American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-10-11
FURNISHING NAIL LOCKS AND KEYS:
Posr orrIcg DEPARTMENT, |

Marcl IA, 1851.
Vt being desirable to substitute locks ana Keys Of some
i Other kind for those in for the mail service
Of the United States specimen locks and keys with pro
posals to furnish the win lie received and considered
al the Post Office Department until the first day Of July
neNt The different locks viii be submitted to commits
sion for examination and report Upon this report
tracts will soon practicable he entered into for fur
nishng such locks ndkeys for four years with the right
tho aT ~ the Postmaster General for the time being
70 extend and continue the contract in force for an add
onal term Of four years, by giving 10 the contractor
written notice 70 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, no kind Of lock Is prescribed as standard the De
partmcnt relying for selection the mechanical skill
ingenuity which fair competition, invited, may
develop Ii IS however, proper 70 state that lock suit
abe ior the mail ceryce should possess the following quail
tiles viz Durability uniformity iiyhtDess ana strength
For the purpose Of diSplacng simultaneously al the
mail locks ard KEYS now in use about thirty thousand
lock- and twenty thousand keysadapte thereto i'll
required TO b. furnished by h" contractor within seven
months after The contract shall have been entered into;
afterwards the annual supply viii depend on the dura
bty Of the locks and Keys adopted, well MS the In
of the mail services but Il will probably never ex
cued in amount three thousand Of the former and
thousand Of the latter.
No lock will be- considered II It be like any already in
general use nor VIII any with whom the contract
may be made be allowed to make, soil, furnish any
lock key similar n those contracted for for any other
purpose or than that % The Post Office Department
The kind Of lock adopted must be patented, the pa
tentcc viii he required entering into contract to make
assignment Of his patent for the exclusive and
eft Of the Drpnrtmcut If te Postmaster General shall
service In Of the failure Of the contractor ut 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 men
toned 10 annu said contract, and 10 contract with
any other party parties he may it, for furnishing
similar locks aud keys
In deciding upon tho proposals and specimens offered
the Postmaster General may deem IL eSpedCnt to select
for the through mails the lock Of bidder and for tho
way mails that Of another. lie reserves therefore, the
right Of contracting with different individuals for such
different kinds Of locks ~ hu mpy select and also the
right to reject all the specimens ana proposals. If he shall
deem that for the interest Of the Department The
party parties contracting will o required TO give bond
with ample sccurty in the Of thirty thousand dol
lars for faithful performance OF tho contract The
tract to contain provisions for the due aud proper in
against their passing into improper hands, the terms of
these provisions TO be arranged between the Department
and the successful bidder II bid should be accepted
No application viii be considered If not accompanied
with satisfactory evidence Of the trustworthy character Of
the bidder, aud OF his ability to fulfil the contract
N X. HALL,
mar "a Postmaster General.