Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-01-31
Our New York Letter.

FoR1IFYING THE sUB-TREAsURT-NR. WANDER
Bits woEs-THE GROWTH OF NEW YORK.
NEW YORK, Jan. 221, 1879.
To the Editor of the Free Press and Times
Whenever there il clmmOtion in the
city, at which a riot Is imminent, the Unit
ed States authorities feel the utmost anxiety
concerning the immense amount OF yaluables
stored in the vaults of the sub-treasury in
thi. 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 mob
might make on the Government domain,
but happily their reparations were not put
to test. In order To- guard against con-
tin yencies OF similar nature, especially
since the monster vault f1- the reception OF
bullion was erected = year OF two ago, the
Secretary Of the Treasury has hal the build
Ing inspected, and report made as to the
best method Of strengthing a. well as prop
erly defending it in case of an attack. liz
due course Of time he made his report,
which was adopted. Within few days
past contract was signed by the Treas
ury 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 musketry, 20 as to guard against and
repel an attack from the tops OF adjoining
houses The centre turret Is to be OF octa
| eonal shape. At the same time the Assay
Office, adjoining the sub-treasury, on wal
street, will be protected. Mr.. jackson,
superintendent Of repairs and government
buildings in this city, made the plans To-
this work and will superintend the con
struction. The alterations will be com
menced in very few days, and pushed Il
completion in the shortest possible period
When this is done, we will have at least on
citadel in our midst which will DEFY all com
munistIo efforts.
Mr.. VIM. H. Vanderbilt would doubles
endorse, if requested, the old saying, to tn
effect that it never rains but it pOurs. n
sooner do the snnw-drifts bury the New
York Central Railroad out of sight, an
bring upon it loss OF something like
million-must of which, of course, comes gu
Of his pocket-than that will contest break
out afresh in more threatening shape thai
ever, and then, when the unhappy million
aire seeks to forget his woes by taking tn
road with his spanking chestnuts, after tn
manner of his illustrious parent, those spirlte
animals run away with him and into sleigh
full of people. scattering them like whlrl
wind, and bringing upon him execration
galore and large bill for damages.
Poor William might feel inclined to sue
eumb under this complication Of misfortune:
were it not that their depressing inauenc
is partially counterbalanced by the sueces
of his latest transportation scheme, whlc
is the establishment of a new steamshi
freight line to Europe, to run under h
control in connection with the New Ior
Central road. The announcement of tn
new line is received here with great sati'
faction, as tending to decrease the tai
about the declining commercial supremac
of New York.
happened across some figures the Othe
day which have been compiled by the Built
ing Department, showing the material il
crease Of this city for zen years past. Dul
ing this period nearly 10000 new building
have been erected in New York at cost {
this business was ISL, when $40 ,000, 90
were expended on ., 500 structures. La:
year the number was about | 200, at co.
of SIS 100000. have no general fgur'
of the doings in this line of other citi
which claim the dignity of rivalship wit
New York, but learn that in 1873 the Coz
of new buildings erected in Boston was lie:
than SO 500 900 This NAV be taken,
su ppose, as some Indication of the compar'
tive growth of New York and other cite
| trust the figures furnish satisfactory Ell
couragement to such of the provincial citi'
as yearn to wrest the crown of supremac
from Manhattan Island. DARN