American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-04-01
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS 81 KEYS.
posT OFFICE DEPARTMENT.,

March IA, 1851.
IT being desirable 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 same, win be received and considered
the Post Office Department until the first day of July
next. The different locks will be submitted to commits
sion for examination and report Upon this report
nshng such locks and keys for four years. with the right
the part Of the Postmaster General for the time being
extend and continue the contract in force for add
tonal term of four years. by giving to the contractor
written notice to that effect not more 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-
parnent relying for selection the mechanical skill
and ingenuity which fair competition invited
develop 1t Is however, proper to state that lock suit
able for the mail service should possess the following quail
tiles viz durability uniformity, ghtness and strength.
For the purpose of dispacing simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys now in use, about thirty thousand
locks and twenty thousand keys thereto viii be
required be furnished by the contractor within seven
months after the contract shall have been entered into;
afterwards the annual supply will depend on the duro
by Of the locks and keys adopted, well az the in
crease Of the mail service but IL will probably never ex
coed in amount three thousand Of the former and one
thousand of the latter.
No lock will DO 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 or furnish, any
lock key similar 10 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
tentee will be required entering into contract to make
assignment Of his patent for the exclusive use and ben
eft the Department II the Postmaster General shall
deem such requirement essential to the interests oil the
service In case 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 annu said contract and to contract anew with
any other party parties he may fit for furnishing
similar locks and keys.
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered
the Postmaster General may deem 1t expedent 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 as 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 parties contracting VIII be required to give bond
with ample security in the Of thirty thousand dol
lars for faithful performance Of the contract The con-
trnc is to contain provisions for the due and proper in
spccon 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 II bid should be accepted
No application will be considered II not accompanied
with satisfactory evidence Of the trustworthy character
the bidder and Of his ability TO fulfil the contract
N. X. HALL,
mar 2+-- Postmaster General