American telegraph., 1851-05-22
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.

March IA, 1851. .
being desirable to substitute locks and keys of
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
nisng 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 than nine less
than six months before the termination Of the first term
of four years its ~
price, kind of lock is prescribed standard the De
pnrtent relying for selection on the mechanical skill
and ingenuity which fair competition invited,
develop 1T Is however, proper to state that lock su
able for the mail service should possess the following quail
ities viz durability, uniformity lghtness and strength
For the purpose of dispacng simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys in use, about thirty thousand
locks and twenty thousand thereto will be
required furnished by the contractor within
months after the contract shall have been entered into;
afterwards the annual supply will depend the dura-
by of the locks and keys adopted as well as the in
of the mail service; but 1t will probably
coed in amount three thousand of the former and one
thousand of the latter.
No lock will be considered IL 1t be like any already in
general use; win any one with whom the contract
may be made be allowed to make, SELL furnish any
lock key similar to those contracted for for other
purpose than that of the Post Office Department
The kind of lock adopted must be patented and the
tenee will be required entering into contract to make
an assignment of his patent for the exclusive
eft the Department II the Postmaster General shall
such requirement essential TO the interests of the
service In case of the failure of the contractor at any
time 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 anuu said contract and to contract with
any other party parties he may m for furnishing
similar locks apdkeys ...
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered
the Postmaster General deem it expedent to select
for the through mails the lock of bidder and for the
way mails that Of another He reserves, therefore, the
right Of contracting with different individuals for such
different kinds Of locks he may select and also the
right reject all the specimens and proposals. IL 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
tract TO contain provisions for the due 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 successful bidder If bid should be accepted
No application win be considered If 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