American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1851, 1851-10-07
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
Posi- OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
March IA, 1851.


March IA, 1851.
being desirable to substitute locks ard keys Of some
other kind for those in for the mail service
Of the United States specimen locks and keys with pro.
posas 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
nsng 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 ad
ona 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
Of four years.
with view Of procuring the best lock at the lowest
price, kind Of lock prescribed standard the De
parnent relying for selection the mechanical skin
and ingenuity which air competition, now invited may
develop H. however, proper TO state that lock suit
able for tho mail service should possess the following quail
tiles viz durability, uniformity lghtness strength
For the purpose Of displacing simultaneously all the
mail locks and keysruow in USE about thirty thousand
oc and twenty thousand keys adapted thereto will
required to be furnished by the contractor within
months after the contract shall have been entered nto
afterwards the annual supply will depend the ura-
biity Of the locks and keys adopted we'll the in
of the mail service; but IL will probably
coed in amount three thousand Of the former and
thousand Of the latter.
No lock will he considered II II he like any already In
general use; nor will any one with whom the contract
may be made be allowed to make, sell, or furnish any
lock key similar 10 those contracted for for any other
purpose than that Of the Post Office Department
The kind Of lock adopted must be patented and the IA
entec will 10 required entering into contract make
assignment of his patent for the exclusive use aud hon
deem such requirement essential TO the interests Of the
service In of the failure of the contractor NJ 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 sad contract ond TO contract with
any other party parties as he may it, for furnishing
similar locks aud keys
In deciding upon The proposals and specimens offered
the postmaster General may deem IL expcdent 10 select
for the through mails the lock Of bidder and for the
way mails that Of another. lilo reserves. therefore, the
right Of contracting with different individuals for such
different kinds of locks he may select and also tho
right IN reject all the specimens and proposals. II he shall
deem that for the interest Of the Department The
party parties contracting will be required 10 give bond
with ample security in the thirty thousand dol
lars for faithful performance of the contract The con.
tract TO contain provisions for the due and proper in
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 If bid should be accepted
No application will be considered IL not accompanied
with satisfactory evidence of the trustworthy character OF
the bidder and Of his ability TO fulfil the contract
N. X. HALL,
mar 2t-- Postmaster General.