The Cecil Whig., 1869-11-20
PROPOSALS FOR MAIL LOCKS.
Posi- OFFICE DEPARTMENT. WASHINGTON,

October 16, 1869
SEALED PROPOSALS for furnishing Mail Locks and
Keys I" new kinds to be substituted for the Locks and
Keys now used on the United States Nails will be re-
cciEcd III this Department until o'clock NJ the Sd
day Of FEBRUARY, 1879. 1t is desirable to obtain
L. * and kys of construction for the exclusive
use of the United States Nails and. if practicable in
vented expressly for that purpose As the exposure
model Lock and Key to public examination would
impair. if not Destroy its utility for the mails the De-
parmcnt prescrihes model for bidders but relies for
its selection the specimens of mechanical skill and
ingenuity which fair competition among inventors,
hereby invited may develop II is sufficient to describe
the principal requisites of Mail Lock. follows Self
L0ckthg Haor9HtV. security dghtness strength dHra-
bu, HOrettg Of constructions and ftclty of use Two
kinds Of Locks and Keys of brass and the other Of
different i'll exterior form, and Interior struc-
tion or arrangement required and Proposals should
specify separately the price of each brass lock- each
for same each iron lock and each key for Dupli-
cate samples of each kind of locks and Krys proposed
are required to be submitted with tie proposals; of
each sample lock I" he riritcd up and finished and
another to lie open unrivitrd. that its internal
structure and arrangement may easily be examined
Every sample should be plainly marked with the bidders
name, and If the any part Of it lie covered by
patent the late of such paont. and the of the
patcnter must also be attached thereto.
I'll" Internal plan arrangement Of the locks offered
ami the particular shape of the key requisite open
them must not he like any heretofore in
They must be warranted not 10 infringe upon
ct with any patented invention Of which the bidder is
not the pacntce. Preference will be given to lock-
the key of which has not been exposed to general obser
vatnn or been publicly described disclosed suggested
decision on the various specimens and proposals will
bc made on or before the Sd day of March, 1870 and
unless the Postmaster General shall deem it to be for the
interests of the Department to reject all the Proposals
and Specimens submitted under this advertisement. IA
right hereby expressly reserved for him. will
he entered into thereafter practicable with
the successful bidder whose locks shall be adopted for
furnishing similar locks and keys for four years. they
may be required and ordered. If mutually agreed
writing by the contractor and the Postmaster General
for the time being. not less than six months before
expiration, the contract may be extended and continued
for an additional term of four years. But and after
Oh
after its rghtful anulment at time the Postmaster
General shall have the right contract with or employ
other party to furnish the same. other Kind
of locks and kcys and if he shall deem proper to
mand and receive from tie late dcfaung contractor
all finished or unfinished keys and the internal parts Of
the locks contracted for and all dies, gauges and de
signs. (which would enable others make such
locks or keys III the possession Of such contractor who
after their surrender to the Department shall paid for
the same at such price may be ascerained by fair
appra.senieGt
The contractor must agree and he able TO furnish if
required and ordered 20 Brass Locks and 5000 Brass
Keys within three months from the of entering into
contract and 10000 Iron Locks and 10000 Iron Keys
within ten months from such time. But the Postmaster
General will reserve the right diminish as
the wants interests of the service may demand the
quantities Of the Locks and Keys above specified with a
proportonate allowance of time to furnish them.
Ill the Locks furnished by the contractor must be
warranted 10 keep i'll good working order for years
in the ordinary use of the service when not -ucct. to
obvious siulanue such become defective within that
time to be replaced with perfect Locks without charge
All the Locks furnished Under contract are to be- each
distinctly marked u. s. MAIL in either sunk or raised
letters and all the Keys to be numbered the nat
ural order each Key having its appropriate number dis
tinctly stamped upon side of the bow and u. S
Mail " on the opposite side.
The contractor will be required TO deliver tho Locks
his expense at the Post Office Departuent Wash
ington, d. C., put upon sticks forming separate bundles
of five locks each and securely packed in wooden
containing not more than two hundred locks each The
keys to lie delivered to agent of the
duly end specially authorized in each case to take charge
of and convey the same from the contractors manufc-
tory to the Department. where both locks and KEYS are
to lie inspected and approved before they shall paid
for.
The contractor will be required to give bond with am
pie security in the Of Fifty Thousand Doars be
forfeited tn the United States liIuiated damages in
case of his failure to faithfully perform the contract
either AS to furnishing the supplies ordered within n
reasonable time, to guarding the manufacture
the Mail Locks and Keys with due privacy integrity, and
panied with bond oi the penal of Twenty Thous-
and Dollars duly executed by the proposed suretes
(whose responsibility must be certified by Judge of q
Court of Record nearest to their place Of residence
tested by the Clerk uf such Court under the seal hereo
and conditioned for their becoming responsible sure
ties the required bond for the fulment Of the con-
tract. in such Proposals shall be accented The
manufacture of Mail Locks and Keys is of necessity
highly important and delicate trust which the Depart-
ment will confe To bidder whose Proposals are not
also accompanied with testimonials Of good character
In deciding on the Proposals aud Specimens the Post
master General may deem il expcdrnt TO select the
Brass Lock Of bidder and the Iron Lock of another
He therefore, reserves the right of contracting with diff
feren individuals for such different kinds of Locks as he
may select.
the Second Assistant Postmaster General and endorsed
on the envelope Proposals for Mail Locks
JOHN A. J. CRESWELL,
ort do lS69-Sw Postmaster General.