Daily American telegraph., 1851-12-31
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT,


being desirable to substitute locks and keys of
j other kind for those in use for the mail service
of the United States specimen locks and keys with pro-
posa to furnish the sa win 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 practicable, be entered into for fur
nishng such locks and keys for four years. with tho right
the part of the Postmaster General the time being
to extend continue the contract in add
honal term Of four years by giving to the contractor
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 s prescribed standard the De-
partment relying for selection the mechanical skill
and ingenuity which fair competition invited may
develop Is however, proper to state that lock suit
able the mail service should possess the following quail
ites viz durability uniformity, ghtness and strength
For the purpose of displacng simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys in about thirty thousand
locks and twenty thousand adapted thereto win be
required to be furnished by the contractor within
months after the contract shall have been entered nto
afterwards the annual supply will depend the dura
by Of the locks and keys adopted, well the in
Of the mail service; but 1t will probably never OK
coed in amount three thousand Of the former one
thousand Of the latter.
No lock will be considered IL Il be like any already In
general will any with whom the contract
may be made be allowed TO make, sell furnish, any
lock or kew similar 10 those contracted for for other
purpose than that of the Post Office Department
The kind of lock adopted must be patented and the pa
tence will be required entering into contract to make
assignment of his patent for the exclusive and ben
eft Of the Department, If the Postmaster General shall
deem such requirement essential to the interests Of the
service In of the failure Of the contractor any
time to fulfil faithfully the terms conditions Of his
contract the Postmaster General shall have the right
besides resort to the penal remedy hereinafter men
toned said contract and to contract 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 expeden to select
for the through mails the lock of bidder 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 To reject all the specimens and proposals. he shall
deem that course for the interest of the Department Tho
party parties contracting will be required give bond
with ample security, in the sum Of thirty thousand
lars for faithful performance 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 of
these provisions to be arranged between the Department
and the successful bidder, bid should be accepted
No application will be considered II accompanied
with satisfactory evidence Of the Trustworthy character of
the bidder, and of his ability to fulfil the contract
~ X. HALL,
mar 2l- Postmaster General