American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-09-12
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
Posr OYYIoR DEPARTMENT. 4

March IA 1851.
TT being desirable to substitute locks and keys Of
other Kind for those now in use for the mail service
Of the United States specimen locks and keys with pro
posas TO furnish the same win be received and considered
at the Post Office Department until the first day Of July
next The different locks will be submitted to connie
sion for examination and report Upon this report,
tracts WILL practicable be entered into for fur
uisbng such locks and Keys for four years with the right
the part the Postmaster General for the time being
70 extend and continue the contract In force for add
onal term Of four years, by giving TO the contractor
written notice that effect not than nine less
than six months before the termination of the FIRST term
With view OF procuring the best lock at the lowest
price, kind Of lock is prescribed standard the De
partmcnt relying for selection on the mechanical skill
and ingenuity which far competition invited ma,
develop IL Is however, proper 10 state that lock suit
able for the mail service should the following quail
tiles Wis; durability uniformity, ghtness, and strength
Yor the purpose OF displacng simultaneously aItht
mail locks and keys now In about thirty thousand
locks and twenty thousand thereto win be
required 10 be furnished by the contractor within
months aer the contract shall have been entered into:
afterwards the annual supply win depend the dura
bity Of the locks and keys adopted, well the in
OF the mail service; but It will probably
coed in amount three thousand of the former and
thousand Of the latter.
No lock will be considered IL IL be like any already In
general use; 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 other
purpose or than that Of the Once Department
The kind Of lock adopted must be patented and the pa
tenee win be required on entering into TO make
assignment OF his patent for the exclusive and ben
eft OF the Department IL the Postmaster General shall
deem such requirement essential 70 the interests Of the
service In Of the failure OF the contractor at
time 10 fuhl faithfully the terms and conditions OF his
contract the Postmaster General shall have the right
besdsss resort to the penal remedy hereinafter men
toned snnu said contract and TO contract with
any other party parties he may At for furnishing
similar locks and keys
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered
the Postmaster General deem IL erpeent to select
for the through mails the lock Of bidder and for the
way mas that Of another. He therefore, the
right Of contracting with different individuals for such
different kinds Of locks he may select snd also the
right reject all the specimens and proposals, n 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-
tract contain provisions for the due and proper in
specton Of the locks and keys and also for guarding
against their passing into improper hands, the terms
these provisions TO be arranged between the Department
and the suocessful bidder bid should be accepted.
No application viii be considered IL not accompanied
with satisfactory evidence Of the trustworthy character of
the bidder, and Of his ability to fulfil the contract
N. X. HALL,
mar a. Postmaster General.