The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-12-04
PROPOSALS FOR MAIL LOCKS.
Posi- OFFICE DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON,

Posi- OFFICE DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON
October l6, 1869.
SEALED PROPOSALS for furnishing Mail Locks and
Keys Of kinds to be substituted for the Locks and
Keys now used on the United States Mails, will be re-
ccived at this Department until o'clock M the Sd
day of FEBRUARY, 1870. 1t is desirable to obtain
Locks and kGys of new construction for the exclusive
use of the United States Mails and, if practicable in
vented expressly for purpose As the exposure of "A
Impair if not destroy its utility for the mails
partncnt prescribcs model for bidders but relies for
It's selection the specimens If mechanical skill and
Ingenuity which fair competition among inventors,
hereby invited. may develop 1t is sufficient to describe
the principal requisites Of Mail Lock- follows: Self
Lorh'"g "n!foreit", sceu1t Glhtness strength dura-
bHfV, tOCettH Of cDstgctiDa ami farty of use. Two
kins of Locks and Keys; of brass and the other
Iron different in exterior, form, and Interior
ton or arrangement require and Proposals should
specify separately the price Of each brass lock each key
n same each iron lock and each key for same Dupli-
cate samples of each kind Of locks and Kcys PROPOSED
required 10 he suni.ted with the Proposals. one If
each sample lock 10 lie rivitcd up and finished and
another to he open unrvited that its internal
structure and arrangement may easily he examined
Every sample shou be plainly marked with the bidder
name, ami II the same or any part of it he covered 10y
patent, the date of slrh patent. and the name Of the
patentec must also he attached thereto.
The Internal plan or arrangement of the locks offered
and the particular shape Of the key requisite open
them, must not he like any heretofore in Use.
They must be warranted not to infringe upon con-
tlct with patented invention of which the bidder is
not the patcntec. Preference will he given to "A lock
the key of which has not been exposed general
walton or been publicly described disclosed suggested
decision ON the various specimens and proposals will
be made on or before the 3D. day of March, 1870 and
unless the Postmaster General shall deem it he the
interests of the Department reject all Proposals
and Specimens submitted under this advertisement Ia
right hereby expressly Reserved for him. will
he entered into as thereafter practicable with
the successful bidder whose locks shall he 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 heiug not less than six months before its
expiration. the contract may be extene and cont uuct
for an additional term of four years But and after
I'M fnitii
after its rigttu annunent Mt any time. the Post ter
General shall have the right to contract with employ
any other party to furnish the any other kind
Of locks and keys and if he shall deem proper to de
mand and receive from the late cfultng 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 TO make forge such
locks or keys i'll the possession Of such contractor WHO
after their surrender to the Department shall paid for
the same. at such price may be ascertancd by fair
appral,enent.
The contractor must agree AMI be able to furnish if
required and ordered 10000 Brass Locks and 5000
Keys within three months from the entering into
contract and $4,000 Iron Locks and G0oIo Iron Keys
within ten months from such time But the Postmaster
General VIII reserve the right to increase diminish,
the wants or interests of tho service may demand the
quantities u" the Locks and Keys above specified with
proportionate allowance of time TO furnish them.
All the Locks Furnished, by the contractor must be
warranted to keep in good working order for two wears
in tine ordinary the service when not Subjected to
obvious violence; such become defective within that
time to be replaced with perfect Locks without Charge
All the Locks furnished under are to be- each
letters and all the Keys e numbered in the nat
ural order each Key having its appropriate number dis
tincly stamped upon side OF the bow and L. $
Mail on the opposite side.
The contractor will he required to deliver the Locks at
his own expense at the Post Office Department Wash
ingon. ID. c.. put upon sticks forming separate bundles
of five locks each and securely packed wooden boxes
containing: not more than two hundred locks each. The
Keys to be delivered I" agent of the Department
duly and specially authorized in each case take charge
of and convey The from the contractors manufac-
tory to the Department whore both locks and keys are
t" lie inspected and approved before they shall be paid
for.
The contractor will be required to give bond with am
pie security in the sum Of Fifty Thousand Dollars lie
forfeited to the United States as lauiated damages in
of his failure to faithfully perform the contract
either IA TO furnishing the supplies ordered within a
reasonable time. to guarding thu manufacture of
the Mail Locks and Keys with due privacy integrity and
No Proposal will therefore he accepted If not acror,-
panied with bond OF the penal of Twenty Tiuus-
and Dollars, duly executed ly the proposed surcties
WHOSE responsibility NUT he certified by Judge of Il
Court Of Record nearest to their place Of residence
tested by the Clerk of such Court under the seal thereof
and conditioned for their becoming responsible
tract III case snch Proposals shall be accepted. Tke
manufacture of Mail Locks and Keys is Of necessity
highly important and delicate trust which the Depart
ment Will confde to no bidder whose Proposals not
In deciding the Proposals and Specimens the Posi-.
master General deem il cSpr,licnt select the
Brass Lock Of bidder and tho Iron Lock Of smother.
lie. therefore, the right of contracting 18th diff
ferent individuals for such different kinds Of Ltcks he
may select
Proposals should he carefully scaled AMI addressed to
the Second Assistant Postmaster General AMI
| on tho envelope Proposals for Mail Locks.
JOHN A. j. CRESWELL.
oct 80, lSGJ-Sw Postmaster General.