The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-11-20

. 1
ounces each in weight, and should possess a hie
degree Of security, strength ana durabilit,
Every such lock, while It must be secure frol
being opened by any other means than by II
peculiar key. (unless designedIy broken by o,
treme and obvious yiolence.) must be devoid
any intrieacy in opening with the proper key
7 and be capable of being securely shut withou
the use Of the key. The shape or size of til
ocks for registered mails should be such as /
make them dlstinguishable at glance from tn
locks of the street letter 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 0
hard and tough brass, excepting the shackle ant
rivets. which must be from, the latter well
shouldered. countersunk, and headed at boti
ends. The shell or 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
gtstered Mail.'' and also such number, Gin
figures, each, not less than Ole of an inoh 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
ars to be sunk by stamping, II the shell be made
of wrought or sheet brass, or to be raised il the
shell be made of cast me al. All the locks for
| registered mails are to be uniformly alite, ex-
cepting the numbers marked on them. and all
their keys, which should be case-hardened iron
and nickelplated, are to be also alike, 80 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, ~. s. 4Regfstered Natl"
and upon the opposite side such number Tin
figures not less than ore-eighth of an inch long)
as may be ordered every key to have different
number, of which none will exceed four places
of figures. s-q2 S.l ,t aa ssE-ag gl
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 OF case when the lock Is
hanging by its shackle, and should be sheltered
by snfiicient jutting out Of the upper and lower
rim around that part OF the wall. The interior
mechanism of the lock should be in 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 a small hole through
1t, and is to have 81 s. Letter CARTIER stamped
on one side, and such figures and letters stamped
on the opposite side as may be ordered. The
face Of each lock Is to have upon 1t "U S. Street
Letter Boz 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 rick and expense of the con. |
tractor, put up in pasteboard boxes Of five 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, on wire rods, each con-
.ain'ng one hundred keys, and are to be delivered
TO an agent Of the Department specially author
zed to receive them and convey the same from
The mandatory to this Department where both
he 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
1nder this advertisement, the Postmaster
General will make selection for contract, un-
ess he should deem 1t proper for the interests Of
he service, to decline accepting any of the pro.
,osals and samples presented. Therefore the
light to reject any and all the proposals and
amplss is hereby reserved to him.
A decision on the several proposals and various
amples submitted will be made on or before the
econd day of February, 1874. and within thirty
lays thereafter the bidder or bidders whose pro.
,osals may have been accepted must enter into
contract with bond and security as hereinafter
pecifed. ss a
The contracts which may be made will be for
he term of four years from and after the first
lay of January. 1874. .BaE sE & -rgt
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
lines, as may be ordered by the Postmaster
General. and must agree, and be able, to furnish
hree thousand of such locks and six hundred Of
UGH keys, II SO ordered, within three months
fter the receipt of such order, and to furnish
hereafter any further quantities of such locks
nd keys as the same may be ordered. On enter.
ng into this contract the contractor must exc
ute a bond in the penalty of ten thousand dol
ars, with two sufficient suret;es, Certified by the
where they reside,) conditioned for
he full and faithful performance of such con-
ract. e.s-
The contractor for locks and keys for Street
will be required to furnish snch
ocks and keys in such quantities, and at such
ines, as may be ordered by the Postmaster
4eneral, and must agree, and be able, to furnish
welve thousand of such locks and six thousand
+ such keys. if SO ordered, within six months
.fter the receipt of such order, and to furnish
hereafter any further quantities Of such locks
nd 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, Certified by the
of the place where they reside,) con
itioned for the full and faithful performance Of
UGH contract. A5'-
Both contracts will contain a provision bind
ng the contractor to guard, with due privacy,
integrity and care, the manufacture and custody
# the locks and keys, in the finished and unfln-
shed state. They will also contain the provi.
ion that in ease of any default on the part of
he contractor, causing the Postmaster General
O annul the contract, all locks and keys, finished
II unfinished, and all such patterns, drawings,
.auges and dies. in possession of the contractor,
8 may enable others to make or successfully
counterfeit such locks aud keys, shall. forge or
IN such annulnent of the contract, become the