Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-01-08
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT,

being desirable to substitute locks and keys of
other kind for those now in use for the mail service
of the United States specimen locks and keys with
posas furnish the same will be 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 as soon practicable be entered into for fur
nishng such locks and keys for four years. with the right
the part of the Postmaster General the time being
to extend and continue the contract in force for add
written notice to that NOT st than nne or es
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 Is prescribed standard the De-
parment relying for selection the mechanical skill
and ingenuity which fair competition, invited, may
develop. 1t Is however, proper state that lock suit
able for the mail service should possess the following quail
ites viz durability uniformity ghtness, and strength
For the purpose Of dispacing simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys now in about thirty thousand
locks and twenty thousand keys adapted thereto win be
required to be furnished by the contractor within
months after the contract shall have been entered nto
afterwards the annual supply will depend the dura-
bity Of the locks and keys adopted well the in
of the mail servicc but 1t will probably never ex-
coed In amount three thousand of the former and
thousand of the latter.
No lock will be considered II It 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 ofock adopted must be patented and the pa
tentee will be required entering into contract to make
assignment of his patent for the exclusive and ben
eft Of the Department If the Postmaster General shall
such requirement essential 10 the interests of the
service. In of the failure of the contractor 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
toned TO annul said contract and TO 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 may deem It expedient 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 such
different kinds Of locks he may select and also the
right 10 reject all the specimens and proposals. If he shall
deem that course for the interest of the Department The
party parties contracting will be required give bond
with ample security in the Of thirty thousand dol.
lars for faithful performance of the contract The con-
tract is to contain provisions for the due proper
specon Of the locks and keys, and also for guarding
against their passing into improper hands, the terms of
these provisions be arranged between the Department
and the successful bidder II bid should be accepted
No application will be considered II 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