American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-06-28
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.

~" POST OFfICE DEPARTMENT,
March II, 1851.
being desirable to substitute locks keys Of some
other kind for those in for the mail service
of the United States specimen locks and keys with pro
posas furnish the same will be received and considered
the Post Office Department until the first day of July
next The different locks viii be submitted to commits
sion for examination report Upon this report
tracts WILL practicable be entered into for fur
nshng 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
toual 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, no kind Of lock Is prescribed as 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
tiles, viz: durability, uniformity ghtness and strength
For the purpose Of displacing simultaneously all the
locks and twsnty thousand keys thereto will
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-
bity Of the locks and ys adopted as wen as the in
crease Of the mail services but it will probably never ex-
coed in amount three thousand Of the former and
No lock win be considered If 1t be like any already in
general use will any with whom the contract
may be made be allowed to make sel or furnish, any
lock key similar TO those contracted for for any
purpose than that of the Post Office Department
The kind oflock adopted must be patented and the pa
tentee will be required entering into contract make
assignment of his patent for the exclusive ben
eft Of the Department. If the Postmaster General shall
deem such requirement essential to the interests Of the
service In of the failure Of the contractor any
time TO fulfil faithfully the terms and conditions Of his
contract, the Postmaster General shall have the right
besides resort 10 the penal remedy hereinafter
toned TO annul said contract and to contract with
any other party parties he may fit for furnishing
similar locks and keys. alas. .r##3#
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered,
the Postmaster General may deem IL expedien to select
for the through mails the lock of bidder the
way mails that Of another He reserves therefore the
right Of contracting with different individuals such
different kinds Of locks he may select and also the
right 10 reject all the specimens and proposals. II he shall
deem for Of the Department The
party parties contracting will DO required to give bond
with ample security, in the OF thirty thousand dol
lars for faithful performance OF the The CON
tract Is to contain provisions for the due and proper
specon 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 II not accompanied
with satisfactory evidence Of the trustworthy character
the bidder, and of his ability to fulfil the contract
raEH.an @... ...e N. K HALL
mar "a Postmaster General