American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-12-16
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
Poser OFFrcr DpptRTSfFNT

March IL, 1891. J
7 being desirable to substitute locks and keys of
other kind for those in for the mail service
OF the United States, specimen locks and keys with pro
posa to furnish the same win be received and considered
at the Post Office Department until the first day of July
next The different locks viii 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
to extend and continue the contract in force for ad
on term of four years by giving to the contractor
written notice to that effect than nine
than six months before the termination of the first term
Of four years.
With view of procuring the best lock at the lowest
price, kind Of lock is prescribed standard the De
partmcnt relying for selection the mechanical skill
and ingenuity which fair competition now invited may
develop IT is however, proper to state that lock suit
able for the mail service should the following quail
tiles, viz durability uniformity lghtness and strength
For the purpose of displacing simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys now in use about thirty thousand
new locks and twenty thousand thereto will 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
bility of the locks and keys adopted well the
Of the mail service but II win probably
coed in amount three thousand Of the former and
thousand of the latter.
No lock will be considered II 1t be like any already In
general use; will any with whom the contract
may be made be allowed to make SELL or furnish any
lock key similar to those contracted for for any other
purpose than that the Post Office Department
The kind cck adopted must be patented and the pa
entee will be required, entering into contract TO make
assignment Of his patent for the exclusive
eft of the Department. If the Postmaster General shall
deem such essential To the interests
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 to the penal remedy hereinafter men
toned to aDnul said contract and to contract with
other party parties he may h for furnishing
similar locks aud keys.
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered
the Postmaster General may deem expeden to select
for the through mails the lock of bidder and for the
way mails that Of another lie reserves therefore, the
right of contracting with different individuals for such
different kinds of locks az he may select and also the
right TO reject all the specimens and proposals II he shall
deem that for the interest Of the Department The
party escontracng win be required to give bond
with ample security, in the Of thirty thousand dol
lars for faithful performances Of the contract The con-
tract to contain provisions for the due proper in
specton 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, If bid should be accepted
No application win be considered If not accompanied
with satisfactory evidence Of the trustworthy character
the bidder, and Of his ability to fulfil the contract
u.5 E N. K HALL,
mar N- Postmaster General.