Daily American telegraph., 1852-02-18
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT, /

being desirable to substitute locks and keys Of some
other kind for those in for the mail service
of the United States specimen locks and keys with
posas furnish the same 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 soon as practicable be entered into for fur
nshng such locks 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 add
tonal 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 is prescribed standard the De-
partment 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 the following quail
ies viz durability uniformity, ghtness and strength
For the purpose of displacng simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys in about thirty thousand
locks and twenty thousand keys adapted thereto viii be
required be furnished by the contractor within
months after the contract shall have been entered into
afterwards the annual supply.w depend the dura-
bty Of the locks and keys adopted, well the in
crease of the mail service; but it will probably never ex
coed in amount three thousand of the former and
thousand of the latter.
general use; will any with whom the contract
may be made be allowed to make, sell, furnish any
lock similar to those contracted for for other
purpose than that of the Post Office Department.
The kind Of lock adopted must be patented and the pa
tentee will required entering into contract make
an assignment OF his patent for the exclusive use and ben
eft Of the Department, IL the Postmaster General shall
deem such requirement essential to the interests OF the
time 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 annu said contract and TO contract with
any other party parties he may 1T for furnishing
similar locks and keys.
In deciding upon the proposals specimens offered,
the Postmaster General deem It expedent to select
for 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. If be shall
deem that for the interest OF the Department The
party parties contracting will be required give bond
with security, in the of thirty thousand dol
lars for faithful performance Of the contract The con-
tract contain provisions for the due and proper
specton of the locks and keys and also for guarding
against their passing into improper hands; the
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 the trustworthy character Of
the bidder, and of his ability to fulfil the contract
N X. HALL,
mar "a Postmaster General