Daily American telegraph., 1852-02-24
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT,

]
TT being desirable to substitute locks and keys of some
i other kind for those in for the mail service
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 con-
tracts will practicable be entered into for fur
nihing such locks and keys for four years with the right
the of the Postmaster General for the time being,
to extend and continue the contract in force for an add
onal term Of four years by giving to the contractor
than six months beforehe 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 now invited may
develop. is however, proper to state that lock suit
able for the mail service should possess the following quail
ies viz durability uniformity ghtness and strength
For the purpose of dispacing simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys in about thirty thousand
locks and twenty thousand keys adapted thereto will be
required to be furnished by the contractor within
months after the contract shall have been entered into;
afterwards the annual supply will depend on the dura-
by of the locks and keys adopted as well as the in
crease of the mail services but it will probably never ex
coed in amount three thousand Of the former and one
thousand of the latter
No lock will be considered If 1t be like any already in
general use; will any with whom the contract
may be made be allowed to make, SELL or 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
tenee will be required entering into contract to make
an 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
service Of the failure of the contractor at any
time 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 H for furnishing
similar locks and keys.
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered
the Postmaster General may deem it expedient to 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 such
different kinds Of locks he may select and also the
right reject all the specimens and proposals. 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
tract is contain provisions for the due and proper in
specon of the locks and Keys, and also for guarding
against their passing intoimproper hands, the terms of
these provisions be arranged between the Department
and the successful bidder If 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 d. Postmaster General.