The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-11-21

Locks suitable Tor the registered mails, or for
the street letter boxes, should not exceed eight
ounces each inweight, and should possess high
degree Of security, strength and durability.
Every such lock-, while II must be secure from
being opened by any other means than by Its
peculiar key, tunless designedly broken by ex-
IRENE and obvious yiolencc,) must be devoid OF
| any intrioacy in opening with the proper key,
| and be capable of being securely shut without
the use OF the key. The shape or size of the
ocks for registered mails should be such as to
make them distinguishable at a glance frsm the
locks of the street latter bores and both should,
by their external shape, be instantly distinguish
able from the mail locks now in use.
The Registered Mail Locks should be made Of
hard and tough brass, excepting the shackle and
riyets, which must be iron, the latter we'll
shouldered, countersunk, and headed at both
ends. The shell or case of such locks must not
have sharp angles, and must be free from
knobs, escutcheons, or other appendices likely
to be compressed, battered, or knocked out of
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.
qietered Natl" and also such number, Tin
figures, each, not less than sic Of an inch long)
as may be ordered a different number, not ex-
ceeding four places of figures in any case, being
required on each lock. Such words and figures
are to be SINK by stamping, If 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-
cepting the numbers marked on them. and all
their keys, which should be case-hardened iron
and nickel-plated, 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
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, ~. s. Registered Natl"
and upon the opposite side such number Tin
figures not less than one-eishth of an inch long,
as may be ordered every key to have 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 its shacke, 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 a position
somewhat remote from the key-hole. 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
it, and is to have "U s. Letter CARTER stamped
on one side ard such figures and letters stamped
on the opposite side Us may be ordered. The
face of each lock is to have upon it ~ s. Street
Letter Boa" 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 10 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 i've locks
each and packed In strong wooden boxes con-
tair ing 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
| ized to receive them and convey the same from
| the mandatory to this Department, where both
| the locks and keys are to be inspected and ap
proved as comfortable TO the adopted sample
before they shall be paid for.
i
| ~ ad,,ar,isoment. the postmaste,
go, ,,,,,, ,,.,,a so,oct;o, for contract mn
| HoAe"' -" 49,. -.-.... a., ..4.n,sta -
less he should deem 1t proper for the interests O.
i the service, to decline accepting any OF the pro
posals and samples presented Tnerefofe INT
right to reject any and all the proposals ane
| samples is hereby reserved TO him.
A. decision on the several proposals and various
| samples submitted will be made on or before TIT
second day Of February, 1874, and within thirty
days thereafter the bidder or bidders whose pro
posals may have been accepted must enter init
contract with bond and security as hereinafter
speciiied. ,,,,,o,, 49,, no =, do ,v;,, be fl
/ INC 'e i,.'' 80. ~. !, -
.no 'osI 1900 - ~. 20,
oay y 'a. y MAIL ,,,. an,
-, ,,,,.oa r,1 ,,.aot 70 fnrnisb sail
,oo,,. ana havs in sucb quantities, and at sucl
-. !, nav he ordered bv the Postmaste
/ Canar.I and must agree. and be able, to furnish
throo Thousand of sucb locks and six hundred O
srch revs n "a ordered within three month
after the receipt of such or der and to furnisl
Thereafter any further quantities of such lock
and Leys as the same NAV be ordered. On enter
to INTO th;s contract the contractor must exc
on,o a hond in the penaltv of ten thousand do
,,,,,h t,yo sn,ciant snretes (cartified by th
.,.....,o,,a, ,,hora tbay res;del conditioned fe
- -, s,,,,,fr, ,,ars,rr,anoa of suob cor