The Osceola times., 1882-01-28
GUARDING MILLIONS IN TRANSIT.
How the Express Companies Protect the
Money Entrusted to Their Care.
New York sun.

How the Express Companies Trotect the
Money Entrusted to Their Care.
New York sun.
In the number of packages of holiday
presents to-b be handled by the express
companies there does not seem to be any
falling OIL, bat rather an increase which
taxes their facilities to the utmost. In
the matter Of value, however, there is a
very great decrease from former years.
1--WE are so pushed and driven" SUI
perintendent said, that | got in behind
the counter to help the clerks myself,
and 80 had a means of practically and
positively knowing something of the
value Of the stuff we were handling. We
make practice Of asking consignor OF
a package What its value is, not that we
propose putting it on the package, which
miyht be Objectionable for various rea-
sons, but that we wish TO write it in the
receipt. Wei, in the whole day, there
was only one moderately valuable thing,
and that was ring which gentlemen
said was worth 500. All the rest ay-
eraged about IS or SO, and there were
great quantities as low down as So each.
am now speaking Of the holiday pres
ent packages, Of course, not of the busl-
ness shipments which are readily distin-
guished from the others.
1T would not pay robbers to make n
raid on one Of our parcel wagons. The
aggregate value of all they could secure
would not be enough for the risk. With
respect to the wagons for money deliy.
cry, however, the case is very different.
There the driver and his assistants have
-, 81 hrtnhfala Of than
sands of dQlars-a rich haul for the
thieves if they gould get at it. But that
is Whit they cannot do. In the first
place, the region where these money
wagons are generally used is in tie most
crowded parI,af the city-the down town
part--where there are thousands about
all the time, and it would be impossible
for thieves to make any attempt on our
drivers without such a struggle and row
MS would call attention, and not only
frustrate the purpose Of the robbers, but
in all probability insure their arrest
There are Always two men in those wag-
ons when they are out on duty, and care
is taken in their selection that they shall
be young, vigorous, qulck-wltted and
courageous fellows. They are armed
with revolvers, and they know how TO
use them, bat my instructions are that
they shall put more confidence in their
voices than their pistOls. a pistol, even
the best, might snap but yell is bound
to 20 of. So, ifaitacked, they are expect
c1 to make all the uproar they can. Any
body with a knowledge of New York
street crowds can imagine what would
be the Consequence.
Besides, our wagons are arranged so
as TO put the greatest obstacles in the
way Of unwarranted intrusion compati-
be with conscience. Look at this one
for Illus tratiCn. II is one-horse vehicle
only with two wheels, and the only way
Of getting into i il over the seat in front,
whore the driver or his paruer, or b. th,
will he on gnsrl. Externally 1t is solid
surface OF vsrnisscd wood on sides and
back, except where that small window
of thick glass high IN in the rear, ad-
mits light. Internally ii is lined with
heavy wire netting. Inside filling the
space behind the seat and fastened there,
is heavy wooden box, with safety
lock. That box is never opened except
when the driver is taking out a package.
W hen ne leaves the wagon 10 deliver d
pact, sa,fe-, tao H.--i-.--. ,...g 90 rris.a tho
key with him. His partner, VINO TT fe7e
in the wagon, has M means OF opening
the box, and it would take thieves, even
with axes and clear field Of action,
several minutrs to get at its contents.
when the dsver takes n package out Tor
delivery, he is instructed TO either carry
it hidden or in a bag slung to his left
wrist. while his right baud is free to use
his pistol. When we have occasion to
send money up town where there are
comparatively few persons in the streets,
a wagon is sent with a single package or
perhaps two, and the men are cautioned
10 xtraordinary vigilance. The system
is the sanae In all the companies. Wher.
cFer@n inproveneD Mt for greater secu rity
can be devised by one n Is Immediately
communicated to and adopted by all the
others as all are eqnally interested in
keeping up the common reputation for
absolute safety. Then another fact may
have some infunce in our favor. The
thieves know that our companies arevery
rich corporations, and that we will pros
ecule to the utmost anybody who makes
an attack on the goods under our care,
regardless Of cost aud trouble. A prose-
culiOn by an express company would not
be the perfunctory service Of an ordinary
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