American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-11-28
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT,

March IA, 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 pro
posas to furnish the same will 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 as soon as practicable be entered into for fur
nshing 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 add
onal term of four years. by giving to the contractor
written notice TO that effect not than nine
than six months before the termination of the first term
of four years.
price, kind of lock Is prescribed standard the De
partment relying for selection the mechanical skill
and ingenuity which fair competition, invited may
develop IL IT, however, proper TO state that lock suit
able for the mail service should possess the following quail
tiles, viz durability, uniformity lghtness and strength
For the purpose Of dsplacing 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
afterwards the annual supply will depend the dura-
bity of the locks and keys adopted as well as the in
crease Of the mail seryce but IL will probably never ex
coed in amount three thousand Of the former and
thousand Of the latter.
general use; will any with whom the contract
may be made be allowed TO make SELL or furnish any
lock key similar TO those contracted for for any
purpose than that of the Post Office Department
The kind Of lock adopted must be patented the pa
entee will be required entering into contract make
assignment Of his patent for the exclusive and ben
eft Of the Department If the Postmaster General shall
deem such requirement essential to the interests 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
toned TO annul said contract and to with
other party parties as he may IT. for furnishing
similar locks and keys.
In deciding upon the proposals specimens offered
the Postmaster General may deem II expedient TO select
for the through mails the lock Of bidder and for the
way mails that Of another He reserves therefore the
right Of contracting with different individuals such
different kinds of locks he may select and also the
right 10 reject all the specimens and proposals. he shall
deem that for the interest Of the Department The
party parties contracting will be required 10 give bond
with ample security, in the Of thirty thousand dol
lars for faithful performance of the contract The CON
tract is TO contain provisions for the due and proper
specon Of the locks and keys and also for guarding
against their passing into improper hands, the
these provisions TO be arranged between the Department
and the successful bidder, II bid should be accepted
No application will be considered II not accompanied
with satisfactory evidence Of the Trustworthy character
the bidder, and Of his ability to fulfil the contract
N. X. HALL,
mar. "a Postmaster General.