American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-10-21
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.


March IA, 1851. I
being desirable to substitute locks and keys Of some
other kind for those now in for the mail service
Of the United States specimen locks and keys with pro
posas TO furnish the will be received and considered
Mt 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
tracts WILL practicable be entered into for fur
nsng 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
ona term Of four years by giving to the contractor
written notice to that effect not more than nine nor 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
parent relying for selection the mechanical skill
and ingenuity which fair competition, invited may
develop Is however proper to state that lock suit
able the service should possess the following quail
tiles, viz durability, uniformity lghtness strength
For the purpose Of displacing simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys in use, about thirty thousand
new LOCKE and twenty thousand keys 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 durn-
blity Of the locks and keys adopted well the
Of the mail service but IL will probably ex-
coed in amount three thousand of the former and
thousand Of the latter.
No lock will be considered II 1T 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 TO those contracted for for any other
purpose than that Of the Post Office Department
The kind Of lock adopted be patented and the pa
tcnce will be required entering into contract TO make
assignment Of his patent for the exclusive and
deem such requirement essential TO the interests
service In Of the failure Of the contractor 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 mon
toned TO annu said contract and to contract with
any other party parties he may it, for furnishing
similar locks and keys
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered
the Postmaster General may deem il expeent 70 select
for the through mails the lock Of bidder and for the
mails that Of another lie reserves therefore the
right OF contracting with different individuals for such
different kinds Of locks he may select also the
right to reject all the specimens and proposals. II shall
deem that for the interest Of the Department The
party parties contracting will be required to give bond
with ample security, in the ~ thirty thousand dol
lars for faithful performance Of the contract The con-
tract is to contain provisions for the due proper in
spccton Of the locks and keys and also guarding
against their passing into improper handss the terms Of
these provisions to be arranged between the Department
and the successful bidder, IL bid should be accented
No application will be considered If not accompa MED
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