The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-11-27
PROPOSALS FOR MAIL LOCKS.
Posr OFFICE DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON,

POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, WAsHINGroS,
October l6, 1859.
SEALED PROPOSALS for furnishing Mail Locks and
Keys of kinds be substituted for the Locks and
Keys now used on the United States Nails will be re-
day OF FEBRUARY, 1870. 1t is desirable to obtain
Lock. and Keys of construction for tho exclusive
use OF the United States Nails and if practicable
vented expressly for that purpose As the exposure
model Lock AMI Key to public examination would
impair if not destroy, its utility for the mails
partm"nt prescrbcs model for bidders but relies for
its selection til. specimens of mechanical skill and
ingenuity which fair competition among inventors
hereby invited may develop 1t is sufficient to describe
the principal requisites of Mail Lock- as follows: Self
Lacking uniformity, security, tghness strength cu,
bify norep Of construction, and facility Of Two
Kinds OF Locks and Keys of brass and the other of
IRON, different in exterior FORM and interior
ton arrangement, required; and PROPOSALS should
specify separately the price of each brass lock- each key
for same, each iron lock and each key for same Dup
cate samples of each kind of locks and Keys proposed
required to be submitted with the proposals. one of
each sample lock to he riyite up and finished and
another to he open unrivted. that internal
structure and arrangement may easily he examined
Every stlnpe should be plainly marked with the bidders
NAME and II the same or part of it Ice covered by
patent, the date of such patent and the of the
paten'ee must also be attached thereto.
The internal plan arrangement of the locks offered
and the particular shape of the key requisite to open
them, must not be like any or heretofore in USE
They must be warranted not to infringe upon
ict with patented invention of which the bidder is
not the patcntce Preference will be given to a lock-
the key Of which has not been exposed general obser
walton been publicly described disclosed or
decision On the various specimens and proposals will
be made before the Sd day OF March, iS7O and
unless the Postmaster General shall deem 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 contracts will
he entered INTO as soon thereafter as practicable, with
the successful bidder Whose locks shall he adopted for
furnishing similar locks and keys for wears as they
may be required and ordered. If mutually agreed to in
writing by the contractor and the Postmaster General
for the time being. not lea. than six months before its
expiration, the contract be extended and continued
for an additional term of four years But On and after
n.ff The
after its rghtful annuiment time the
General shall have the right with or employ
any other party to furnish the same any other kind
of locks and keys and if he shall deem proper to de-
mand and receive from the late dcfutn 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 or forge such
locks or keys in the possession of such who
after their surrender to the Department shall paid for
the same at such price as may be ascertahed 10y fair
appraisenent.
The contractor agree AMI be able to furnish if
required and ordered 1000 rass Locks anu Brass
Keys within three months from the Of entering. into
contract and 10000 Iron Locks and 10000 Iron Kcys
within ten months from such time. But the
General will reserve the right to increase diminish rs
the wants interests of tho service demand the
quantities Of the Locks and Keys abov, specified with
proportionatc allowance of time to furnish them.
All the Locks furnished by the contractor must be
warranted to keep in good wor king order for years
in the ordinary usc of the service when subjected to
obvious vnlanoe such become defective within that
time 10 be replaced with perfect Locks without charge
All the Locks furnished under contract are Ia he eab
distinctly marked u s Mail. in either .nns or r'sa
letters, and all the Keys numbered in the nat
ural order each Key having its appropriate
tnctly stamped upon side Of the bow snd . II &
Mail |" on the opposite side.
The contractor will be required deliver the Locks at
ms own expense at the Post Office Department wash
inSton d. e. put upon sticks forming separate bundles
OF hve locks EACH and securely packed n wooden boxes
continuing not more than two hundred lacks each The
are to he delivered To agent Of the Department
duy ana specially authorized in each case to charge
oil ana convey the same from the contractors manutc
tory TO the department where both locks
10 10 inspected and approved before they shall be paid
for.
The contractor will be required to give bond with am
PIE security in the of Fifty Thousand Dollars lie
forfeited to the United States liquated damages in
case of his failure faithfully perform the contract
either as to furnishing the supplies ordered within
reasonable time or as to guarding the manufacture of
inc Mail Locks and Keys with due privacy, integrity and
care.
No Proposal will therefore be accepted If not
panied with bond oi the penal of Twenty Thous-
and Dollars duly executed by the proposed suretirs
twhoss responsibility must be certified by Judge OF
Court OF Record their place of residence at
tested by the Clerk of such Court under the seal thereby
and conditioned for their becoming Responsible az sure
ties on the required bond for the fufmcn of the con
tract in such Proposals shall be accepted The
manufacture of Mail Locks and Keys s OF necessity,
highly important and delicate trust which the Depart
ment will confde to bidder whose Proposals are not
also accompanied with testimonials of good character.
In deciding the Proposals aud specimens, tho Post
master Hencral may doom il eNpe'ent to select the
Brass Lock OF bidder and the Iron Lock of another
He therefore, the right Of contracting with diff
f-rent individuals for such different kinds of Locks he
select.
the Second Assistant Postmaster General and endorsed
on tho envelope Proposals for Mail Locks"
JOHN A. J. CRESwELL.
oct 30. lS6a-Sw Postmaster Generpl,