted thereto
will be required to be furnished by the contractor with
in months after the contract shall have been en-
tered into; afterwards the annual supply will depend
on the durability OF the locks and keys adopted, as
well as the increase OF the mail services but will pro-
badly never exceed in amount three thousand Of the for
mer and one thousand OF the latter.
No lock will be considered if it be like any already
IN general use; nor will any one with whom the con-
tract may be made be allowed to make, SELL or furnish
any lock or Key similar TO those contracted tor Tor any
other purpose than that of the Post Office De-
partment.
The kind of lock adopted must be patented and the
patentee will be required, entering into contract,
make assignment of his patent, for the exclusive
and benefit othe DEPARTMENT. the Postmaster General
shall deem such requirement essential to the interests
of the service In case of the ia ure 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 herein
after mentioned to annul said contract and 10 contract
anew with any other party parties as he may see
ft for furnishing similar locks and keys
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens Of
fered, the Postmaster General may deem it expedent
to select for the through mails the lock of one bidder
and tor the way mails that OF another. He reserves
therefore, the right of contracting with different ind
vduas for such different kinds of locks as he may Sc
ect, and also the right reject all the specimens and
proposals, if he 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 dollars, for faithful peror
nance of the contract. The contract is to contain
provisions for the due and proper inspection of the locks
and keys and also, guarding against their passing into
improper hands; the terms ofthese provisions to be
ranged between the Department and the successful bid
der, if bid should be accepted.
No application will be considered ifnot accompanied
with satisfactory evidence of the trustworthy charace;
of the bidder, and OF his ability fulfil the contract.
N. X. HALL, Postmaster General.
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