, 1874-11-01

Description Of the Interior of the
Fidelity.''
The Savings institutions Of Chicago.

ceBBful attempts at burglary and robbery. Ihe
public prints furnish accounts almost daily OF
daring robberies in different pa1ta OF the country.
But few DAYS ago the public we're startled by
an account OF most daring burglary committed
at Milford, N. H., in which the thieves were
successful in securing eome $40. 900 III money.
Then agaiu, but short time ago, the First'Na-
tional Bank Of Quincy. in this State. was visited
by these light-Hngered knights OF the Jimmy"
and IL drill, who were also successful in getting
away with $G0 COO OF tho banks funds, and as
yet the thieves havo not been appTehended, nor
any part OF the money recovered. Aud We might
continue to cite q score Of instances Of the same
nature, had ne space at Our command to do 30.
But bankers, merchants, and businessmen
generally, have for the past few years. fully COM
pretended the necessity Of providing greater se-
curity, in the uoy OF bank-vautts aud other con-
trivances, for the eafe-keeping OF money and
other vnlaAblea- And we are happy to state that
new aud valuable inventions are being made
which afford increased facilities for tho safe-
keeping Of everything OF value.
SIZE pkpos1ToR1Es
arc by no means new institutions, IS burglars
for centuries past have found their iuvuluerabla
walls Of stone and iron barrier between them
and the coveted prize they contained. Yet the
burglars of to-day n.e far superior in their
nefarious occupation to those OF 100 years ago,
md hence the necessity Of an improvement in
the safe repositories OF the present day 1t
would seen, however, that modern ingenuity
aud skill, in tho construction Of -bank-vaults,
locks and safes, has reached 3 point that NAV
well bid defiance to the most expert "cracks-
man" In this connection, re will refer ths at-
teution of the render to the lArge safe-Vaults
employed in the paWn-6bops in
THE CITY OF MEXICO.
1s described by tue late William a. Seward
in his trayels through that country Iho6e
vaults with their massive stone walls, were con-
ables there deposited, unless sooner withdrawn,
remain there for the term OF fifty years. when,
II not claimed, they nre taken out and sold, and
the proceeds applied to the liquidation Of the
vault rent, and the interest accruiug thereon.
Thus ne see that safe repositories are by no
modern ingenuity may have made them, for not
until recently have thoy proven themselves an
actual security, sud no longer mere experiments.
THIS country can point to few OF these lnstitu-
tions soma Of which hare successfully resisted
tie combined assaults Of burglars and fire. and
among the most prominent, VIC ~ll1 mention
that OF the
FIDELITY SAVINGS BANK AND SAFE DEPOSITORY
Of this city institution which, as regards both
mechanism and manner of construction. fur
u1shes tho finest model in the world This fact
is so we'll recognized that companies in San
Francisco, Boston, and even in London, have
written for the plans Of these vaults. o. have
sent their agents to give them personal inspec-
bles intrusted to its care, has no equal It's
vaults sre indeed complete in all their parts and
arraucements, and IN their eafety rs regards
both burglary and fire. Although this enormous
macs of solid masonry, immense steel plates.
bars, aud massive doors ls but 4 lew years old.
it il the receptacle Of
UNTOLD MILLIONS
in Government bonds, currency, specie, bullion.
certificates, deeds. wills, uo:es, mortgages. ab-
stracts, etc. It is also employed for the safe-
keeping OF valuable jewelry Of every kind and
Dress goods OF great value All tho means
known to modern science and human skill are
employed in the construction Of theso vaults.
The long experience ofour best detectives, bank
ers and safe-manufacturers il woven into them,
to thwart the schemes and devices OF the pro-
fessionnl and daring burglar. In fact, the value
Of this important acquisition to the City OF Chi
caeo cannot be fully appreciated until seen, and
vet for the convenience Of the reader, vo will
attempt
A BRIEF DESCRIPTION
Of this model Institution. First, We "lil state
that it's construction involved an outlay Of
S125, ,0c0. Now we will go down to the bottom
OF the concern Here We find the Bubstructure
composed OF solid stone. and forming q mass OF
solid masonry that would seemlngfy Withstand
ANYTHING but An earthquake. Tle basement
walls consist OF heavy masonry aud corruSated
iron, thus forming foundation for the vaults OIL
the maiu floor. The ceiling, sides, and tioor OF
these vaults are one solid mass OF stone OF I'M
meuse thickness. Their Innings and easements
arc composed of si1 tlicknesses of half-lnch
alternate hardened and soft steel plates, welded
aud bolted together, forming break-jolnts, aud
at the corners are large plstcs OF the same mate
rial, adjusted in angle form This metal is so
hard that eighteen diamond drills employed IN
although the drills we're entirely destroyed. 4
eingte easement to ono OF these vaults weighs
125 tons, while the outer door weighs three and
three-quarters tons. From this, ono can form u
fains idea OF the amount Of metal there is to
resist any attempt to break through. The doors
OF these vaults are secured by four Excelsior
combination locks, thus retaining in their sock-
cts in the outer door sixteen two-inch bolts.
while the inner door ia secured by ten bolts OF
the same dimensions. Between tho outer and
tended ~ IN air-channber for resisting hest. in
case OF conhagra!ion.
1t may be proper in this connection to explain
the object Of two or more locks, each susceptible
OF many millions OF combinations, to secure
each door. It is mainly for the purpose OF rcn-
dcring the vaults inaccessible to any ono OF the
employees or officers, each combination being IN
charge of different person, each being entirely
ignorant Of the other's combination,-th all
must be present in order to open the Vautts:
in the late robbery Of the Milford Bank in New
Hampshire, where the Cashier was not only forced
to reveal the combustion, but even to unlock it.
Now, il this bank lad been provided with two OF
more combinaton-locks the forcing Of the Cash
ier to reveal ono combination would have been
Of no avail without securing the persons having
knowledge Of the second, third, OF fourth COM
binations. The vaults are guarded by
ARAED WATClIMRS
both day and night, go that any attempt to force
entrance would prove entirely futile: This in
stitution contains eight vaults m all We ex-
nmined No. 6, wkicl, is about 80 feet long, and
contains !, 200 metal boxes, each box being sup
Piled with q different koy or combination lock,
being thus safes in themselves In tins section
there are being placed 800 additional boxes. In
the rear Of No. 6 there ia large 1etlring-rooxn,
for the convenience Of renters, and Is so con-
structed that each patron can examine the con-
tents Of his box unobserved By any opo,
Above No. 6 is constructed vault No. I, winch
is mainly used as depository for shaw1s, laccs,
fine clothing, and other articles Of great value
Vault No. i and the jewellers, xsa sa1lt above
passed through the great fire OF 1871, sud are
now in such a state OF preservation that
the yarnish shows no effect from tho neat what
ever The vault contains LOGS boxes IN the
hack Of this vault is large turglar-p1o0f eatc
Of the 3IcNcale i Urban manufacture, intended
F.- ,,,~c;,1 Ionco;4- Tn f1,a naEpment tnG