Daily American telegraph., 1851-12-29
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT,

March Ia, 1851. (
TT being desirable to substitute locks and keys of some
i other kind for those in for the mail service
of the United States specimen locks and keys with
posals to furnish the will be received and considered
at the Post Office Department until the first day of July
next The different locks will be submitted to a commits
sion for examination report Upon this report
WILL practicable, be for
nishng such locks and keys for four with the right
on the part of the Postmaster General for the time being
to extend and continue the contract in force for add
tonal term of four years by giving to the contractor
written notice TO that effect not more than nine less
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, invited may
develop. is however, proper 10 state that lock suit
able for the mail service should possess the following qua
ites viz durability, uniformity, ghtness and strength
For the purpose Of displacng simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys in about thirty thousand
locks and twenty thousand keys thereto 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, well tho in
coed in amount three thousand of the former and
thousand of the latter.
No lock will be considered Il it be like any already in
general 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 0ice Department
The kind oflock adopted must be patented and the pa
entee win be required entering into contract make
assignment Of his patent for the exclusive and ben
eft Of the Department, IL the Postmaster General shall
deem such requirement essential to the interests Of the
service In OF the failure 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 hereinafter men
toned to annu said contract and TO contract with
any other party parties he may fit for Furnishing
similar locks and keys.
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered,
the Postmaster General may deem il expeden select
for the through mails the lock Of bidder 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 TO reject all the specimens and proposals. II he shall
deem that for the interest Of the Department The
with ample security in the Of thirty thoupand dol
lars for faithful performance Of the contract The
tract Is TO contain provisions for the due and proper
specton OF the locks and keys and also for guarding
against their passing into improper hands, the OF
these provisions to be arranged between the Department
and the successful bidder, IL bid should be accepted
No application will be considered If not accompanied
with satisfactory evidence Of the trustworthy character
the bidder and of his ability TO fulfil the contract
N. X. HALL
2l- Postmaster General.