American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-09-10
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.

III,
March IA, 1851. !
being desirable to substitute locks and keys of
other kind for those in for the mail service
If 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 commits
sion for examination and report Upon this report
tracts WILL practicable be entered into for fur
nhp such locks and KEYS for four years. with the right
the part the Postmaster General for the time being
TO extend and continue the contract in force for an add
ona term of four years by giving to the contractor
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 on the mechanical skill
and ingenuity which fair competition invited, may
develop 1t is however, proper to state that lock suit
able for the mail service should possess the following quail
For the purpose of displacng simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys now in about thirty thousand
and twenty thousand keys adapted thereto will
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
bty OF the locks and keys adopted as well as the in
crease of the mail services but it win probably never
coed in amount three thousand Of the former and
thousand of the latter.
general use; nor will any with whom the contract
may be made be allowed to make, sell, furnish any
lock key similar to those contracted for for other
purpose or than that Of the Post ONCE Department
The kind Of lock adopted must be patented and the pa
tenee will be required on entering into contract make
assignment of his patent for the exclusive
eft Of the Department, If the Postmaster General shall
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 hs
contract the Postmaster General shall have the right
besides resort to the penal remedy hereinafter men
toned to annu said contract and TO contract with
any other party parties he may it, for furnishing
similar locks and keys
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered
the Postmaster General may deem it expedent TO select
for the through mails the lock OF bidder the
way mails that of another, He reserves therefore, the
right Of contracting with different individuals for such
different kinds Of locks az he may select and also the
that for the interest Of the Department The
party parties contracting will be required to give bond
with ample security In the Of thirty thousand dol
lars for faithful performance Of the contract The CON
tract to contain provisions for the due and proper
spection of the locks and keys and also for guarding
against their passing into improper hands, the terms
these provisions to be arranged between the Department
and the successful bidder, II 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. r. HALL,
mar M-- Postmaster General.