American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-08-04
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
Posr OFFICE DEPARTMENT,



March IA, 1851.
TT 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
posas to furnish the viii be received and considered
at the Post Office Department until the first day Of July
next The different locks will be submitted TO commits
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 the Postmaster General for the time being
to extend and continue the contract IN force for an add
ton term Of four years by giving to the contractor
written notice to that effect not than nine less
than six months before the termination Of the first term
Of four years. $1,000.
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 1t is however, proper to state that lock suit
able for the mail service should possess the following quail
ities viz durability, uniformity ghtness and strength
For the purpose Of displaoing simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys now in USE about thirty thousand
locks and twenty thousand thereto will be
required to be furnished by The contractor within seven
afterwards the annual supply will depend on the dura
bity Of the locks and keys adopted as well as the In
Of the mail service; but IL viii probably
coed In amount three thousand OF the former and
thousand Of the latter. IS
No lock win be considered II 1t be like any already in
general use; win 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 or than that Of the Post Once Department
The kind OF lock adopted be patented the pa
sntee will be required entering into contract TO make
assignment Of his patent for the exclusive use and ben
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 TO the penal remedy hereinafter
toned to annu said contract and TO contract anew with
any other party parties as be may M for furnishing
similar locks and keys Ee4tTs
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered,
the Postmaster General may deem II eIpedent to select
the through malls the lock Of bidder and for the
way mails that Of another. He 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. he shall
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 performances OF the contract The
tract to contain provisions for the due and proper In
spection 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 IL bid should be accepted
No application will be considered III not accompanied
with satisfactory evidence Of the trustworthy character Of
the bidder, and Of his ability to fulfil the contract
n X. HALL,
mar a. Hs1 PostInsster General