American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-06-09
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.

Posi- OFFICE DEPARTMENT
March a. 1851. (
being desirable TO substitute locks and KEYS OF some
1 other kind for those in for the mail service
II the United States specimen locks and KEYS with pro-
1osals to furnish the same will be received and considered
1t the Post ONCE Department unt the first day of July
next The different locks will be submitted To a commits
sion for examination and report Upon this report
viii, practicable. be entereto for fur
fishing locks and keys for four years. with the right
the part of the Postmaster General for the time being
extend and continue the contract in force for add
ional term of four years 10y giving to the contractor
written notice To that effect, not than nine less
han six months before the termination Of the first term
Il four years
With view Of procuring the best lock at the lowest
,ricc no kind Of lock Il prescribed as "A standard the De
,artmcnt relying for a selection the mechanical skill
md ingenuity which fair competition invited. may
'evelop 1t is however, proper TO state that lock suit
BILE for the mail service should possess the following quail
ties viz durability, uniformity, l,htnuss and strength
For the purpose Of dispacing simultaneously oil the
nail locks and keys in use, about thirty thousand
new locks and twenty thousand kcysadapted thereto will b.
required TO be furnished by the contractor within
months after the contract shall have been entered no
afterwards the annual supply viii depend the dura
blity Of the locks and keys adopted, well the in
Of the mail service: hut IL viii probably
iced i'm amount three thousand Of the former and one
thousand of the latter.
No lock will be considered II 1t h. like any already in
general use; will any with whom the contract
may be made be allowed to make SELL furnish, any
lock or 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 and the pa
tcntCe will be required, entering into make
assignment of his patent for the exclusive and BON
eft of the Department IL the Postmaster General shall
deem such requirement essential 10 the interests
service. In case of the failure of the contractor any
time 20 fulfil faithfully the terms and conditions Of his
contract the Postmaster General shall have the rrht
besides resort TO the penal remedy hereinafter
toned to annu said contract ana to contract with
any other party or parties as he may fit for furnishing
similar locks and Keys.
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered
the Postmaster General may deem il expcdgnt select
for the through mails the lock Of bidder for the
way mails that Of another. lie reserves therefore the
right Of contracting with different individuals for such
aerent kinds Of locks IA he may select, and also the
right to reject all the specimens and proposals. II he shall
ecm 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 coutract The
tract is 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 If bid should be acceptrd
No application will he considered If not accompanied
with satisfactory evidence OF the trustworthy character Of
the bidder, and of his ability to fulfil the contract
". X. HALL,
mar 2l- Postmaster General