The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1879-08-19
The Lock Of the U. S. Treasury.

The Treasurer of the United States Mr..
Gilfllan, has completed a collection of
keys to the treasury vault and money boxes
in use before the introduction of combna-
tion locks The collection numbers fifteen
keys, which have been arranged in a neat
walnut case, aud now decorate the walls of
the Treasurer's Office. The first in chrono-
logical order is .veritable patriarch of the
Key family. 1t is about seven inches long,
weighs over pound and makes agreat dis
play Of notches, which fitted within the
complicated wards of the lock. Judging
from the finish of the key, the lock was
evidently regarded in its day as master
piece of ingenuity and mechanism. The
exploits of modern experts would smile at
such barrier between themselves and the
glittering treasure. The known history of
this key goes back at least half century,
and it's custodian for years was Virginian
named Col. Mutt, the cashier of the Treas
urer's office.
The Colonel was, according to accounts,
true type of the old-time Virginia gen.
tleman, tall, measuring over six feet, erect
and wearing certain air of the cavalier
which would have justified some notions of
the boasted cavalry of the Old Dominion.
He lived on the soil of his native State and
every morning rode into Washington over
the Long bridge. In summer time, tying
his raw-bone Virginia PAGER in a grove
gnear the department where mighty build
lings now stand, the Colonel strobe along
the corridors of the Treasury, with his
spurs clanking on the paved way, and
cracking his riding whip, staggered into his
office.
His first act was to haul the immense
safe key out of a wallet he carried about
his person, and to an admiring audience
Of accountants, tellers, clerks, messengers
and boys would preface the formality. of
opening the antique strap-iron box by des-
canting on the complicated interior ar
rangement of the lock and the number of
tumbers the awe-inspiring instrument he
held in his hands knocked down in a single
turn in the intricate wards. The money
boxes, too, were never-ending and fruit
full theme of the venerable Nuts admira-
ton. He spoke of the welded straps of
iron and the innumerable bolts which
marked each intersection of the web. The
Colonel continued in Office until Virginia
Joined her fortunes to the conspiracy
against the Union, and then one afternoon,
after he had drawn his pay, was last seen
cantering toward the Potomac and across
into his native State.
Another key, as large as Colonel Nuts
favorite, and much more worn, has its
notches shaped like a letter 7. 1t is said
that from this the key represented in the
seal of the Treasury Department was de-
signed.
AS the improvements in locks began,
noticeable change in the formation of the
keys is indicated. Next comes pair that
resemble tue handle of tourniquet, and,
following the intermediate stages, are two
heavy brass keys, containing in themselves
combination formed by his strips of
metal of different lengths and numbered.
The combinations were varied by changing
the arrangements of these strips in the
key.
AS lock-picking grew to an art and the
ingenuity of the inventor was brought into
competition with the ingenuity of the
burglar, the use of the keys was abandon
ed, and from year to year, as millions of
treasure, securities and notes filled the
vaults, all the latest and most secure APP
pliances we're introduced. After careful
and thorough examination, the Sergeant
time and chronometer combination lock
was adopted a few years ago.
There are ten of these locks on each
vault. Every night, under the superin-
tendence of the Treasurer, and by tried
and trusted custodians, each chronometer
in the lock is wound and set for $50 A.
NJ. When once in motion there is no
possible way to open it, even by the Off
GERS authorized to know the combination
until the time set for it to be opened.
Will na4 CuoL nraotho