American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-12-19
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
Posr OFFICE DEPARTMENT,

j
TT being desirable to substitute locks and keys Of some
other kind for those in use for the mail service
OF the United States specimen locks and Keys with pro-
posals furnish the sae viii be received and considered
at the Post Office Department until the first day of July
next The different locks viii be submitted to commits
sion for examination and report Upon this report con-
tracts WILL practicable be entered into for fur
nishng such locks and keys for four with the right
on the part the Postmaster General for the time being
to extend and continue the contract in force for add
onal term of four years. by giving to the contractor
written notice TO that effect not than nine nor less
of four years. .HaH
with view of procuring the best lock at the lowest
price, kind Of lock is prescribed standard the De
parment relying for selection on the mechanical skill
and ingenuity which fhr competition invited, may
develop II Is however, proper to state that lock suit
able for the mail service should possess the following quail
ities viz durability uniformity, lghtness, and strength
For the purpose Of displacng simultaneously all the
mail locks keys use, about thirty thousand
new locks and twenty thousand keys will be
required TO be furnished by the contractor within
months after the contract shall have been entered into
afterwards the annual supply will depend the dura-
bty of the locks and keys adopted wel the in
of the mail service; but il will probably
coed in amount three thousand OF the former and
thousand of the latter
No lock will be considered IL IL 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 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
tenee will be required entering contract TO make
assignment of his patent for the exclusive and ben
eft Of the Department. If the Postmaster General shall
service In of the failure Of the contractor
time fulfil faithfully the terms and conditions of his
contract the Postmaster General shall have the right
besides resort to tho penal remedy hereinafter men
toned TO annul said contract andto contract with
any other party parties as he may m for furnishing
similar locks aud keys.
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered
the Postmaster General may deem 1t expedent to select
for the through mails the lock of bidder for the
way mails that of another. He reserves, therefore the
right of contracting with different individuals for such
different kinds Of locks as he may select and also the
right TO reject all the specimens and proposals. II he shall
deem that for the interest of the Department The
party parties will be required give bond
with ample security, in the Of thirty thousand dol
lars, for faithful performance Of the contract The
tract Is TO contain provisions for the due and proper
apecton of the locks and keys and also for guarding
against their passing into improper bands the terms
these provisions TO be arranged between the Department
and the successful bidder II bid should be accepted
No application viii be considered If not accompanied
with satisfactory evidence of the trustworthy character of
the bidder and Of his ability to fulfil the contract
N. X. HALL,
mar "a Postmaster General