Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-07-17
WHERE THE SILVER is STORED
Fifty Million Dollars Guarded 10y
Cunning Rocks and Vigilant OIL
GERS

Fifty Million Dollars Guarded 10y
Cunning locks and VigIIant OIL
GERS
What to do with the constantly in
creasing supply of silver thatls being
coined at the rate of 2,S00,000 stand
ard dollars q month has long been a
perplexing problem to the treasury
officials. The vaults at the different
sub treasures and minis throughout
the country are filled to overlooking
and the over-crowded condition of
the treasury precludes the possibility
of any relief at this point. Twelve
months ago it was decided to provide
fresh accommodations for this pur-
pose, and the work was Immediately
begun.
The new silver vault of the treas
ury, believed to be the largest of the
kind in the world is located in the
sub basement of the treasury depart
ment directly under the magnificent
marble cash room, and is of the same
grand dimensions. During the warm
est days Of the summer months the
temperature of this floor seldom rises
above forty degrees An atmosphere
of refreshing GOODNESS pervadcs the
place that is very grateful to one com
ing in from the heated streets, where
the sun, blazing hot sends the mer-
curry 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 "enterprising burglar
as if buried i'm the bottom of the
ocean. Its measurement is fifty-three
feet four inches in length by thirty
one feet four inches in width, aud
nine feet one in height. Its cubic ca
pacity is $50 feet, and 1t will hold,
when closely packed, $50, GOO, 600 IN
standard silver dollars, and a proper
tlonately large amount in fractional
silver coin. A narrow passage way
of four feet in width divides the four
teen compartments or cells into seven
on each side. Each of the compart-
ments will hold from three to three
and one half millions of silver dol
lars. The partitions of the compart-
ments are composed of substantial
iron lattlce-wOrk, so securely bound
as to resist the pressure of the heavy
bags Of dollars within The general
aspect of the interior is that of a gi-
gantic dungeon divided into iron
cells.
The walt is protected by two mass
i've steel doors of enormous thickness,
of the finest workmanship, and pro
vided with every modern device
against burglarious assaults, whether
made with the jimmy or dynamite.
Each door is furnished with two
beautiful combination locks Of the
latest design. Each door is locked
on a different combination under the
charge of separate officers, so that
entrance to the vault can be gained
only by their joint action. In add
ton, the outer door has upon it a
chronometer lock provided with a
device to prevent its being blown off
or run down by dynamite, and an
electric attachment by which it may
be run down from the outside in case
the movements should break or stop
for any cause. One of the treasury
guard, of whom there are sixty, sits
at the entrance constantly. There is
not a moment of the twenty four
hours that it Is left unguarded. In
addition to the guard is the regular
patrol, whose beat leads him within
easy speaking-distance of the vault
every five minutes. Over these in
turn are the captain and two lieuten-
ants Of the watch, who relieve each
other at intervals of eight hours, aud
10 4,
member of the force under the strict
est surveillance.
The government now holds more
than $3.50, 600, 600 in silver coin and
bullion OF this amount $l35. $50, 900
is IN silver dollars. "a, 055, 600 in silver
bullion and 500, 600, 600 in fractional
silver coin. This enormous mass of
metal, weighing nearly 5000 TONS is
lodged in great vaults which have
been built for its reception at the vari-
Gus minis and sub treasures The
aggregate capacity of these vaults is
81 900 cubic feet. The largest is that
at thc New York sub-treasury, with a
capacity Of J. 664 cubic feet and the
next in size that at New Orleans,
measuring 10, 800 cubic feet. At the
San Francisco mint and .sub-treasury
are four vaults with an aggregate ca
pacity of 49, $50 cubic feet. The New
York office holds over S34, 900, 900 in
silver, the San Francisco mint and
sub-treasury over $50, 000, 0O0 the New
Orleans mint and sub.treasury nearly
$50, 000,000 the Philadelphia mint
and sub treasury more than $21 900,
600, the Chicago Office nearly SO,
600 900, and the ST. Louis Office near
ly 80, 600, 600
A Washington cat has great fond