American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-08-09
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
March IA. 1851.

. H.. 81 March IA, 1851. I
being desirable to substitute locks and keys of
L other kind for those in for the mail service
of the United States, specimen locks and keys with
poas to 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 commits
don for examination and report Upon this report
tracts will practicable be entered into for fur
nshing 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 an add
ona Of four years. by giving to the contractor
written notice to that effect not than nine nor less
than six months before the termination of the first term
with view Of procuring the best lock at the lowest
price, kind Of lock prescribed standard, the De
partment relying for selection the mechanical skill
and ingenuity which fair competition, now invited may
develop. Ia however, proper to state that lock snit
Able for the mail service should possess the following quail
tiles viz durability, uniformity ghtness and strength.
For the purpose Of dsplacing simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys now in use about thirty thousand
locks and twenty thousand 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-
Of the mail services but II will probably
coed In amount three thousand of the former and
thousand of the latter.
No lock will be considered If Il be like any already In
general usej will any with whom the contrnct
may be made be allowed to make SELL or furnish, any
lock similar TO those contracted for for any other
purpose than that Of the Post 0co Department
The kind Of lock adopted must be patented and the pa
tentee win be required entering into contract TO make
an assignment OF patent for the exclusive use
eft Of the Department. " the Postmaster General shall
such essential the interests OF the
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 70 the penal remedy hereinafter
toned to annu said contract and TO contract with
any other party parties he may fit for furnishing
similar locks and Keys .1t 4
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered
the Postmaster General may deem IL expecnt TO select
for the through mails the lock OF bidder
way mails that Of another He reserves, therefore, the
right Of contracting with different Individuals for such
different kinds of locks as he may select and also the
right reject all the specimens and proposals. II he shall
deem that for the interest Of the Department The
party parties contracting will be required give bond
with ample security, in the Of thirty dol
lars, for faithful performance Of the contract The con
tract Is 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
these provisions 10 We arranged between the Department
and the successful bidder, IL bid should be accepted
No application will be considered II not accompanied
with satisfactory evidence of the trustworthy character
the bidder and OF his ability to fulfil the contract
". X HALL,
mar "a Postmaster General.