American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-09-08
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.


March IA, 1851. (
being desirable to substitute locks and keys of
L other kind for those in for the mail service
Of the United States specimen locks and keys with pro-
posa to furnish the same will he received and considered
At the Post Office Department until the first day of July
next The different locks viii be submitted to commits
sion for examination and report Upon this report
tracts WILL practicable, be entered into for fur
nshing such locks and keys for four years. with the right
ON the part of the Postmaster General for the time being
extend and continue the contract in force for add
on term Of four years BY giving 70 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 Is prescribed Standard the De
partment relying for selection the mechanical skill
and ingenuity which fair competition now invited may
develop 10 Is however, proper state that lock suit
able for the mail service should possess the following quail
tiles, viz: durability uniformity, lighness and strength
For the purpose Of displacing simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys in use, about thirty thousand
new locks and twenty thousand thereto viii be
required 10 be furnished by the contractor within seven
months after the contract shall have been entered nto
afterwards the annual supply viii depend the dura
bity of the locks and keys adopted as well as the in
crease Of the mail service but it win probably never ex
coed in amount three thousand Of the former and
thousand Of the latter
general nor will any with whom the contract
may be made be allowed to make, cell or furnish, any
lock key similar 10 those contracted for any other
purpose than that of the Post Office Department
The kind oflock adopted must be patented and the pa
entee will be required on entering into contract make
assignment of his patent for the exclusive and ben
eft Of the Department IL the Postmaster General shall
such requirement essential TO the interests of the
service In of the failure of the contractor any
time to fulfil faithfully the terms aud conditions Of his
contract the Postmaster General shall have the right
besides resort TO the penal remedy hereinafter men
toned TO annul said contract and to contract with
any other party parties he may m for furnishing
similar locks and keys
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered
the Postmaster General may deem II expedent select
the through mails the lock of bidder and for the
way mails that Of another. He 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. If he shall
deem that for the interest Of the Department The
party parties 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 TO contain provisions for the due and proper in
spection of the locks and keys and also for guarding
against their passing into sproper hands, the terms
these provisions TO be arranged between the Department
and the successful bidder If bid should be accepted
No application will be considered If not accompanied
with satisfactory evidence Of the trustworthy character Of
the bidder and Of his ability to fulfil the contract
N. X. HALL,
81 Postmaster General