American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-07-29
FURNISHING NAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.

March IA, 1851
being desirable to substitute locks and keys
other kind for those in for the mail service
Of the United States specimen locks and keys with pro
posas furnish the same viii be received and considered
at the Post Office Department until the first day of July
next The different locks will be submitted to a commits
sion for examination and report Upon this report
tracts WILL practicable be entered into for fur
nRhng 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
ional Of four years by giving to the contractor
written notice to that effect nine
than six months before the termination of the first term
Of four years.
price, kind of lock Is prescribed standard, the Dc
partment relying for selection the mechanical skill
and ingenuity which fair competition invited may
develop II Is however, proper to state that lock suit
able for the mail service should possess the following quail
itics viz durability uniformity, ghness and strength
For the purpose Of displacng simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys in about thirty thousand
new and twenty thousand thereto will b.
required to be furnished by the contractor within
afterwards the annual supply will depend the dura
bty Of the locks and keys adopted, well the in
crease of the mail service; but 1t will probably
coed In amount three thousand Of the former and
thousand of the latter.
No lock will be considered If 1t 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 10 those contracted for for any other
purpose than that of the Post Office Department
The kind Of lock adopted be patented and the pa
tenee will be required entering into contract make
assignment Of his patent for the exclusive use and BEN
such requirement essential to the interests of the
service In of the failure Of the contractor at any
time to 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 annu said contract and to contract with
any other party parties as he may h for furnishing
similar locks and keys
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered
Postmaster General may deem II expedent 10 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. If he shall
deem that for the interest Of the Department The
party parties viii be required TO give bond
with ample security in the Of thirty thousand dol
lars for faithful performance Of the contract The
tract Is 10 contain provisions for the due and proper in
specton Of the locks and keys and also for guardin2
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 If 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