Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-01-27
LETTER FROM NEW YORK.
Special Correspondence.

the city, at which riot is imminent, the
United States authorities feel the ut |
most anxiety concerning the immense
amount of valuables stored in the vaults |
of the Sub Treasury in this city, the
largest storehouse of public money in
the country. During the late labor
riots the employees of the Government
in that institution were fully armed and
equipped to resist any incursion a mob
might make on the Government domain,
but happily their preparations were not
put to test In order to guard against
contingencies of similar nature, espec.
tally since the monster vault for the
reception of bullion was erected year
or two ago, the Secretary of the Treasu-
ry has had the building inspected, and
a report made as to the best method of
strengthening as we'll as properly de-
Tending it in case of an attack. In due
course of time he made his report, which
was adopted. Within few days past
contract was signed by the Treasury
Department for steel gratings, bars, and
shutters to be attached to the building
Besides this three steel turrets are to be
erected on the roof, pierced for muske-
try, so as to guard against and repel an
attack from the tops af adjoining houses.
The center turret is to be of octagonal
shape. At the same time the Assay
Office, adjoining the Sub Treasury. on
Wall Street. Will be protected. Mr..
Jackson, Superintendent of Repairs and
Government Buildings in this city, made
the plans for this work and will super
intend the construction. The altera-
tions will be commenced in very few
days, and pushed to completion in the
shortest possible period. When this is
done, we will have at least one citadel
in our midst which will defy all CON-
munistic efforts.
Broadway, despite its publicity, its
wealth, and the care with which it is
watched, is about the worst street for
large fires in all New York. On last
Tuesday night came another of these
heavy visitations, at the corner of Broad
way and Grand Street, where, early in
the evening, the fire broke out in leis-
urely sort of way, and despite the efforts
of the whole fire department, ate up pro-
perty to the value of nearly two millions
of dollars. The evening was mild and
quiet. Had there been high wind we
might have had another Chicago expert
ence. Several large firms were burned
out, all carrying immense stocks of goods
most of which were covered by insurance.
1t took nearly two day to fully extin-
guish the flames in the burning debris
which time Broadway was almost i'm
passable at that point, and the tide of
its travel checked the adjacent streets.
Mr.. VIM. H. Vanderbilt would doubt
less endorse, if requested, the old say
ing, to the effect that it never rains but
it pours. No sooner do the snow-drifts
bury the New York Central Railroad out
of sight. and bring upon it loss Of
something like a million-most Of
which, of course. comes out of his pocket
than that will contest breaks out
afresh in more threatening shape than
ever, and then, when the unhappy mil.
lionaire seeks to forget his woes by tax.
ing the road with his spanking chestunts
after the manner of his illustrious par.
ent, those spirited animals run away
with him and into sleighful of people
/ scattering them like a whirlwind, and
| bringing upon him excavations and g
large bill for damages.
/ Poor William might feel inclined tt
succumb under this complications Of
) misfortunes, were it not that their de
pressing influence is partially counter
) balanced by the success of his lates
: transportation scheme. which is the es
: tablishment of new steamship freigh
. line to Europe, to run under his con
troll in connection with the New Yorl
) Central Road. The announcement O
r his new line is received here with grea
s satisfaction, as tending to decrease tn
, talk about the declining commercial
= supremacy of New York.
4 Speaking of the eft repeated storie
t about the coming eclipse of New Yorl
v as the metropolis. I happened acros
s some figures the other dap which hav
q been complied by the Building Depart
: ment, showing the material increase o
}, this city for ten years past Durin,
: this period nearly 10000 new building
t have been erected in New York at
n cost of about $500, 100000. The heav
e lest year for this business was 1871
b when S42.OO0,000 were expended o.
IS $500 structures. Last year the mum
e Der was about LOO at cost of SIS
r 100000. have no general figures 0
8 tie doings in this line of other cite
= which claim the dignity of rivalshi
y with New York, but learn that in 1877
If the cost of new buildings erected i
n Boston was less than s9,5OOOOO. Thi