Daily American telegraph., 1852-03-08
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT,

March IA, 1851, I
being desirable to substitute locks and keys
other kind for those in for the mail service
of the United States specimen locks and keys with
posas to furnish the same will be received considered
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 con-
will, practicable be entered into for fur
nishng 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
toua 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 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, lghtness and strength
For the purpose of dsplacing simultaneously all the
mail locks and Keys now IN USE about thirty thousand
locks and twenty thousand adapted thereto will be
required TO be furnished by the contractor within
months after the contract shall have been entered no
afterwards the annual supply will depend the dura
bility of the locks and keys adopted well the In
crease of the mail service but it will probably
coed in amount three thousand Of the former and
thousand of the latter.
No lock will be considered II Il DO like any already In
general use will any with whom the contract
may be made be allowed n make sell, furnish, any
lock key similar to those contracted for for any other
purpose than that of the Post Office Department
The kind lock adopted must be patented and the Do
entee will be required entering into make
assignment of his patent for the exclusive and ben
eft of the Department II the Postmaster General shall
service Of the failure of the contractor
time to fulfil faithfully the terms and conditions CT his
contract the Postmaster General shall have the right
besides resort to the penal remedy hereinafter men
toned annu ssid contract and to contract anewwth
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 expedient TO select
for the through mails the lock Of one bidder and for the
way mails that Of another He reserves therefore, the
right Of contracting with different individuals such
different kinds of locks be may select and also the
right reject all the specimens and proposals. II he shall
deem 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 con
tract is to contain provisions for the due and proper
specon of the locks and keys and also for guarding
against their passing into improper hands, the terms of
provisions to be arranged between the Department
aud the successful bidder, If bid should bo accepted.
No application will be considered IL not accompanied
with satisfactory evidence of the trustworthy character
the bidder, and Of his ability TO fulfil the contract
N. X. HALL,
mar 81 Postmaster General