The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1882-03-04
KEYS OF THE TREASURY.


The Treasurer Of the United States,
Mr.. Gilfillan, has completed coliees
tion of keys to the treasury vaults and
money boxes in use before the introduc,.
ton OF combination locks. The colles&
ton numbers fifteen keys, which have
been arranged in a neat walnut case,
and now decorate the wall OF the Trea-
surer's office. The first in chronology
cal order is veritable patriarch of the
key family. !; is about seven inches
long, weighs over a pound, and makes
a great display Of notches when fitted
into the complicated wards OF the lock
Judging from the finish OF the key, the
lock was evidently regarded in its day
as I masterpiece Of ingenuity Of me
chanlsm. The exploits OF modern ex-
peris would smile AZ such barrier be-
tween themselves and the gliiiering
treasure. The known history of this
KEY goes back at least half 1 century,
and It's custodian for years was Virgin
ian named Col. Mutt. the cashier in the
ircasurer's ofiiCc. The Colonel was,
aus ~ ~ hfaAAlAa a % - Va tstN
old Nifginian-tall, erect, and measur-
ing over six feet. wearing a certain air
Of the cavalier which would have jus,l-
fed some notions OF the bOasied chival
" 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-boncd Virginia PAGER in 4 grove
near the department. where mighty
buildings now stand, the Colonel strobe
along the corridors Of the Treasury,
with his spurs clanking on the paved
way, and cracking his whip, staggered
into his ofilCe. HIS first act was TO haul
the immense safe KEY out OF wallet he
carried about his person. and TO an adj
Mining audience Of Accountants, tellcrs.
clerks. messengers and BOYS. tc would
preface the iormailiy OF opening the an
tique s;fap-iron box hy desoaniing on
the complicated interior arrangement Of
the lock. and the number Of tumblerS
the awe-inSpiring instrument he held in
his hand knocked down Al 4 single turn
IN the intricate wards. The money
boxes, too. were 4 never ending and
fruitful theme Of the venerable NUTS
admiration. He spoke Of the welded
strap, Of IRON and the innumerable bolts
which marked the intersection Of the
wcb The Colonel continued IN Office
until Virginia Joined her fortunes 10 the
conspiracy again>; the Union and then
one afternoon. after he had drawn hl>
pay. wls las; seen cantering toward the
Potomac and across into his native
state
Another KEY. Is large as Col. Nuts
aud much more worn. has its notohes
shaped like letter I. |, is said that
from this the kew represented IN the
seal Of the Treasury department was de
signed. As the Improvement in locks
began, a noticeable change in the for
nation OF the KEYS is indicated. Mex,
comes 4 pair that resemble the handle
OF a ,ournlquet. and following the inter.
mediate stages are two heavy brace keys,
containing IN themselves a combination
formed by strips of metal of differen,
lengths and numbered. The combina-
,ions were varied in changing the
arrangement; OF these strips in the key.
As ock-picking grew to be an art. and
the ingenuity OF the inventor was brought;
into competition with the ingenuity OF
the burglar. the use of keys was aban-
doned, and from year 10 year. as mil
lions OF treasure and securities and notes
filed the vaults, all the latest and most
secure appliances were introduced
After careful and thorough examination
the Sergeant time and chronome,er
combination lock was adopted in each
lock. Every night, under the superin-
tendance of the Treasurer, and by trust
ed and tried cusiodians, each chronom-
c,er in the lock is wound and set for
S. 20 A. NJ. When once in motion there
is no possible way to open it, even by
the officers authorized TO know the COM
bination. No key is used, limit OF
time and the application OF word or
figures to the words forming the combi-
nation.
BB-lmproving: An agent for the sale
of some household article attempted to
- IL