The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-08-20
OUR SILVER DOLLARS.
THEIR NEW HOME IN WASHINGTON.
The New Vault in Which They Are to Be
Stored at the Treasury Department
An Interesting Topic for
Poor Man.
National Republican,


act of February 2S, 1878, about 2,3OO,0
silver dollars are coined every month,
only to be stored in vaults. During
certain months of the year, when busi-
ness is most active, an amount equal to
the monthly coinage will be driven into
circulation, but as soon as settlements
are made by business and commercial
men, these dollars are exchanged for
certificates, and are returned to the
the year may be said to find lodgment
In the Treasury vaults instead Of finding
circulation among the people. Many of
those Who were the earnest advocates
Of unlimited silver coinage prior to the
passage Of the act of 1873 now favor a
suspension Of further coinage, and bill
introduced by Judge Kelley is pending
before the House for this purpose, but has
been quietly laid away until the next
session Of Congress.
In the meantime the coinage proceeds,
and the Treasurer must provide for its
safety. All available storage room is
occupied, or will be before Congress
again convenes, and it therefore be-
comes an imperative necessity to erect ad.
ditional vaults.
The Treasury now holds, in round num-
bers, G,0O0, 900 silver dollars. While this
money is subject to the order Of the Treas
urer Of the United States, it is not, as is
believed by many persons, held in the
vaults of the Treasury Department at
TnI Ia, tpN
of this large silver surplus is actually held
here, for the excellent reason that sufficient
accommodation has not heretofore existed.
The bulk of the silver Is stored at New
York, the remainder being distributed
among the large commercial cities Of the
country, only about S5,0O0,OOO being ac-
tually held at the Treasury Department at
Washington. Few persons, perhaps, have
any conception Of the vastness Of the sill.
yer now held by the United States in the
| form of standard silver dollars. The fiscal
affairs Of the Government have been con-
Quoted on so magnificent scale during
and since the war of the rebellion that the
public have come to consider the sum of
| $4,000 900 or Si00,0OJ,0O0 as an ordinary
matter of Governmental administration,
and we are so familiar with the more con-
venient forms OF currency in our personal
| affairs that we do not stop to contemplate
the bulk and weight Of this steadily in
crpasing silver deposit which finds lodg-
| ment in the Treasury.
Aspreviously stated, there is now held by
the Treasury l3G,OOjOJO silver dollar pieces.
| M L.. in
but IL Is only when reduced TO pounds and
tons that an intelligent idea Is obtained as
to It's bulk and weight. When it is known
that the weight Of the silver dollars now
held by the Government IL 0, ,I3S $50 pounds,
and that this enormous wei Sht Is being in
creased at the rate Of 1,7lS,GD pounds per
annum, the public will better appreciate
the magnificent way in which the Govern
ment manufactures money. The vast
quantity of silver which is troubling
Treasury officials to properly take care of,
represents over 1850 tons of 1000 pounds
each. and II placed in the ordinary carts
used Tor transporting coal in large cities,
would make a procession fourteen miles
long, assigning one ton to each cart and
allowing fifteen ieot OF space for ,he move
men. o, each vehicle. When, IN addition
20 this, IL Is stated tha. the Treasury IS re-
caiying each month a9yenty.onn c1rtloads
Of silver disks, an that Sc tons are being
annually added 10 he stock Of silver on
hand, tho bulk and weight, a, well a5 the
force and effsc5, Of the silver act OF 1873,
will be better und srstood and appreciated
The above figures do not include the silver
bullion aud fracti nal silver coins held by
the Treasury. or the latter there is now
on hand S3J,OO0,0JJ, and Of tho former
100000, the aggregate weight o; which
is l,2l7 tons, thus making the total weight
Of silver now in the Treasury G,OSG tons.
To provide adequate storage for this i'm
mense stock OF silver an additional
vault has been constructed in the base
ment OF the Treasury Department build
ins directly underneath the cash room
THIS vault Is 81 feet inches wide, 50 feet
inches long. and feet inches high. Il
contains 1880 cubic. feet OF space, and
will hold 5O,OJO.OOO silver. dollars, which
represents IN bulk 1900 tons. The vault /,
constructed with special regard to strength
and safety. The walls, ceiling and hool
are constructed OF three chilled iron and
two steel plates riveted together
each OF the iron plates being one half inch
in thickness, and each OF the steel.platel
flve.sixteenths OF an inch, thus making
the metal case, which forms the dcfensei
OF the vault, over two inches in thickness
Tic foundation Of the vault rests upor
the earth, and the iron and steel flooring Is
la d upon twelve inches OF hydraulic cs
nlvnt TO guard against entrance by means
OF tunnel. The two doors by which EN-
trance Is obtained are massive, all know
materials being used in their construction
TO make them safe against felonious as
sault. Each door Is furnished with twt
locks, and these locks are so CONSTRUCTED
as TO work separately or together. Tn,
bolts o each may be operated on the SAM
or on different combinations, yet shoult
any derangement occur TO one, the doc
may be released by the other.
II Is also claimed for these locks tba
their bolts can not be drawn by the use o
dynamite or other explosive The inne
door is also supplied with time lock o
the latest and most approved workman
ship. Between tho inside and outside
doors there Is vestibule FIVE feet II
length, and midway across this vesiibul,
is lattice door constructed Of three
elghlhs iron and furnished with seour,
luck. This door is intended to guart