American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-09-27
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.

March Ia, 1851. I
being desirable to substitute locks and keys of some
other kind for those in use for the mail service
Of the United States specimen locks and keys with pro
posas 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 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 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 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 selection on the mechanical skill
and ingenuity which fair competition, invited may
develop 1t IT, however, proper 10 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 displacing simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys now in use, about thirty thousand
new lock- and twenty thousand thereto win
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 the in
of the mail service; but II will probably never
coed in amount three thousand Of the former and ono
thousand of the latter
No lock will be considered If Il he like any already In
general 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 ofock adopted must be patented and the pa
tenee will be required on entering into contract to 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 OF the
service In of the failure of the contractor at any
time to fulfil faithfully the terms and conditions Of hts
contract, the Postmaster General shall have the right
besides resort the penal remedy hereinafter men.
toned to annu said contract, and to contract with
any other party parties he may 1T furnishing
similar locks and keys.
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered
the Postmaster General may deem IL expedent select
for the through mails the lock of bidder and for the
way mails that of another. lie 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. IL 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 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 terms Of
these provisions TO be arranged between the Department
and the successful bidder If bid should be accepted
No application will be considered If not accompanied
with satisfactory evidence of the trustworthy character of
the bidder, and of his ability to fulfil the contract
N. X. HALL,
mar 2l- Postmaster General