American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-07-14
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
T6E PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT,



March IA, 1851 I
1T being desirable TO substitute locks and keys of som
L other kind for those in for the mail servic'
# the United States specimen locks and keys with pro
oosals to furnish the same will be received considered
1t the Post Office Department until the first day Of Jul,
1ext The different locks will be submitted to a commit
sion for examination and report Upon this report
WILL ar practicable be entered into for fur
nshing such locks and keys for four years with the RICH
On the part of the Postmaster General for the time being
TO extend and continue the contract in force for add
onal Of four years, by giving to the contractor
written notice to that effect not more than nine nor les
than six months before the termination of the first tern
Of four years. &
With view Of procuring the best lock at the lowest
price, kind Of lock IL prescribed standard the Dc
partmcnt relying for selection the mechanical skill
and ingenuity which fair competition invited may
Ieveop It however proper to state that lock suit
.be for the mail service should possess following quail
tiles, viz durability uniformity, lighness and strength
For the purpose Of displacing simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys in use, about thirty thousand
locks and twenty thousand keys 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 the dura
bty Of the bcks and keys adopted, well the in
of the mail service; but 1t win probably
eeed in amount three thousand of the former and
thousand of the latter. t II Ell. .&a tlr4
No lock will be considered II IL be like any already in
general use, nor win any with whom the contract
may be made be allowed TO make, SELL or 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 pm
teee will be required entering into contract max
assignment Of his patent for the exclusive and ben
et OF the Department II the Postmaster General shall
1eem such requirement essential to the interests
service In OF the failure Of the contractor any
time TO fulfil faithfully the terms and conditions of hi
contruct the Postmaster General shall have the right
besides resort to the penal remedy hereinafter
toned to an said contract and to contract anew with
any other party parties he may IT. for furnishing
similar locks and keys. a1f Mill .t# l1@H II 81 EA
In deciding upon the proposals. and specimens offered
the Postmaster General may deem 1t expcdent to select
for the through mails the lock Of bidder and for the
way mails that Of another. He reserves therefore, the
right Of contracting with different individuals for such
different kinds Of locks he may select and also the
right reject all the specimens and proposals. II he shall
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
tract IL to contain provisions for the due and proper
spection Of the locks and keys and aso 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 If not accompanied
with satisfactory evidence OF the trustworthy of
the bidder and Of his ability TO fulfil the contract
2a N. X. HALL.
mar "a Postmaster General