, 1873-02-02

The Most Secure Place for .Yaluables in
the World.
The Vaults Of the Fidelity Safety Deposit
Company

On the 1st OF June, 1871, the Fidelity Safety
Deposit Company, Of which the Hon. Thomas 5.
Bryan was the moving spirit, began operarioas
IN this city, on Randolph street, next to the
Sherman House. This now enterprise did not
meet with 3 very enthusiastic reception. It Was
difficult to start it, and, while it Was well pat
ronEed when once begun, Jet there was stin
much confidence in safes and ordinary vaults:
and II people did deposit their va1uables in Mr.
Bryan's vaults, it was only to mako assurance
doub1y sure. Then came the Octobsr fire, which
worked such destruction to the safes in which eu
much trust had been put, and for moment it,
WIS believed that tho vaults Of
the Fidelity Safety Deposit Company
had shared similar fate. 3ut it is well reme1a-
be1ed how yictoriously they went through th:t
ordeal, how the Watchdog remained alive in tAa
basement, how delicate lacca, combus.ib!a
papers, aud solid silver came out unscathed; !;
how millions OF dollars worth OF property we:7'
preserved, and how for days after the tire taa.
Company'B vaults were tho only place whera:
raluables could safely bo stored. Tho result Of
this trial has been that the Fidelity Safety
Deposit Company has grown go greatly il the
public estimation, and tho demand for acconmo~
been compelled to increase its capacity.
Yesterday this Company and the bank which is
connected with it took formal possession Of the
Randolph street building, which has frontage
by the bank, and the eastern By the Deposit
Company. At the time of the fire there we18
six vaults. OF these, the one on the first floor,
which is divided into compartments, and rented
floor a1e solid mass Of metal two and thres
quarter inches thick, built up Of three plates Of
steel and two Of iron. On the sides Of this vault
are about . thousand boxes, each ons
IT ws om s 5es ts Teh spsndns upoa 5
aize. At the northern end Of this vault is an
immense safe, with doors weighing. 600 pounds.t
Almost in front of this vault, and 8 little td
the west Of it, is the new vault, which IS th5
thicknessee Of iron and steel, the plates oTer:
tapping each other, and held in place by conica1
bolts secured by nuts on the inside, and still
further strengthened by steel angles. Tho total:
de bsn 4ea
best 0oaeAt oi tools, nAd It Fonid f take aa them en-
days to force their WY through
these massive Ta This vant has two doa5s ~
pounds each, and tho inner 2,4o0, making 19,s0u
pounds of metal in the doors alone. Ihe cost
Of this vault is 995 000. Owing to the doors at
each end the light and ventilation azo perfect:
boxes
The first thing which meets tho eye IS one
enters the door next to the Sherman House is e.
grand front Of Furnished metal rising to tha
ceiling, and the entrance to the new vault in ths
the centre, while On tho right-hand side is the
passage way leading to the old vault PEeTious!y
mentioned: Over the door Of the new vault IS
the inscription:
Fidelity Safety Deposit Company, founded June i.
1871, withstood the great fire Oct. o. 1671 unhareds
saving millions
Immediately below this is the head Of dog,
in metal, emblematic Of the one which lived
through the fire.
bullion and eilrerware, two OF them being o..
stone blocks Of immense size. Tie other vaults,
for there are ROW eight in ell, are intended Tor
the storage OF trunks OF papers which do not
have to he often referred to, and two aro
for tho -uao'-o OF +ho, Loan i1nTestment
Department. There bag gone into this building
about 800 tons Of metal, and the vaults are 80
fired off under Que, it would tear tho huge iron
box from its place, but would not burst it open
In addition to the safety to be derived from
these thick walls, the; building il pntrol1ed daE
and night, inside and out, men and dogs uniting
to keep OH unlawful intrudc1s, while burglar
alarms, and I'll similar cont1ivances, have been
resorted to. The Company owns tho premises
danger to be feared from tho roar. It is t!ei4--
kentio, ut carly day, to build oTer the gEe.:.
IN the rear, and thus provide rooms which CT / >
used for executors Of trusts, ETC. At present.
there is row Of 1ecesses or stalls intended fcs-
tho uso Of rentors, whe-a thoy can aeclude them
selves and examine papers OF bonds NTH ce.-
tainty that they ara free from ail inspection:
1t present the Hon. J. c. Heincs, formerly o.
Tho State Savings Bunk, is President Of the De-
posit Company, and Mr.: Simpson is still cuEto-
lian, position le has occupied since tho,
Company began operations.