American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-07-25
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.


March H. 1851. !
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
posas furnish the same win be received and 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
nhng such locks and keys for four years. with the right
the part of the Postmaster General for the time being
to extend and continue the contract in force for an add
ona 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 of procuring the best lock at the lowest
price, kind Of lock Is prescribed Standard the De
parment relying for selection the mechanical skill
and ingenuity which fair competition invited, may
develop 1t is however proper to state that lock suit
tiles, viz durability, uniformity, ghtness, and strength
For the purpose Of dsplncing simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys in use, about thirty thousand
new locks twenty thousand adapted 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 on the dura
bity Of the locks and keys adopted, well the in
Of the mail service but II will probably never ex
coed in amount three thousand OF the former and
thousand of the latter.
No lock will be considered If It be like any already In
general nor will any with whom the contract
may be made be allowed to make, SELL furnish, any
lock key similar TO those contracted for for any other
purpose than that of the Post Office Department
The kind OF adopted must be patented and the pa
tcntee will be required entering into contract make
assignment Of his patent for the exclusive and ben
eft Of the Department. II the Postmaster General shall
such requirement essential 70 the interests Of the
service. In Of the failure Of the contractor any
time 10 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 annu said contract and TO contract with
any other party parties as he may h for furnishing
similar locks and keys.
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered
the Postmaster General may deem II expedent select
for the through mails the lock Of bidder and 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 10 reject all the specimens and proposals n he shall
deem that for the interest of the Department The
party parties contracting will be required give bond
with ample security, In the Of thirty thousand dol
lars for faithful performance Of the contract The con-
tract s to contain provisions for the due and proper In
specon of the locks and keys, and also for guarding
against their passing into improper hands, the terms Of
these provisions TO be arranged between the Department
and the successful bidder, II bid should be accepted
No application win be considered II not accompanied
with satisfactory evidence of the trustworthy character Of
the bidder and Of his ability to fulfil the contract
N. X, HALL,
mar 24- Postmaster General