American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-09-25
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.

March IA, 1851. I
TT being desirable to substitute locks and keys of
Il other kind for those in for tho mail service
Of 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 to a commits
sion for examination and report Upon this report
tracts WILL as soon as practicable be entered into for fur
nshng 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 contract in force for add
onnl term Of four years by giving to the contractor
written notice to that effect than nine 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 the mechanical skill
develop 1t Is however, proper to state that lock suit
able for the mail service should possess the following quail
ities viz durability uniformity, ghness, and strength
For the purpose Of displacng simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys in about thirty thousand
new locks and twenty thousand 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-
by Of the locks and keys adopted, well as the in
crease of the mail services but it will probably never
cced in amount three thousand of the former and
thousand of the latter.
general use; will any with whom the contract
may be made be allowed 10 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
tenee viii be required entering into make
assignment of his patent for the exclusive
eft Of the Department IL the Postmaster General shall
deem such requirement essential to the interests of the
service In case Of the failure of the contractor at any
time to fulfil faithfully the terms and conditions his
contract the Postmaster General shall have the right
besides resort to the penal remedy hereinafter
toned to annu said contract and anew with
any other party parties he may h for furnishing
similar locks and keys.
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered
the Postmaster General may deem IL expedent to select
Tor the through mails 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 as he may select and also the
right reject all the specimens and proposals. II shall
deem that for the interest Of the Department The
party parties contracting will be required 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 in
spection Of the locks and keys and also for guarding
against their passing into improper hands, the of
these provisions to be arranged between the Department
and the successful bidder IL 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.
N, X. HALL,
mar a. Postmaster General.