Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-02-17
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
Posr OFFICE DEPARTMENT,


q, J
being desirable 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 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
nshing such locks and keys for four years. with the right
on the part Postmaster General for the time being
to extend and continue the in force for add
tonal 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.
With view of procuring the best lock at the lowest
price, kind of lock is prescribed Standard the De-
partment relying for selection the mechanical skill
and ingenuity which a fair competition invited, may
deseop 1T is however proper 70 state that lock suit
tiles, viz: durability, uniformity lighness, and strength.
For the purpose of displacing simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys in use, about thirty thousand
locks and twenty thousand thereto will be
required be furnished by the contractor within
months after the shall have been entered into;
afterwards the annual supply will depend the dura
bility of the locks and keys adopted well as the in
crease of the mail seryice but 1t will probably
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 use; will any one 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
entee will be required entering into contract to make
an assignment of his patent for the exclusive and BEN
eft of the Department IL the Postmaster General shall
deem such requirement essential to the interests Of the
service OF the failure of the contractor at 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 to annu said contract and to contract with
any other party parties he may h for furnishing
similar locks and keys.
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered
the Postmaster General may deem 1t expedent to select
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 such
different kinds of locks he may select and also the
right reject all the specimens and proposals. If he shall
deem that for the interest Of the Department The
party parties contracting will be required to give bond
with amp security in the Of thirty thousand dol
lars for faithful performance Of he contract. The
tract is to contain provisions M the due and proper in
specton 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 will be considered IL not accompanied
with satisfactory evidence Of the Trustworthy character Of
the bidder, and of his ability to fulfil the contract.
N. X. HALL
mar 2I- Postmaster General.
Philadelphia. Type and Stereotype Foundry.