American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-11-29
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT, |
March ID. 1851.


March Ia, 1851. !
being desirable to substitute locks and keys of
other kind for those now in use for the mail service
Of the United States specimen locks and keys with pro-
poss 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
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
onal 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-
parnent relying for selection the mechanical skill
and ingenuity which fair competition invited may
develop 1t Is however, proper state that lock suit
able for the mail service should possess following quail
ies viz durability uniformity, ighness and strength
For the purpose of displacng simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys in about thirty thousand
newlocs and twenty thousand keys thereto 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 on the dura-
bty of the locks and keys adopted well 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 If 1t be like any already in
general use nor will any with whom the contract
may be pade be allowed to make SELL or 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 must be patented and the pa
tentee will be required entering into contract make
assignment Of his patent for the exclusive
eht OF the Department. II 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 to the penal remedy hereinafter men
toned TO annu said contract and to contract with
other party parties he may h for furnishing
similar locks and keys
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered
the Postmaster General may deem it expcdent to select
for the through mails the lock % bidder for the
way mails that of another lie reserves, therefore, the
right Of contracting with different individuals for such
different kinds Of locks as he may select and also the
right TO 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 faithful performance of the contract 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, II bid should be accepted
No application viii be considered If not accompanied
with satisfactory evidence of the trustworthy
the bidder and of his ability to fulfil the contract
N. X. HALL,
mar "a Postmaster General.