American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-12-20
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
Posr OFFICE DEPARTMENT,

march Ia, 1901. J 9
TT being desirable to substitute locks and keys
other kind for those in for the mail service
of the United States specimen looks and keys with pro
posas to furnish the same viii 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 and keys for four years. with the right
the part Of the Postmaster General the time being
TO extend and continue the contract in force for add
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 f4I e II.
With view of procuring the best lock at the lowest
price, kind Of lock is prescribed standard, the De
partmen 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 hghtnes and strength.
For the purpose of dsplacing simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys now in use about thirty thousand
locks and twenty thousand thereto win be
required TO he furnished by the contractor within
months after the contract shall have been entered into;
afterwards the annual supply will depend on the dura-
bity of the locks and keys adopted well the in
Of the mail service but 1t will probably never ex-
coed in amount three thousand Of the former and
thousand Of the latter. sf
No lock will be considered IL it be like any already In
general use; viii any with whom the contract
may be made be allowed TO make, SELL furnish, any
purpose than that Of the Post Office Department
The kind Of lock adopted must be patented and the pa
tentee will be required entering into contract to make
an assignment OF patent for the exclusive use and ben
eft Of the Department IL 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 his
contract, the Postmaster General shall have the right
besides resort 10 the penal remedy hereinafter men.
toned to ennu said contract and TO contract with
any other party parties he may IT. for furnishing
similar locks and keys. if
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered,
the Postmaster General may deem IL expeden to select
for the through mails the lock Of bidder aud for the
way mails that Of another He reserves therefore the
right of contracting with different individuals such
different kinds of locks as he may select and also the
right to reject all the specimens and proposals he shall
deem that for the interest of the Department The
party parties contracting win 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 In
specton Of the locks and keys, and also for guarding
against their passing into improper hands the terms Of
these provisions to he arranged between the Department
and the successful bidder, If bid should be accepted
No application viii be considered II not accompanied
with satisfactory evidence Of the Trustworthy character
Che bidder, and Of his ability to fulfil the contract
~ ~ X. HALL,
mar 3D. Postmaster General.