Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-03-12
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 to 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 practicable be entered into for fur
nishing 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
onal 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 prescribed standard the De-
partment relying for selection the mechanical skill
and ingenuity which a fair competition now invited, may
develop II is however, proper to state that lock suit
able for the mail service should possess the following quail
tiles, viz: durability, uniformity, lighness, and strength.
For the purpose Of displacng simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys in use, about thirty thousand
twenty thousand keys adapted thereto will be
required to be furnished by the contractor within
after the contract shall have been entered into
afterwards the annual supply will depend the dura-
bilty of the locks and keys adopted well tho in
crease of the mail service but will probably
coed in amount three thousand OF the former and one
thousand of the latter.
No lock will be considered II 1t be like any already in
general use; will any with whom the contract
may made be allowed to make, SELL furnish, any
lock key similar 10 those contracted for for any other
purpose or than that of the Post Office Department
The kind of lock adopted must be patented and the
tenee will be required on entering into contract to make
an assignment of his patent for the exclusive and ben
eft of the Department if the Postmaster General shall
such requirement essential to the interests of the
service In of the failure of the contractor at
time TO fulfil faithfully the terms and conditions of bis
contract, the Postmaster General shall have the right,
besides 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 and specimens offered,
the Postmaster General may deem 1t expeden to 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, and also the
right to reject all the specimens and proposals. If he shall
the interest of the Department The
party or parties contracting will be required to 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 proper in
specton 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 win 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 2i- Postmaster General.