Daily American telegraph., 1852-02-02
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
Posi- OFFICE DEPARTMENT,

j
being desirable to substitute locks and keys Of
other kind for those now in for the mail service
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 and report. Upon this report con-
tracts WILL practicable, be entered into for fur
nhng such locks and keys for four years. with the right
the of the Postmaster General for the time being
to extend and continue the contract in force for addi
tonal term of four years by giving to the contractor
written notice to that effect than nine
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 1t u.s. however, proper to state that lock suit
able for the mail service should the following quail
tiles, viz durability, uniformity, lghtness and strength
For the purpose Of displacng simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys in use, about thirty thousand
locks and twenty thousand thereto will be
required to be furnished by the contractor within
months after the contract shall have been entered nto
afterwards the annual supply will depend on the dura
biity 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 will any with whom the contract
may be made be allowed to make, SELL furnish, any
lock or key similar those contracted any other
purpose than that Of the Post Office Department
The kind of lock adopted must be patented and the pa
tenee will be required on entering into contract to make
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 at
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 m for furnishing
similar locks and keys.
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered
the Postmaster General may deem 1t 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 he may select also the
right reject all the specimens and proposals. II he shall
that for the interest of the Department The
party parties contracting will be required to give bond
with ample security, in the thirty thousand dol
lars for faithful performance of the contract The con-
tract to contain provisions for the due and proper
specon 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
and 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. K HALL,
mar "a Postmaster General.