Daily American telegraph. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1851-1852, 1852-01-07
FURNISHING MAIL LOCKS AND KEYS.
DoaT nrFIcF nrpl prxSrNT

March Ia, 1851. !
TT being desirable to substitute keys of
other kind for those in for the mail service
of the United States specimen locks and keys with pro-
posa to 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 a commits
sion for examination and report Upon this report
tracts 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 continue the contract in add
honal 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
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
@ the ssre
ities viz durability uniformity ghtness and strength
For the purpose Of dispacing simultaneously all the
mail locks and keys in use about thirty thousand
locks and twenty thousand keys thereto will be
required to be furnished by the contractor within
months after the contract shall have been entered nto
afterwards the annual supply will depend on the dura
by of the locks and keys adopted, well the in
Of the mail service; but 1t will probably
coed in three thousand Of the former and
thousand of the latter
No lock will be considered If 1t be like any already
general use; will any with whom the contract
may be made be allowed to make SELL or furnish, any
lock similar to those contracted for for any other
purpose or use than that Of the Post Office Department
tentee will be required entering into contract to make
assignment Of his patent for the exclusive and ben
eft of the Department, IL the Postmaster General shall
such requirement essential to the interests Of the
service In of the failure of the contractor 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 mem
toned to annul said contract and to contract with
any other party parties as he 1T for furnishing
similar locks and keys. .#.a.
In deciding upon the proposals and specimens offered
the Postmaster General may deem il expedient to select
for the through mails the lock Of bidder the
way mails that of another. lie reserves therefore, the
right Of contracting with different individuals for such
different kinds Of locks he may select and also the
right to reject all the specimens and proposals. he shall
deem that for the interest of the Department The
party parties contracting will be required 10 give bond
with ample security in the of thirty thousand dol
lars for faithful performance of the contract The
tract Is to contain provisions for the due and proper in
specton of the locks and keys and also for guarding
against their passing into improper hands, terms of
these provisions TO be arranged between the Department
and the successful bidder, II 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 a. Postmaster General.