The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-10-28

. portant consideration in favor of any lock al
Q key submitted it, being otherwise suitable,
!, stall have been invented specially for the pu
!, pose for which 1t is offered.
Locks suitable for the registered mails. or I,
the street letter boxes, should not exceed eigl
ounces each in weight, and should possess hig
degree of security, strength and durabilit,
! Every such lock, while It must be secure froi
being opened by any other means than by II
peculiar key, (unless designedly broken by Q,
treme and obvious violence) must be devoid {
any intricacy in opening with the proper key
and be capable of being securely shut withou
the use of the key. The shape or size of tn
locks for registered mails should be such as Il
make them distinguishable at a 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 o.
hard and tough brass, excepting the shackle and
rivets, which must be iron, the latter well.
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 appendages likely
to be compressed, battered, or knocked out of
order by the peculiarly hard usage Of the service.
| AoNh ioSh 10 W udNe Oubsiub upOu us IaCe, III
letters sufficiently large and distinct, ~. s. Re-
gfsfered Mall" and also such number, Tin
figures, EACH not less than Ole of an inch long,
as may be ordered; 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 if the shell be made
of wrought or sheet brass. or to be raised if the
shell be made of cast metal All the locks for
raUt stu tIea -.
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
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. Registered Mail"
and upon the opposite side such number lin
figures not less than one-eghth of az 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 shackle, and should be sheltered
~ sufficient jutting ont of the upper and lower
i'm around that part of the wall. The interior \
of the lock should be in position
omewhat 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 |
ufIicient strength and stiffness. The bow of the
rey should be solid, with a small hole through |
t, and is to have "U s. Letter CARTIER stamped
m one side, and such figures and letters stamped |
N the opposite side as may be ordered. The
ace of each lock is to have upon 1t ~. s. Street
letter Boa' in either raised or sunk letters, and
ny other letters besides, not exceeding three that
nay be ordered. All the locks and keys of the
anne letter or letters are to be adapted TO each
ther, and no lock is to be opened by any key not
marked with the same letter or letters.
The lock of each kind contracted for must he
delivered according to order, at the Post Office
Department.. at the risk and expense of the con.
ractor, put up in pasteboard boxes of five locks
ach. and packed in strong wooden boxes con.
air ing not more than two hundred locks each.
he keys to such locks are to be strung, by the |
atural series Of numbers on wire rods, each con-
aiming one hundred keys, and are to be delivered
0 an agent of the Department specially author.
.ed to receive them and convey the same from |
he mandatory to this Department, where both |
he locks and keys are to be inspected and ap.
roved as comformable to the adopted sample
efore they shall be paid for.
From the sample locks and keys submitted
nder this advertisement, the Postmaster |
Ieneral will make selection for contract, un- ,
ss he should deem 1t proper for the interests of
lie service, to decline accepting any of the pro.
osals and samples presented Therefore the Z
ght to reject any and all the proposals and
IMPLIES is hereby reserved to him. II
A decision on the several proposals and various
IMPLIES submitted will be made on or before the
cond day of February, 1874, and within thirty
iys thereafter the bidder or bidders whose pro
,sals may have been accepted must enter into
ntract with bond and security as hereinafter
'ecifed. .
The contracts which may be made will be for
% term of four years from and after the first
~ of January, 1874. 9
The contractor for Registered Mail Locks and y y
eys will be required by contract to furnish said
,ks and keys in such quantities, and at such /
mes, as may be ordered by the Postmaster \
enerai, and must agree, and be able, to furnish
rec thousand of such locks and six hundred of n
oh keys, IL so ordered, within three months =
ter the receipt of such order, and to furnish "
GREATER any further quantities of such locks
d Keys as the same may be ordered. On enter
3 into this contract the contractor must exc
te bond in the penalty of ten thousand dol
re-, with two sufficient sureties, Certified by the
stmaster where they reside.) conditioned for
9 full and faithful performance of such con-
let.
The contractor for locks and keys for Street
tter-Boxes will be required to furnish such r
lis and keys in such quantities, and at such T
nes, as may be ordered by the Postmaster 0
sneral, and must agree, and be able, to furnish
elve thousand of such locks and six thousand | :
such keys. If SO ordered, within six months |
ter the receipt of such order, and 10 furnish
'reafter any further quantities of such locks
keys as the same may be.ordered. On enter
into this contract the contractor must execute
bond in the penalty of twenty thousand dol | s
s, with two sufficient sureties (certiled by the
stmaster of the place where they reside) con
Toned for the full and faithful performance of
,h con tract.
Both contracts will contain a provision bind
the contractor to guard, with due privacy. >
egrity and care, the manufacture and custody
the locks and keys, in the finished and unf1n. r
ed state. They will also contain the proyi-
n that in case of any default on the part of
} contractor, causing the Postmaster General
annul the contract, all locks and keys, finished
unfinished, and all such patterns, drawings, :,