The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1869-12-11
NOTICES, &C.
PROPOSALS FOR MAIL LOCKS.
PosT OFFICE DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON,

October l6, 1869
SEALED PROPOSALS for furnishing Mail Lock. and
Keys of new kinds to be substituted for the Locks and
Keys now used on the United States Nails will be re-
cciyed at this Department until o'clock A. NJ. the Sd
day Of FEBRUARY, 1870. 1t is desirable to obtain
Locks and Keys of construction for the exclusive
Use of the United States Mails, and if practicable
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-
partmrnt prescrbes model for bidders relies for
its selection the 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- follows Self
Locking uniformity security, tightneSs. strength durd-
bGfv noreltv Of constructions and facity of use Two
kinds of Locks and Keys Of brass and tho other of
different in exterior form, and interior.
ton or arrangement required and Proposals should
specify separately the price of each brass lock-
for each iron lock and each key for same Dupli-
cate samples of each kind Of locks and Keys
are required to be submitted with the proposals. of
each sample lock to be rivted up and finished and
another to be open unrivited, that its internal
structure and arrangement may easily he examined
Every sample should be plainly marked the bidder
name and If the same part of it he covered by
patent, the date of such patent and the of the
patentec must also he attached thereto
The internal plan arrangement of the locks offered
and the particular shape of the key requisite open
them, must not be like any heretofore in use.
They must be warranted not to infringe upon con-
ict with any patented invention of which the bidder is
not the patentee Preference will be given lock
the key of which has not been exposed general
walton been publicly described disclosed or suggested
decision on the various specimens and proposals will
be made OF before the Sd day of March, 1870, and
unless the Postmaster General shall deem it be for
interests of the Department to reject all the Proposals
and Specimens submitted under this advertisement Ia
right hereby expressly reserved for him. contracts will
be entered into soon thereafter practicable with
the bidder whose locks shall be adopted for
furnishing similar locks and keys for years they
be required and ordered If mutually agreed in
writing by the contractor and the Postmaster General
for the time being not less than six months before its
expiration the contract be extended and continued
for additional term Of four years. Bat and after
of of he conf ON md
after its rightful annument at any time the Postmaster
General shall have the right to with employ
any other party to furnish the same other kind
of locks and keys; and if he shall deem proper
mand and receive from the late leuting
all finished or unfinished keys and the internal parts
the locks contracted for, and all dies gauges and de-
signs (Which would enable others make forge
locks or in the Of such who
after their surrender to the Department shall ra for
the same, at such price may be ascertaned by fair
appraiscment
The must agree and be able to furnish IL
required and ordered 2000U Brass Locks Brass
Keys within three months from the time of entering into
contract and SOOc0 Iron Locks aud G0OO0 Iron KEYS
within ten months from such time. But
General will reserve the right to increase or diminish us
tho wants interests of tho service NAV demand the
quantities of tho Locks and Keys above specified with
proportionato allowance of time to furnish them
All the Locks furnished by the contractor must he
warranted TO Keep in good working order for years
in the ordinary Of the service when not subjected to
obvious vioence such become defective within that
time TO lie replaced with perfect Locks without charge
All the Locks furnished under bo each
u
letters and all the Keys numbered in the nat
ura order each Key having its appropriate number dis
tincty stamped upon side of tho bow and U. s.
Mail " on the opposite side.
The contractor will be required deliver tho Locks at
his own expense at the Post Office Department. WASH
ington d. C., put upon sticks forming separate bunds
of five locks each and securely packed in wooden boxes
containing not than two hundred locks each The
Keys are to he delivered to agent of the Department.
duly and specially authorized in each to take charge
OF and convey the from the contractors manufac
tory to the Department where both locks and keys
to he 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 To be
forfeited to the United liquilaed damages. in
case OF his failure TO faithfully perform the contract
either as TO furnishing the supplies ordered wthh
reasonable time, guarding tho manufacture OF
the Mail Locks and Keys with due privacy integrity and
No Proposal will therefore be accepted If not
panied with a bond oi the penal sum OF Twenty Thous
and Dollars duly executed by tho proposed suretes
(whose responsibility must be certified by Judge of
Court of Record to their place OF residence at
tested by the Clerk of such Court under tho seal thereby
and conditioned for their becoming responsible
ties the required bond for the fulhlnent Of the
tract in case such Proposal. shall he accepted The
manufacture of Mail Locks and Keys is, of necessity
highly important and delicate trust which tho Depart
will confde no bidder whose Proposals not
also accom- panied with testimonials of good character
In deciding the Proposals and Specimens the Post
master General may deem it e1pedient 10 select the
Lock Of bidder and the Iron Lock another
lIe therefore, the right of contracting with diff
f-rcnt individuals such different kind. of Locks as he
may select.
the Second Assistant Postmaster General and endorsed
on thu envelope Proposals for Mail Locks
JOHN A. J. CRESwELL,
oct 80, ls69-Sw Postmaster General.