Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-01-19
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
~ PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT,

being desirable to substitute locks and keys Of
other kind for those in for the mail service
posa to furnish the win be received and considered
at the Post oce Department until the first day OF July
sion or and renort IInon th;s renort
tracts wi practicable, be entered into for fur
nishing such locks 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
donal term Of four years. by giving to the contractor
written notice to that effect not than nine less
than six months before the termination of the first term
of four years ata GL y
with view of procuring the best lock at the lowest
price, kind of lock is prescribed standard the
parment relying for selection the mechanical skill
and ingenuity which fair competition, invited may
able the mail service should possess following quail
ities viz durability uniformity lghtness strength
For the purpose Of displacng simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys now in use about thirty thousand
locks and twenty thousand thereto be
required to be furnished by the contractor within
months after the contract shall have been entered nto
afterwards the annual supply will depend the ura-
by Of the locks and keys adopted, well the in
of the mail service; but IL win probably
coed In amount three thousand of the former and one
thousand of the latter. tl.ss III aas
No lock will be considered II It be like any already In
general use; will any with whom the contract
may be made be allowed to make, sell, furnish, any
lock key similar to those contracted for for any other
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 to make
assignment of his patent for the exclusive and BEN
eft Of the Department, II the Postmaster General shall
deem such requirement essential to the interests Of the
the failure OF the contractor
time TO fulfil faithfully the terms and conditions of his
contract the Postmaster General shall the right
besides resort TO the penal remedy hereinafter men
toned TO annul said contract and TO contract with
any other party parties he may t for furnishing
similar locks and keys. Hais 5" aH
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered
the Postmaster General may deem 1t expedent to select
for the through mails the lock 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 also the
right TO reject all the specimens and proposals. IL he shall
deem that for the interest of tho 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 the and proper in
specton Of the locks and keys, and also for guarding
against their passing into improper hands; the Of
these provisions to be arranged between the Department
and the successful bidder IL bid should be accepted
No application will be considered II not accompanied
with satisfactory evidence of the trustworthy character of
the bidder, and Of his ability to fulfil the contract
N. X. HALL,
mar a. Postmaster General.