Daily American telegraph., 1852-03-11
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
Posi- OFFICE DEPARTMENT, I

being desirable to substitute locks and keys Of some
i other kind for those in for the mail service
of the United States specimen locks and keys with pro-
posa to furnish the same viii 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 report Upon this report
tracts will soon as be entered into for fur
on the Of the Postmaster General for the time being
to extend and continue the contract in force for ad
Spea Of sP vnS 70 sns nST
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 is prescribed Standard the De
partent relying for selection the mechanical skill
and ingenuity which a fair competition, invited, may
develop 1t Is however, proper state that lock suit.
able for the mail service should the following quail
tiles, viz: durability uniformity lighness, and strength
mail locks and keys now in about thirty thousand
locks and twenty thousand keys thereto viii be
required to be furnished by the contractor within
months after the contract shall have been entered into
afterwards the annual supply win depend on the dura
blity Of the locks and keys adopted, well the in
crease Of the mail service but 1t will probably never ex
coed in amount three thousand Of the former and
thousand of the latter.
No lock will be considered If Il be like any already in
general use nor 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
tentee will be required entering into contract
an assignment Of his patent for the exclusive use and ben
eft Of the Department If the Postmaster General shall
deem such requirement essential to the interests of the
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 to annu said contract and 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 may deem IL expeden select
for the through mails the lock of bidder and for the
way mails that Of another He reserves therefore the
right of contracting with different individuals for ouch
different kinds of locks he may select, and aRo the
right to reject all the specimens and proposals. Il he shall
deem that the interest of the Department The
party parties contracting viii 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 proper in
specton of the locks aud keys and also for guarding
against their passing into improper hands, the Of
these provisions 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 fulfil the contract.
--.---.'.. N. X. HALL,
mar 24- Postmaster General.