The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1882-01-21
KEYS OF THE TREASURY.

The Treasurer Of the United States.
Mr.. Gilfllan, has completed collection
"f keys to the treasury vaults and money
boxes in use before the introduction of
combination locks. The collection num-
6ers fifteen keys. which have been ar
ranged in a neat walnut case. and now
decorate the wall Of the TreaSnrer's Office.
The first in chronological order is a VERT
able patriarch of the key family. 1t is
about seven inches long, weighs over
pound. and makes great display of
notches when fitted INTO the complicated
wards Of the lock. Judging from the
finish of the key. the lock wa. evidently
regarded in its day as master piece of
ingenuity of mechanism. The exploits
of modern experts would smile at such
I barrier between themselves and the
ylittering treasure. The known history
of this key goes back at least half cen
fury. and its custodian for years was a
Virginian named Col. Mutt the cashier
in the treaSurers office. the Colonel
was. according tn accounts. a true type
nf the old Eiroinian-tall. erect. and
measuring over six feet. wearing a GER
tain air of the cavalier which would have
justified some notions Of the boasted
chiralry of the Old Dominion. He lived
ou the soil OF his native State, and every
morning rode into Washington over the
long bridge: in summer time tl ing his
raw hnned Virginia PAGER in a grove near
the department. where mighty buildings
now stand. the Colonel strobe along the
corridors of the Treasury, with his spurs
clauking on the paved way, and crack
ing his 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
IF accountants, tellers, clerks, mesSen-
gers and boys, he would preface the for
nal,ty of opening the antique strap iron
box by descanting on the complicated
interior arrangement of the lock. and the
lumber Of tumblers the awe-inSpirin4
instrument he held in his hand knocked
Town at a single turn in the intricate
wards. The money boxes. too. were a
lever ending and fruitful thcme of the
venerable Nuts admiration. He SPOKE
If the welded straps of iron and the in
Vulnerable bolts which marked the inter
section Of the web The Colonel con
h,,,
'rrtunes to the conspiracy against the
rnion; and then. one afternoon. after h,
lad drawn his pay, was Last seen cantei-
ng toward the Potomac and across into
lis native State.
Another key, as large as Colonel Nntt's
md much more worn. has its nn.chts
.haped like a letter 7. 1t is said thai
rom this the key represented i'll the sea
# the Treasury department was de
signed. As the improvement in lock-
began. a noticeable change in the fnrma-
ion of the keys is indicated. Next comes
pair that resemble the handle of a tour
riquet, and following the intermediate
~IipeS are IWp ilcdSS bidCc N.Y. Gun
aiming in themselves a combination.
ormed by strips of metal of diferen,
'rngths and numbered. The combina-
lions were varied in changing the ar
rangement of these strips in the key
lock-pcking grew to DO an art, amt
the ingenuity of the inventor was broush,
.nto competition with the ingenuity ol
he burglar. the use of keys was aban
Toned. and from year to year. as millions
If treasure and securities and notes file"
the vaults, all the latest and most secure
appliances We're introduced. After care
ul and thorough examination, the Ser
,eant time and chrunumeter combination
uck was adopted in each lock. Ever,
hight. under the superintendent of thu
Treasurer and by trusted and tried Gus
JodiauS, each chrunometer in the lock il
>cund and set for $50 A. ". When one,
IN motion there is no possible way t"
pen it. even by the officers authorized
% know the combination. No key j.
used. limit of time and the application
IF a word or figures to the words form
ING the combination.