Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-12-08
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.


Burglar Proof.-COngress at it's last session
appropriated a sum Of money "for the better
security of the public funds" A portion if
not the whole of the amount so appropriated
(for we do not recollect the specific SUM- has
been devoted, very properly, by the Secre-
tary Of the Treasury to the erection Of bur-
glar-prOOf chamber or vault in the Ire asury
building for the safe keeping Of 80 much of
the public money as may be on deposit with
the Treasurer of the United States. Thus he
has caused to be built Immediately adjoin-
ing the apartment Of the treasurer cashier
lin the story Of the building next above the
ground fiOOrl an apartment ten feet square
by nine feet high, the walls, ceiling, floor,
and inner door closing the entrance to it, be-
ing Of solid granite; the door being cut out Of
a single block, and is SIX inches thick. The
floor is eight inches thick and the ceiling six
teen inches. Cannon balls are let into every
joint throughout the work, so that if joint
ShO7ifd be sawed through, the depredator will
find that he has achieved merely his labor for
mis- pains: as the ball intervening will prevent
the stone from being removable from its
place.
The whole work is 80 secured Throughout by
iron clamps and bolts, as that a .'lewis''
may be put into one Of the top stones and the
whole vault hOisted, provided the rigging
used be strong enough to sustain the strain
that would be upon il. Xhe weight of the
inner door OF granite, to which we refer above,
Is fifteen hundred" 1t is go nicely hung
that it swings almost as easily "a an ordinary
door. There is also a chilled iron door, two
inches thick, Immediately in front Of 10 and
In close ju1taposition with it, which is imper-
viOus to the drill or chisel. Both the doors
are fitted with Yale's patent bank safety Loeb,
which is not to be opened except the person
attempting il has the key (written) with which
it was last locked. There is also another
iron door similar to the one last above de-
scribed, few feet in advance of that one,
fitted with a similar lock, and opening into
the vestibule of the vault; also opening into
the same vestibule, there is window looking
into the inner square of the Treasury build
ing, which is secured with a heavy chilled
iron SHUTTER, chilled-ron window frames, and
an inner grating of ehiIled-iron. To remove
the last used grating from that window to re-
Pl,ce il with a stronger one, two days labor
Of all the mechanics who could be employed on
it at one time, was necessary, and they were
the most expert, at the particular work, to be
found any where.
The whole structure or improvement cost
the government somewhere about 81 900, and
is doubles the most complete burglar proof
vault ever built in America; being quite a.
much so as any vault in England or Europe.
Messrs Gault & Brother, of Baltimore were
the contractors for its erection, and they have
acquitted themselves Of their obligations in
mastery manner, indeed. Mr.. q. Maeomber.
Of Baltimore, was the experimenting mechan-
nc employed by the Messrs. q. Capt Smith,
Civil Engineer, late Of the U. g. Army had
the buEiness in charge, and with his eff cient
assistant, Mr.. Mscomber) has made "a struc-
ture here that should be viewed by all inter-
ested ir the business Of banking In this country,
who are really anxious to see that rare sight
-aplsce for the safe keeping Of treasure that
IL really wholly beyond the reach ofthe burg
lars skill
Gruntlng Not little dissatisfaction with
the unaecountable turns, twists and tsngles
which things political are taking in the House
Hall, was manifested yesterday during the
day session, and subsequently, There is
evidently determination among the Free
ooiiers' who are really Democrats on every
"ther issue that may possibly come before
congress, (the solution Of MANY of which is
greatly 10 effect the future Of the country for
Its prosperity, or TO its detriment.) not tn have
foisted upon them by the huge lobby Of ultra
Federalists from a distance now cutting and
shutting the cards in this election, a Speake,
who will be sure to administer his trust against
the popular national sentiment in such mat.
tiers. That's the game which is endeavored
10 be played just now.
There are anti-Nebraska Wings in the
House, conservative men, who are not pre-
pared to merge everything in the slavery issue
to vote for candidate because he is opposed
10 the principles Of the Nebp aska bill, who may
be relied on to make such an administration
OF the duties Of the Chair as will suit the De-
euiiar notions of the Hon. Mr.. Giddines of
Ohio, to charm. Though opposed to the ad.
mission Of Kansas into the Union az a slave