The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-12-02

4
ends. The shell OF case Of such locks must no
have sharp angles, and must be free from
knobs, escutcheons, or other appendages likely
to be compressed. battered, or knocked out o.
order by the peculiarly hard usage Of the service
Each lock is to have outside upon its face, In
letters sufficiently large and distinct, "U s. Re
gfsfered Mall" and also such number, Qn
figures, each, not less than 6le of an inch long
as may be ordered q different number, not ex
ceeding four places of figures in any case, being
required on each lock. Such words and figures
are to be sunk by stamping, II the shell be made
of wrought or sheet brass, or to be raised If the
shell be made of cast meal. All the locks for
registered mails are TO be uniformly alike, ex-
cepung the numbers marked on them. and all
their keys, which should be case.hardened iron
and nickelplated, are TO be also alike. so that
any one of all the keys which may be furnished
for them shall easily fit and readily open any
one and all of the locks. The keys should have
a shank nearly two inches long between the bit
and the bow, and the bow should be solid with
a small hole through it, and have stamped on
one side the words, gu s. Registered Mail,''
and upon the opposite side such number lin
figures not less than ore-eighth of az inch long)
as may be ordered every key to have a different
number, of which none will exceed four places
of figures.
The locks for the Street Letter Boxes are to
be made of hard and tough brass, and the key.
hole Of each lock should be in the lowest part of
the wall of the shell or case, when the lock is
hanging by It's shachle, and should be sheltered
by sufficient jutting out of the upper and lower
rim around that part of the wall. The interior
mechanism of the lock should be in q position
somewhat remote from the key-hoe. and be
operated easily by its key, which should be fiat,
made of steel, and be Of convenient length and
sufficient strength and Stiffness The bow of the
key should be solid with small hole through
1t, and is to have "U s. Letter Cartier stamped
on one side, ard such figures and letters stamped
on the opposite side as may be ordered. The
face of each lock Is to have upon it "U S. Street
Letter Bor' in either raised or sunk letters, and
any other letters BESIDES not exceeding three that
may be ordered. All the locks and keys Of the
same letter or letters are to be adapted TO each
other, and no lock is to be opened by any key not
marked with the Same letter or letters
The lock of each kind contracted Tor must be
delivered according to order, at the Post Office
Department, at the risk and expense of the con-
tractor, put up in pasteboard boxes of five locks
each. and packed in strong wooden boxes con.
taxing not more than two hundred locks each.
The keys to such locks are to be strung, by the
natural series of numbers, wire rods, each con-
tanning one hundred keys, and are to be delivered
to an agent of the Department specially author.
lied to receive them and convey the same from
the mandatory to this Department, where both
the locks and keys are to be inspected and APP
proved as comfortable to the adopted sample
before they shall be paid for.
From the sample locks and keys submitted
under this advertisement, the Postmaster
General will make selection for contract, un-
less he should deem proper for the interests OF
the service, to decline accepting any of the pro.
posals and samples presented. Therefore the
right to reject any and all the proposals and
samples is hereby reserved to him.
A decision on the several proposals and various
samples submitted will be made on or before the |
second day of February, 1874, and within thirty |
lays thereafter the bidder or bidders whose pro
posals may have been accepted must enter into |
contract with bond and security as hereinafter |
specified.
The contracts which may be made will be for
The term of four years from and after the first
day of January, 1874.
The contractor for Registered Mail Locks and
Keys will be required by contract to furnish said
ocks and keys in such quantities, and at such
times, as may be ordered by the Postmaster
General. and must agree, and be able, to furnish
three thousand of such locks and six hundred Of
such keys, if so ordered, within three months
after the receipt of such order, and to furnish
thereafter any further quantities of such locks
and keys as the same may be ordered. On enter
ng into this contract the contractor must exc
cute a bond in the penalty of ten thousand dol.
ars, with two sufficient suret;es Certified by the
postmaster where they resde,l conditioned for
he full and faithful performance of such con- |
ract. - -9
The contractor for locks and keys for Street
Letter Boxes will be required to furnish such
ocks and keys in such quantities. and at such |
lines, rs may be ordered by the Postmaster
General, and must agree, and be able, to furnish
,welve thousand of such locks and six thousand
If such keys. If so ordered, within six months
liter the receipt OF such order, and to furnish
hereafter any further quantities Of such locks
md keys as the same may be ordered. On enter
ng into this contract the contractor must execute
bond In the penalty Of twenty thousand dol
ars, with two sufficient sureties, (cerhfed by the
postmaster of the place where they reside,) con
litioned for the full and faithful performance of
such contract.
Both contracts will contain a provision bind
ng the contractor to guard, with due privacy, |
integrity and care, the manufacture and custody
If the locks and keys, in the finished and unfin-
shed state They will also contain the provi-
zion that, in case of any default on the part of
he contractor, causing the Postmaster General
% annul the contract, all locks and keys finished
Or unfinished, and all such patterns, drawings,
gauges and dies. in possession of the contractor,
rs may enable others to makeor successfully
such locks and keys, shall forge or