Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-02-14
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT,

]
TT being desirable to substitute locks and keys of
other kind for those now in use for the mail service
posals furnish the 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
nshng such locks and keys 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 addi
tiona term of four 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 prescribed standard the De-
partment relying for selection the mechanical skill
and ingenuity which fair competition, invited may
develop II h however, proper to state that lock suit
able the mail service should possess the following quail
tiles, viz: durability, uniformity, lghtness and strength
For the purpose of displacng simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys in use, about thirty thousand
locks and twenty thousand thereto will be
required he furnished by the contractor within
months after the contract shall have been entered into
afterwards the annual supply will depend the dura
bity Of the locks and keys adopted well as the in
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 If 1t be like any already in
general will any one with whom the contract
may be made be allowed to make, sell, furnish any
lock or 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
tnee will be required entering into contract to make
assignment of his patent for the exclusive and ben
eft of the Department, If the Postmaster General shall
deem such requirement essential to the interests of the
In oil the OF the contractor
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 men
toned to 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 deem IL expediept 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 also the
right to reject all the specimens and proposals. If he shall
he init IF Tho
party parties contracting will be required 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 in
spection of the locks and keys also for guarding
against their passing into improper hands, terms Of
these provisions to 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 81 Postmaster General.