American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-09-23
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT,

March Ia, 1881. !
being desirable to substitute locks and keys of
i other kind for those in for the mail service
of the United States specimen locks and keys with pro
poals 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 con-
tracts will practicable, be entered into for fur
nishing such looks 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 than nine 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 is prescribed standard the De
partment relying for selection the mechanical skin
and ingenuity which fair competition, now invited may
develop IL Is however proper TO state that lock suit
able for the mail service shod possess the following quail
es viz: durability uniformity lightness and strength
For the purpose of displacing simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys now in use, about thirty thousand
new locks and twenty thousand keys thereto will be
required 10 be furnished by the contractor within
months after the contract shall have been entered into
afterwards the annual supply VIII depend on the dura-
Of the mail service; but II will probably
coed in amount three thousand Of the former and
No lock will be considered II II be like any already in
general use nor 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
tenee viii be required entering into contract make
assignment of his patent for the exclusive use and ben
eft of the Department If the Postmaster General shall
deem such requirement essential to the interests Of the
service In case of the failure of the contractor at ay
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
toned to annul said contract and 10 contract with
any other party parties he may IT. for furnishing
similar locks and keys
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered
the Postmaster General deem 1t expedient to select
for the through mails the lock of bidder and 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 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 for faithful performance of the contract The con.
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 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.