American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-07-19
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT,

March Ia, 1851.
being desirable substitute locks keys Of
other kind for those now in use for the mail service
of the United States specimen locks and keys with pro
posas 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 practicable, be entered into for fur
nishng such locks and keys for four years. with the right
the part the Postmaster General for the time being
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 as standard the De
partment relying for selection the mechanical skill
and ingenuity which fair competition invited, may
develop IL Is however, proper to state that lock suit
able for the mail service should possess the following quail
tiles, viz durability uniformity, ghtness, and strength
For the purpose Of displacing simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys now in use about thirty thousand
required to be furnished by the contractor within
months after the contract shall have been entered nto
bty Of the locks and keys adopted well as the in
Of the mail service; but It will probably ex.
coed in amount three thousand Of the former and
thousand of the latter.
No lock will be considered II II be like any already in
general use; nor will any one 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 lock adopted must be patented the pa
tentee will be required on entering To make
assignment of his patent for the exclusive
eft of the Department. IL the Postmaster General shall
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 men.
toned to annu said contract and TO contract with
any other paryo parties as he may see it, for furnishing
similar locks and keys.
in deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered,
the Postmaster General may deem expedient to select
for the through mails the lock bidder for the
way mails that Of another lie reserves therefore, the
right Of contracting with different individuals such
different kinds Of locks he may select also tho
right to reject all the specimens and proposals. II he shall
deem that for the interest Of the Department The
party parties contracting will be required to 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
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 II accompanied
with satisfactory evidence of the Trustworthy character of
the bidder and Of his ability to fulfil the contract
N. X. HALL
mar R- Postmaster General.