American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-11-13
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
Posr OFFICE DEPARTMENT

March Ia, 1901. ]
TT being desirable to substitute locks and keys Of
il other kind for those in for the mail service
of the United States specimen locks and keys, with
posas to furnish the same will be received and considered
at 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 con-
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
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-
partment relying for selection the mechanical skill
and ingenuity which fair competition 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, ghness and strength
For the purpose Of displacng simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys in about thirty thousand
new locks and twenty thousand keys thereto will 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
bty of the locks and keys adopted, well the in
of the mail service; but IL will probably
coed in amount three thousand Of the former and
thousand Of the latter
No lock viii be considered II IL be like any already in
general use nor will any opa with whom the contract
may DO made be allowed TO make cell or 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
tentee will be required entering into contract make
assignment Of his patent for the exclusive and ben
eft Of the Department. II the Postmaster General shall
interests
service In case Of the failure Of tho 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 annul said contract and to contract with
any other party parties he may b for furnishing
similar locks and keys.
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered
the Postmaster General may deem il e1pedient select
for the through mails the lock Of bidder for the
malls that of another He therefore the
right Of contracting with different individuals 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 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 terms of
these provisions to be arranged between the Department
and the successful bidder IL bid should be accepted
No application will be considered " not accompanied
with satisfactory evidence of the trustworthy character of
the bidder, and Of his ability to fulfil the contract
NJ X. HALL,
mar a. Postmaster General.