American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-12-18
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT,



March IA, 1851.
being desirable to substitute locks and keys of
other kind for those in use for the mail service
of the United States specimen locks and keys, with pro
posa to furnish the same viii 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
nshng locks and keys four years. with the right
the part Of the Postmaster General for the time being
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 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 mechancalskill
and ingenuity which fair competition, invited may
develop 1t is however, proper to state that lock suit
able the mail service should possess the following quail
tiles, viz: durability, uniformity ghtness and strength
For the purpose of displncing simultaneously all the
locks and twenty thousand 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-
bity of the locks and keys adopted well the in
of the mail Service but IL win probably
coed in amount three thousand of the former and
thousand of the latter.
No lock will considered If IT 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 to those contracted for for any other
purpose than that of the Post Office Department
The kind lock adopted must be patented the pa
tentee will be required entering contract to make
assignment of his patent for the exclusive and ben
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
toned to annu said contract and to contract with
any other party parties he may M for furnishing
similar locks and keys.
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered
the Postmaster General deem IL epedient to select
fer the through mails the lock of bidder and for the
way mails that of another He reserves therefore, the
right contracting with different individuals for such
different kinds of locks he may select and also the
right reject all the specimens and proposals. II he shall
that for the interest of the Department The
party parties will be required to give bond
with ample security, in the Of thirty thousand
lars faithful performance Of the contract The
tract Is contain provisions for the due proper
specon Of the locks and keys, and also for guarding
against their passing into improper hands; the terms
these provisions to be arranged between the Department
and the successful bidder IL bid should be accepted
No application will be considered IL not accompanied
with satisfactory evidence of the trustworthy character
the bidder and of his ability to fulfil the contract
N. X. HALL,
mar N- Postmaster General
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