American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-07-18
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT, |
lf...I IA 1CE1

Posi- OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
March IA, 1851. I
being desirable substitute locks and keys of
other kind for those in for the mail service
Of the United States specimen locks and keys with
posas to furnish the same win 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
nishing such locks and keys for four with the right
the part of the Postmaster General for the time being
TO extend and continue the contract in force for add
onal term OF four years by giving TO the contractors
written houce 70 .nat enscS no. oIs uHn e nor ieet
than six mouths before the termination Of the first term
Of four years. III .4ta3... 4 81 s.E -4f Il m -#l4
with view Of procuring the best lock at the lowest
price, kind Of lock s prescribed Standard the De
partment relying for selection the mechanical skill
and ingenuity which fair competition invited, may
,ss P the mail ssrves S the oua
ties viz durability uniformity, lghtpcss, and strength
Por the purpose Of dispacing simultaneously all the
mail locks and Keys now In about thirty thousand
locks twenty thousand keys adapted thereto will be
required TO be furnished by the contractor within
months after the contract shah have been entered into
Afterwards the annual supply will depend on the dura-
by Of the locks and keys adopted, as well as the in
crease Of the mail service; but II viii probably
coed In amount three thousand Of the former and
thousand OF the latter.
No lock win be considered II II be like any already In
general use; nor win any one with whom the contract
may be made be allowed to make, SELL furnish, any
lock key similar 20 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
will be required entering into contract TO make
assignment Of bis patent for the exclusive andben
ent the Department., II benerh
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 70 the penal remedy hereinafter
toned TO annu said oontrac and to contract with
any other party parties he may h for furnishing
similar locks and keys. e..tsetl ia r.# s.f -tt
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered,
the Postmaster General may deem II expedient TO select
for the through malls the lock Of one bidder and for the
way mails that Of another. He therefore, the
right Of contracng with different individuals for such
different kinds Of looks as he may select and also the
right reject all the specimens aud proposals. he shall
deem that for the interest Of che Department. The
party parties contracting will he required TO give bond
with ample security, In the Of thirty thousand dol
lara for aithful performance Of the contract The
tract TO contain provisions for the due and proper in
specon Of the locks and keys, and also for guarding
against their passing into improper bands; the terms of
these proyonso be arranged between the Department
and the successful bidder, II bid should be accepted
No application will be considered II accompanied
with satisfactory evidence Of the trustworthy character of
the bidder and Of his ability to fulfil the contract
.f-Sfsa .-s4t ma eIest ~ Ne X. HALL 10 I'D
mar 49, I Postmaster General.