American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-06-17
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
PosT OFFicE DEPARTMENT, !

March IL, 1881. (
TT being desirable to substitute locks and keys OF
i other kind for those in for the mail service
OF the United States, specimen locks and Keys with
poas to furnish the same will be received and considered
az 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
tracts WILL practicable be entered into for fur
nishng 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
tonal term Of four years by giving TO the contractor
written notice TO that effect not than nine less
thnn 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 n selection the mechanical skill
and ingenuity which fair competition invited, may
develop it is however, proper 10 state that lock suit
able for the mail service should possess the following Quail
es, viz: durability uniformity, lighncss and strength
For the purpose Of displacing simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys now in about thirty thousand
new locks twenty thousand keys thereto viii he
required 70 be furnished by the contractor within seven
months after the contract shall have been entered into
afterwards the annual supply win depend the dura
by Of the locks and keys adopted, wen as the in
Of the mail service; but will probably ex
coed in amount three thousand Of the former and
thousand of the latter.
No lock will be considered II Il be like any already In
general use; nor will any with whom the contract
may be made be allowed TO make, sel furnish, any
lock key similar 10 those contracted for for any other
purpose than that Of the Post Office Department
Theknd oflock adopted must be patented and the pm
tentee will be required entering into contract make
assignment his patent for the exclusive use and ben
eft OF the Department IL the Postmaster General shall
deem such requirement. essential TO the interests NJ the
service. In Of the failure Of the contractor Mt 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
tone 10 annu said contract and TO 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 It expeent to select
for the through mails the lock of bidder 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 10 reject all the specimens and proposals 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 proper in
specon Of the locks and keys and also for guarding
against their passing into improper hands; the Of
these provisions 10 be arranged between the Department
and the successful bidder IL bid should he accepted
No application will be considered IL 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