Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-03-01
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS,
PosT OFFICE DEPARThnNT,

TT being desirable to substitute locks and keys some
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
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
nihng such locks and keys for four years. with the right
the part of the Postmaster General the time being
to extend and continue the contract in force for add
written notice to that effect not more than nine nor less
than six months before the termination Of the first term
Of four years
With view of procuring the bss lock at the lowest
price, kind Of lock prescribed a standard the De-
partment relying for selection the mechanical skill
and ingenuity which fair competition, invited may
develop. Is however, proper state that lock suit
able for the mail service should possess the following quail
tiles viz durability uniformity ghtness strength
For the purpose of displacng simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys in about thirty thousand
locks and twenty thousand keys adapedthereto will be
required to be furnished by the contractor within
months after the contract shall have been entered into
afterwards the annual supply win depend the dura
hy of the locks and keys adopted, well the in
Of the mail service; but il will probably
coed in amount three thousand of the former and
thousand If the latter
No lock viii he considered If II be like already IN
general use; 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 of lock adopted must be patented and the pa
tentee will be required entering into contract make
n assignment Of his patent for the exclusive use and ben
eft Of the Department IL the Postmaster General shall
deem such requirement essential to the interests of ths
service In of the failure of the contractor any
time fulfil faithfully the terms and conditions Of his
contract the Postmaster General shall have the right
besides resort to the penal remedy hereinafter
toned ennul 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 IL expe1en select
for the through mails the lock Of bidder and for the
way mails that Of sDoer He reserves therefore, The
right Of contracting with different individuals for such
different kinds Of locks he may select, and also the
right reject a the specimens and proposals II he shall
deem the interest Of the DEPARTMENT The
party parties contracting win be required 10 give bond
with ample security in the Of thirty thousand dol
lars for faithful performance of the contract The
tract contain provisions for the due and proper in
specou Of the locks and keys, and also for guarding
sgsust 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
". X. HALL
mar pa Postmaster General,