American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-05-13
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.

March IA, 1851.
being desirable to substitute locks and keys of
other kind for those now in for the mail service
of the United States specimen locks and keys with pro-
posas to furnish the same 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 soon as practicable be entered into for fur
nishing such 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
onal term of four years. by giving to the contractor
written notice to that effect not nine nor
than six months before the termination of the first term
Of four years.
price, kind Of lock is prescribed 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 lghtness and strength
For the purpose of displacing simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys now in use about thirty thousand
locks twenty thousand 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 dura-
bty of the locks and keys adopted as well as the in
of the mail service; but IL will probably
coed in amount three thousand Of the former and
thousand of the latter ri.
No lock will be considered If It be like any already In
general use will any with whom the contract
may be made be allowed to make, sell, 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 must be patented and the pa
tentee will be required entering into contract make
assignment of his patent for the exclusive and BEN
eft The Department, If the Postmaster General shall
deem such requirement essential to the interests the
service In of the failure of the contractor any
time to fulfil faithfully the terms and conditions Of bis
contract the Postmaster General shall have the right
besides resort TO 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. e..
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered
the Postmaster General may deem II expedient TO select
for 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 he 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 win 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 and proper
spection 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 If bid should be accepted
No application will be considered II not accompanied
with satisfactory evidence of the trustworthy character of
tho bidder, and Of his ability TO fulfil the contract.
N. X. HALL,
mar Pr Postmaster General.