Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-01-06
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
Posi- OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
IA


TT being desirable to substitute and keys of
other kind for those now in use 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 report Upon this report
tracts will practicable, be entered into for fur
nshng such locks and keys for four with the right
the part of the Postmaster General for the time being
to extend and continue the contract in force for add
onal term of four years by giving to the contractor
written notice to that effect not more 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 is prescribed standard the
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 Wis durability uniformity ghtness and strength
For the purpose Of displacng simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys in use, about thirty thousand
locks and twenty thousand keys thereto 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, well the in
of the mail service; but Il will probably ex
coed in amount three thousand Of the former and one
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 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 pa
entee will be required, entering into
assignment Of his patent for the exclusive and ben
eft Of the Department II the Postmaster General shall
deem such requirement essential to the interests Of the
service In Of the failure Of the contractor ut 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 annu said contract and to contract with
any other party parties as he may h 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 for such
different kinds of locks as he may select and also the
right to reject all the specimens and proposals. II he shall
deem that for the interest Of the Department The
party parties will 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 duo and proper in
specon of the locks and keys, also for guarding
against their passing into improper hands, the 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 character Of
the bidder and of his ability to fulfil the contract
N. X. HALL,
mar "a Postmaster General.