Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-02-07
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
PosT OFFIcE DEPARTMENT., I

being desirable substitute locks and keys Of
i other kind for those in for the mail service
Of the United States specimen locks and keys with pro-
posas to furnish the same will be received and considered
at the Post Office Department until the first day Of July
ss '. g. 49, IN 49, I NJ; root LIZ
tracts w soon practicable be entered into for fur
on the part Of the Postmaster General for the time being
to extend and continue the contract In force for add
se ra Of -four ng 70 shs n n
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, invited may
develop 1t s however, proper to state that lock suit
able for the mail service should possess the following quail
tiles viz durability uniformity ghtness and strength
For the purpose of displacng simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys now in about thirty thousand
locks and twenty thousand thereto will be
months after the contract shall have been entered nto
afterwards the annual supply will depend the dura
crease Of the mail services but it win probably never ex
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
purpose than that Of the Post Office Department
The kind lock adopted must be patented and the pa
tentee will be required, entering into contract make
assignment Of his patent for the exclusive and BEN
eft of the Department. If the Postmaster General shall
Service Tn case Of the failure of the contractor A. 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 annul said contract and to contract with
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 expedent 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 the
right to reject all the specimens and proposals. be shall
deem that 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 con-
tract is to contain provisions for the due proper
spection Of the locks and keys and also for guarding
against their passing into improper hands, the terms Of
these provisions TO be arranged between the Department
and the successful bidder II bid should be accepted
No application viii be considered IL not accompanied
with satisfactory evidence of the trustworthy
the bidder, and of his ability to fulfil the contract
N. X. HALL,
mar A- Postmaster General.