American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-07-31
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.

March II, 1851.
being desirable to substitute locks and keys of
other kind for those now 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 con-
tracts will practicable be entered into for fur
nshng such locks keys for four years. with the right
on the part of the Postmaster General for the time being
TO extend and continue the contract in force for add
written notice TO that effect not more than nine nor less
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 skin
and ingenuity which fair competition, now invited may
develop 1t Is however, proper to state that lock suit
able for the mail service should possess the following quail
tiles, viz durability uniformity, lighness, and strength
For the purpose Of displacng simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys in about thirty thousand
and twenty thousand thereto will
required TO be furnished by the contractor within
months after the contract shall have been entered nto
afterwards the annual supply will depend the dura-
biity Of the locks and keys adopted well the i'm
Of the mail service; but will probably
coed in amount three thousand Of the former and
thousand of the latter
No lock win be considered II 1t 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 of lock adopted must be patented, and the
tenes win be required entering into contract to make
assignment of his patent for the exclusive and
eft Of the Department II the Postmaster General shall
deem such requirement essential to the interests the
service In Of the failure Of the contractor 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 as he may At for furnishing
similar locks and keys. ..&t
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered
the Postmaster General deem IL expedent 10 select
for the through mails the lock Of bidder for the
way mails that Of another. He reserves 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 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 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 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 "a Postmaster General.