Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-03-13
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT,


TT being desirable to substitute locks and keys of
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
nishng such locks and 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
topa 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 fair competition, now invited, may
develop. I Is however, proper TO state that lock suit
able for the mail service should possess the following quail
ities viz durability uniformity lghness, and strength
For the purpose of displacing simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys in about thirty thousand
locks and twenty thousand thereto will be
required be furnished by the contractor within
months after the contract shall have been entered nto
afterwards the annual supply will depend the durs.
bty of the locks and keys adopted, well the in
of the mail service but will probably never e1'
coed in amount three Thousand OF the former and
thousand of the latter.
No lock win be considered II II be like any already in
general will any with whom the contract
may be made be allowed TO make, SELL furnish, any
lock key similar TO those contracted for for other
purpose or use 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 TO make
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 Of the failure Of the contractor at any
time 70 fulfil faithfully the terms and conditions Of his
contract the Postmaster General shall the right
besides resort TO the penal remedy hereinafter men
toned annul said contract and TO contract with
other party parties as he may see it, for furnishing
similar locks and keys.
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered
the Postmaster General may deem It expedent select
for through mails the lock Of bidder and for the
way mails that Of another. lie therefore, the
right Of contracting with different individually for such
right reject a 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 Of thirty thousand dol
lars for faithful performance Of the contract The
tract contain provisions for the due and proper in
specon Of the locks and keys and also for guarding
against their passing into improper hands, the terms Of
these provisions 10 be arranged between the Department
and the successful bidder, II 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 fulh the contract
N. X. HALL,
mar d. Postmaster General.