Daily American telegraph., 1852-03-03
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT, /


being desirable to substitute locks and keys of
other kind for those in for the mail service
posas furnish the same will be received 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
nshng such locks and for four years. with the right
the part of the Postmaster General for the time being
to extend continue the contract in force for add
ona term of four years by giving to the contractor
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-
partment relying for selection the mechanical skill
and ingenuity which fair competition now invited. may
develop II is however, proper to state that lock suit
able for the mail service should possess the following quail
tiles, viz: durability, uniformity, lightness, and strength
For the purpose of dsplacing simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys in use, about thirty thousand
locks and twenty thousand 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-
bity Of the locks and keys adopted as well as the in
coed in amount three thousand Of the former and
thousand of the latter.
No lock will be considered II II be like any already In
general use; will any with whom the contract
may be made be allowed to make, sell, furnish, any
lock or key similar those contracted for any other
purpose or use that Of the Post Office Department
The kind of lock adopted must be patented and the
tenee will be required on entering into contract to make
eft of the Department, IL the Postmaster General shall
deem such requirement essential to the 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 men
toned to annu said contract and contract anewwth
any other party parties he may m for furnishing
similar locks and keys.
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered,
the Postmaster General may deem IL expeden 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 to reject all the specimens and proposals. If he shall
the interest of 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 is to contain provisions for the due and proper in
specton of the locks and keys, and 8lso for guarding
against their passing into improper hands, the terms of
these provisions be arranged between the Department
and the successful bidder If bid should be accepted
No application viii 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 d. Postmaster General.