Daily American telegraph., 1851-12-22
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
PosT OFfIcE DEPARTMENT,



being desirable to substitute locks and keys Of
other kind for those in for the mail service
unsai is - Ht Ne @ ,,, IA rce;xed ad
at the Post Office Department until the first day of July
next The different locks will be submitted to conmis-
sion for examination and report Upon this report
tracts WILL practicable be entered into for fur
nsng such locks and keys for four years. with the right
the part of the Postmaster General for the time being
to extend and continue the in ad
ona term Of four years. by giving to the contractor
than six months before the termination of the first term
With view Of procuring the best lock at the lowest
price, kind of lock is prescribed Standard the De-
partment relying for selection on the mechanical skill
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
es viz: durability, uniformity, lighness, and strength.
mail locks and KEYS now in use about thirty thousand
locks and twenty thousand adapted thereto win be
required to be furnished by the contractor within
months after the contract shall have been entered into
afterwards the annual supply will depend the dura-
bilty of the locks and keys adopted as well the in
crease of the mail seryice but it will probably
ceed in amount three thousand of the former
thousand Of the latter.
No lock viii be considered If be like any already in
general use; will any one 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
tentee win be required entering into contract make
assignment of his patent for the exclusive and BEN
eft of the Department. If the Postmaster General shall
deem such requirement essential to the interests of the
service In case OF the failure OF the contractor at
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 10 annu said contract and to contract with
any other party parties he may h for furnishing
similar locks aud keys
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered,
the Postmaster General deem 1t expedent to select
for the through mails the lock Of bidder and for the
mails that of another. lie reserves, therefore, the
right Of contracting with different individuals for such
different kinds Of locks he may select and also the
right to reject all the specimens and proposals IL he shall
nf
party parties contracting viii be required TO give bond
with ample security in the Of thirty thousand dol
lars, for faithful performance of the contract 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 accepted
No application will be considered If 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.