Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-01-07
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT,

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being desirable to substitute locks and keys of
/ other kind for those in for the mail service
furnish the 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 and report Upon this report
tracts WILL soon as practicable, be entered into for fur
nishng such locks and keys for four years. with the right
to extend and continue the contract in force for an add
tonal 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
of four years
With view Of procuring the best lock the lowest
price, kind of lock is prescribed standard the De-
partment relying for selection the mechanical skill
ingenuity which fair competition, invited, may
develop. is however, proper to state that lock suit
able for the mail service should possess the following quail
itie viz durability uniformity ghtness and strength
For the purpose Of displacing simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys in about thirty thousand
locks and twenty thousand thereto will be
required to be furnished by the contractor within
months 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 it will probably
coed in amount three thousand of the former and
thousand of the latter.
No lock will be considered If 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 other
purpose than that of the Post Office Department
The kind Of lock adopted must be patented and the
tenee 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
deem such requirement essential to the interests of the
service 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 a resort TO the penal remedy hereinafter
TONED annu said contract and TO contract with
any other party parties he may fit for furnishing
similar locks and keys.
In deciding upon the proposals specimens offered
the Postmaster General deem it expedient to select
for the through mails the lock of bidder and for the
way mails that of another lie therefore, the
right of contracting with different individuals for such
different kinds of locks he may select also the
right to reject all the specimens and proposals. he shall
deem that for the of the Department 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
pection 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
the successful bidder If 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