American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-04-17
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS & KEYS.
Posi- OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
Hfua.aL 1SE1

March IA, 1851
TT being desirable to substitute locks keys
other kind for those in for the mail service
of the United States specimen locks and keys with pro-
posals furnish the same viii be received and considered
at the Post Office Department until the first day of July
next The different locks win be submitted to commits
sion for examination and report Upon this report
tracts WILL practicable, be entered into for fur
nishng locks and keys for four years. with the right
the part of the Postmaster General for the mc being
extend and continue the contract in force for add
tonal term of four 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.
price, no kind of lock is prescribed standard the De
partment relying for selection on the mechanical skill
and ingenuity which fair competition invited may
develop 1t is however, proper to state that lock suit
able for the mail service should possess the following quail
ities viz: durability uniformity, ighness, and strength
For the purpose of displacng simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys in about thirty thousand
new locks twenty thousand thereto will be
required to be furnished by the contractor within
afterwards the annual supply will depend the dura-
bty of the locks and keys adopted well as the in
crease of the mail service but 1t will probably never
coed in amount three thousand of the former and one
thousand of the latter
No lock will be considered If 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 to those contracted for for any other
purpose than that of the Post Office Department
The kind lock adopted must be patented and the pa
entec will be required entering into contract TO make
an assignment OF his patent for the exclusive and
eft of the Department If the Postmaster General shall
such requirement essential to tho 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 mem
toned annul said contract and to contract with
any other party parties he may fit for furnishing
similar locks and keys.
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered,
the Postmaster General may deem expedien TO select
for the through mails the lock Of bidder and for the
way mails that Of another He therefore, the
right of contracting with different individuals for such
different kinds of locks 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 viii be required to give bond
with ample security in the Of thirty thousand dol
lars for faithful performance Of the contract The
tract 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, If bid should be accepted
No application win be considered if not accompanied
with satisfactory evidence of the trustworthy character
the bidder, and of his ability to fulfil tho contract
N. X HALL.
mar a. Postmaster General.