American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-11-04
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.


March a. 1851.
being desirable to substitute locks and keys of
other kind for those in 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
nshing such locks and 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
tona term Of four years. by giving to the contractor
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
able for the mail service should possess the following quail
tiles, viz durability, uniformity, lighncss strength
For the purpose of displacng simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys in use, about thirty thousand
new locks and twenty thousand thereto will be
required to be furnished by the contractor within
months after the contract shall have been entered nto
afterwards the annual supply will depend the dura
biity of the locks and keys adopted well as the in
the mail service; but It will probably never ex
coed in amount three thousand Of the former and
thousand of the latter.
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
entee will be required, entering into contract to make
assignment of his patent for the exclusive
eft Of the Department. If the Postmaster General shall
deem such requirement essential 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 annul said contract and to with
any other party parties as he may 1T for furnishing
similar locks and keys
In deciding upon the proposals. and specimens offered
the Postmaster General may deem it expedent select
for the through mails the lock of bidder and for the
mails that Of another. lie therefore
right Of contracting with different individuals such
different kinds OF locks he may select and also the
right TO reject all the specimens and proposals. If 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 for faithful performance of the contract Tho CON
tract to contain provisions for the due proper in
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 II bid should be accepted
No application will be considered II 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.