Daily American telegraph., 1852-02-04
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
PosT OYFIcE DEPARTMENT,
4 A

being desirable to substitute locks and keys of
i other kind for those in for the mail service
posas to furnish the same win be received and considered
at the Post Office Department until the first day of July
sion for examination and report Upon this report
tracts WILL soon as practicable be entered into for fur
nisng such locks and keys for four 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 on the mechanical skill
and ingenuity which fair competition, now invited may
develop 1t is however, proper to state that lock suit
able for the mail service should the following quail
tiles, viz; durability, uniformity ghtness and strength
For the purpose of displacng simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys in use, about thirty thousand
locks and twenty thousand will be
required to be furnished by the contractor within
months after 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 1t will probably never ex
coed In amount three thousand OF the former and one
thousand Of the latter.
No lock will be considered II II be like any already in
general use nor will any one 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 ofock adopted must be patented, and the pa
tentee will be required, entering into contract to make
assignment of his patent for the exclusive
eft of the Department. IL the Postmaster General shall
such requirement essential to the interests Of
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 mem
toned annu said contract and TO contract with
any other party parties he may IT. for furnishing
similar locks and keys.
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered
the Postmaster General deem 1t expedent to select
for the through mails the lock Of bidder 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 to reject all the specimens and proposals. If he shall
deem that course for the interest 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 to contain provisions for the due proper In
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, II bid should be accepted
No application will be considered II not accompanied
with satisfactory evidence Of the Trustworthy of
the bidder and of his ability to fulfil the contract
N. X. HALL
mar "a Postmaster General.