Daily American telegraph., 1852-01-28
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT., I

NJ j
TT being desirable TO substitute locks and keyso some
other kind for those In for the mail service
Of the United States specimen locks and Keys with pro-
posas furnish the same win be received and considered
at the Post Office Department until the first day of July
next The different locks will be submitted to commits
tracts w as soon as practicable be entered into for fur
pshng such locks and keys for four years. with the right
on the part of the Postmaster General for the time being
to extend and continue the contract in fierce for add
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
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 skin
and ingenuity which fair competitions now invited may
develop IL is however, proper to state that lock suit
abe for the mail service should possess the following quail
es viz, durability uniformity lghtness and strength
For the purpose Of displacng simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys now In about thirty thousand
locks and twenty thousand will be
required 10 be furnished by the contractor within
months after the contract shall have been entered into
afterwards the annual supply will depend the dura-
blity Of the locks and keys adopted well the in
crease Of the mail service; but II will probably
coed in amount three thousand Of the former and
thousand Of the latter
general nor will any with whom the contract
may be be allowed 70 make, sell, furnish, any
bck or key similar TO those contracted for for any other
purpose on use than that Of the Post Office Department
The kind Of lock adopted must be patented and the pa
tentee will be required entering TO make
an assignment OF his patent for the exclusive and ben
eft of the Department. the Postmaster General shall
deem such requirement essential 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
toned annu said contract and 70 contract with
any other party parties he may st. for furnishing
similar locks and keys. a..
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered,
the Postmaster General may deem It expedent 10 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 10 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 of thirty thousand dol
lars faithful performance Of the contract The
tract is to contain provisions for the due and proper in
specton Of the locks and keys and also for guarding
against their passing into improper hands, the terms OF
these provisions 10 be arranged between the Department
and the successful bidder II bid should be accepted
No application win be considered II not accompanied
with satisfactory evidence Of the trustworthy character Of
the bidder, and Of his ability p fulfil the contract.
n. N. HALL,
mar 81 Postmaster General