Daily American telegraph., 1852-01-15
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
Posr OFFICE DEPARTMENT, I

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-
posals 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
nhng such locks and keys for four years. with the right
on the part of the Postmaster General for the time being
to extend and continue the contract in force for add
tona 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 is prescribed standard the De-
partment relying for selection ON the mechanical skill
and ingenuity which fair competition invited may
develop 1t is however, proper TO state that lock suit
able for the mail service should possess the following quail
tiles, viz: durability, uniformity, lightness, and strength.
For the purpose of dsplacing simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys in use, about thirty thousand
locks and twenty thousand keys thereto win be
months after the contract shall have been entered into
afterwards the annual supply will depend on the dura
biiy Of the locks and Keys adopted as well as the In
coed in amount three thousand Of the former and one
thousand of the latter.
No lock will be considered If II be like any already In
general use; will any with whom the contract
may be made be allowed to make, SELL furnish any
lock or key similar to those contracted for any other
purpose than that of the Post Office Department
The kind Of lock adopted must be patented and the
tenee win 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
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 annu said contract and to contract with
any other party parties he may m for furnishing
similar locks and keys.
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered,
the Postmaster General may deem 1t expedent select
for the through mails the lock Of bidder and for the
way mails that of another lie therefore, the
right of contracting with different individuals for such
different kinds of locks he may select and also
right to reject all the specimens and proposals. II he shall
~ ptuar atpff
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
contain provisions for the due proper in
spection 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 IL bid should be accepted
No application win 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 d. Postmaster General.