American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-06-05
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.

March IA, 1851.
being desirable to substitute locks and keys some
| other kind for those in for the mail service
Of the United States, specimen locks and keys with pro
posa furnish the same viii be received and considered
next The different locks will be submitted TO commits
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
on the part the Postmaster General the time being
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 nor less
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
partment relying for selection the mechanical skill
and ingenuity which fair competition, now invited may
develop IL Is however, proper TO stale That lock SUIT
able for the mail service should possess the following quail
tiles viz: durability, uniformity ghtness, and strength
For the purpose Of dsplacing simultaneously all the
mail locks and Keys now in use about thirty thousand
locks and twenty thousand keys adapted thereto win be
required % be furnished by the contractor within
months after the contract shall have beer entered into
afterwards the annual supply will depend on the dura-
bty of the locks and keys adopted, well the in
Of the mail service but II will probably
coed in amount three thousand OF the former and
thousand of the latter.
No lock will be considered IL IL be like any already In
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 any other
purpose than that of the Post Office Department
The kind Of lock adopted must be patented and the pa
tentec win be required on entering into contract to make
assignment of his patent for the exclusive and ben
eft OF the Department IL the Postmaster General shall
such requirement essential 10 the interests of the
service In Of the failure Of the contractor NJ any
time to fulfil faithfully the terms and conditions Of his
contract the Postmaster General shall have the right
besides TO the penal remedy hereinafter men.
toned, TO annu said contract aud to contract with
any other party parties as he may h for furnishing
similar locks aud keys.
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered
the Postmaster General may deem II 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 he may select and also the
right to reject all the specimens and proposals. IL he shall
deem 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 is to contain provisions for the due and proper in
spccton 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 II not accompanied
with satisfactory evidence of the trustworthy character Of
the bidder, and Of his ability to fulfil the contract
N. X. HALL,
mar 2- Postmaster General