Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1867-08-09
III iscclla neo II s
The National Safe Deposit Co.

For years past there has been urgent
need OF an institution in Washington here
valuahes of Of all descriptions. whlch in
private residences. ana pcrhapsevcn when
deposited i'll banks for security. are liable
To theft or destruction by fire. may be de-
posted ami the dcpositor feel that his pro
perry is perfectly secure This desldera-
tun has now | cen established by the Nat
onnl Safe Deposit Comp my, the office and
vaults being located i'll Plants Building.
ON The corner of Fifteenth street and New
York avenue aud opened tor business yes
tcrday. The Company received It's charter
at the LAST session OF Congress, under es
pcclal guarantees for the iulhlment OF their
oh igations. and includes Among its direct
urs 5. T. Brown. Henry ID. Cooke George
W. Riggs. " IN. 5. Huntington. George
Ii. Plant. aud o.nrr we'll known capitalists
and energetic business men of the city.
The officers are ) +. Brown. president
George . Evans, vice president; W iii'an
5. Huntington treasurer. and Is. L. Syn
der. secretary. An examination of the
office aud vaults OF the company Will eX-
hlhit the most admirable arrangements to
pecurc deposits against either the operation
OF the thlcvmg fraternity or destruction by
fire. The office of the company. i'll the
corner OF the building. and on the first foor
is handsomely fitted up and arranged tor
the convenient transaction OF business.
The apartment is divided by IL partition.
back of which are the desks Of the officers
Of the company and also seven small COM
par,nents or offices" provided with
writing apparatus. and intended for the
nse OF dcp"sitors when they desire to re
move or make deposits in their boxes; such
operations got being permitted within the
vaults. The advantage Of these offices is.
that u depositor is enabled to attend to
such matter beyond the observation Of any
parties. unlike in banking house. where
persons with evil intentions may linger
around to gain information rs to amount
of money i'll the possession OF individuals
transactng business.
Passing down to the bascment,the visitor
enters vault No. l, fourteen feet in length
by twelve in width, and eight feet high.
The floor Of this vault consists Of two and
% hall feet Of concrete and brick. and large
flag stones three inches thick. ] he walls
are five feet in thickness-th three feet being
granite and two feet cement and brick.
| The entrance to the vault. which Is intend.
ed for the raf keeping Of silver-ware aud
vaiuables al bulky character. is thorough
two burglar aud fire proof doors, lhoth pro-
vidrd with Maryn's patent combination
locas. The entire basement is fire proof
and in that portion not occupied by the
vault referred to. may be stared large box
es containing Quantities of OF valuable
goods. &c. Should the business of the
company increase, however, it will be fit
! Of
basement is of brick arches with iron
girders over which is the floor of the busi
ness office. laid with tiles and consequent
ly completely fire proof.
Returning to the first floor, the visitor
enters vault No, ., containing "Marvin
s. Co.'s Fire aud Burglar proot Safe" Of
large size. divided with two compartments
and furnished with tiers of iron boxes or
recrptacles for deposits. seven hundred III
number varying IN size and IN price !roni
twenty to eighty dollars per annum. In
each of these boxes or receptacles Is plac-
ed small tin box in which the valnablcs
are placed, and which may be removed al
the option of the renter. The door of each
of the iron receptaclcs is provided with II
key disslmiar from that fitting any other
lock Of the seven hundred the locks being
what ar, technically te rmed 'tunblcr' locks
and susceptible OF endless vartions in the
manner Of construction and pattern of key
used. Each key is held by the renter OF ~
box until he releases possession. when the
key and lock are both destroyed and re-
placed by new lock and key.
The walls of this vault arc Of equal
thickness with those in the basement. and
should burglar succeed in getting through
Them when, if uninterrupted. he might
possibly do in two or three days, he would
tn IN e.lcounter the massive walls of the
burglar proof safe. The walls Of the
vaults are provided with air chambers to
secure thorough ventilation aud to avoid
dampness, and more especially the effects
Of extreme heat in case of fire; the heat
affecting the outer portion of the wall
would fail to affect the inner because
Of the continuous current Of cold air circu-
lating through the chambers.
The vaults are built up entirely sepa-
rate from the building, aud, such 10 their