Madison times. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1884-1???, 1884-07-26
WHERE THE SILVER Is STORED.
Fifty Million Dollars Guarded by Cunning
Locks and vigilant Omccrs.
Chicago News.

Chicago News.
What to do with the constantly in
creasing supply of silver that is being
coined at the rate of 100000 standard
dollars month has long been perplex-
ing problem to the treasury officials
The vaults at the different sub-treasuries
and minis throughout the country are
filled to overlooking and the overcrowd-
ed condition Of the treasury precludes
the possibility ofany relief at this point
Twelve months ago it was decided to
provide fresh accommodations for this
purpose, and the work was Immediately
begun.
The new silver vault of the treasury,
believed to be the largest Of the kind in
the world, is located in the sub-base-
ment of the treasury department direct
ly under the magnificent marble cash
room, and is of the same grand dimen-
slons.
During the warmest days of the sum-
mer months the temperature of this floor
seldom rises above forty degrees. An at
mosphere of refreshing GOODNESS pervades
the place that is very grateful to one
coming in from the heated streets, where
the sun blazing hot, sends the mercury
dancing up into the nineties. Shut in
by walls of solid masonry FIVE feet in
thickness, the treasures it will contain
are as free from the touch of the "enter-
prising burglar" as if buried in the bot
tom of the ocean. Its measurement is
fifty three feet four inches in length by
thirty one feet four inches in width and
nine feet one inch in height. It's cubic
capacity is 1910 feet and it will hold
when closely packed, $5O,OOO,OOO ia stan.
dard silver dollars, and proportionate
ly large amount in fractional silver coin
A narrow passage way of four feet in
width divides the fourteen compartments
or cells into seven on each side. Each
of these compartments will hold from
three to three and one-half millions O
silver dollars. The partitions of the
compartment. are composed of substaD
tial lattice-work, so securely bound as t.
resist the pressure of the heavy bags o
dollars within. The general aspect O
the interior is that of gigantic dungeon
divided into iron cells.
The vault is protected by two massiv,
steel doors of enormous thickness, of th,
finest workmanship, and provided with
every modern device against burglarioui
assaults, whether made with the Jimmy
or dynamite. Each door is furnished
with two beautiful combined locks of tn,
latest design. Each door ia locked on
different combination under the chary,
of separate officers, so that entrance Il
the vault can be gained only by tkei
joint action. In addition, the outer doc
has upon it chronometer lock provided
with device to prevent its being blown
off or run down by dynamite, and al
attachment by which it may be rur
down from the outside in case the move
ments should break or stop for any cause
One of the treasury guard, ofwhom ther,
are sixty, sits at the entrance constantly
There is not moment of the twenty
four hours that it is left unguarded. II
addition to the guard is the regular pa
troll, whose beat leads him within cas-,
speaking distance of the vault every five
minutes. Over these in turn are the
captain and two lieutenants of the watch
who relieve each other at intervals O
of eight hours. and whose active vigi
lance keeps each member of the force
under strictest surveillance.
The government now holds more thar
$169, 100000 in silver coin and bullion
OF this amount $l35, 100000 is in silver
dollars, NU55,0 900 in silver bullion anG
$29, 100000 in fractional silver coin. The
enormous mass Of metal, weighing near
ly 5000 tons, is lodged in great vaults
which have been built for its reception
at the various minis and subtreasuries
The aggregate capacity of these vaults il
81, 900 cubic feet. The Largest is that al
the New York subtTeasury, with a capa-
city of II ,664 cubic feet, and the next in
size is that at New Orleans, measuring
10,320 cubic feet. At the San Francisco
mint and subtreasury are four vaults
with an aggregate capacity of ~ 800 Gu.
bic feet. The New York Office holds
over $35 100000 in silver, the San Fran
cisco mint and subtreasury over $50, OO0,.
600, the New Orleans mint and subtreas-
ury nearly $4,000, 900, the Philadelphia
mint and subtreasury more than $2l 900.
600, the Chicago Office nearly $4,000, 900
and the st. Louis Office nearly $9,OOO,-
OO0