The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1885-01-04
asopEzv AEADp1rs cAIEs.
TIE vasits b which the n1lnsssasres Store
stoehs asa Dssas and Jewels.

TIE Vao1ts u which The n9Vuaeaasres Store
stoehs ssa Beads aaa Jewels.
The vast fortunes In stocks and bonds OF the
miilionaires Of this city are not stored In the
brown-stone dwellings Of the avenue. The
thin walls. black walnut doors. and easily
picked locks Of those houses would offer little
resistance against the violence OF q mob or tho
ingenuity OF q burglar. The days when skllful
cracksmen could capture large quantities Of
valuable property In rich mems homes
have almost passed away. Taught by
experience. or admonished By example.
persons with portable vnluables have
been forced 10 seek places Of storage
and security. Within nearly the last dozen OF
years there have sprung UP in answer to that
demand buildings Of massive structure and
exceptional strength. All that inventive genius
could discover or money command has been
employed to render these places fro and bur-
Clar proof There are many OF them scattered
through tho city from Wall street to Harlem.
all agreeing In their main features Of massive
strength and inspiring soldity.-. These are
known as safe deposit vaults. They usually
occupy the ground floor OF some stanch fire.
proof structure. and the mass OF locks. bars,
bolts. combinations, and burglar-resisting con-
trivances Is really wonderful.
A des 'rptlon OF one up town near tho contre
OF the, city will answer for tho rest. Entering
stee bars S svery bar SS as thick as 80 MANS wrs
and twelve or hitcon ieot high. These are
nrm,y d fasiened to each other and into the
wire screen. Two keen eyes sharply survey
you from the intersticss of the screen, II
their owner la impressed favoraby there Is n
clicking OF locks, rafting Of bolts, and slowly
tho ponderons iron gate swings back. Next YOU
fall into tho hands OF tho SUPERINTENDENT. who
gives you another keen survev,and then. uDlock-
Ing an iron wicket ushers you into the vaults.
thick. stand aiar Each OF the three entrances
Is double doored and every door Is secured by
81 bs Tx Ss SS
world and passing into the Interior, the bright
ly burning gas jets reveal low-eeilod. square
arc concealed behind four rows Of iron safes.
man ski could not. build It stronger; mortal
genius has not welded steel and stone into a
When ons's oycs becomes accustomed to tho
Ght OF This iron SaamSer one pGrGeyes thnt
sa s of various saes The t1 in
sorts thin, key Of curious make in one Of the
SQUARES. He begins to haul on the square. and
three feet long and divided into com pnrtmsnts.
Those boxes are movable and may be taken
the strictest privacy tho contents of the box
may , be esaamip ned Other SUES are irm,
eIan.sa sSnsd n o Ss EN- The locks sx
are, both time aud combination, locks.
doors. once closed. cannot be opened until 0
o'clock in the morning. Outside and inside at
could easily henr the slightest unusual noise.
1t is calculated that IL by any accident tho locks
should ail get out OF order. II would require
more than four days OF constant labor TO effect
an entrance.
These vaults contain almost every variety Of
valuable property-gold and silver coin. green
backs, diamonds and other precious stones.
family plato, silvcrwnre, Jcwery, memontoes.
bonds. deeds. and valuable papers of every de-
SCRIP ton. Families breaking up housekeeping
and removing or going abr Dad are obliged TO
store their plate and vpluables for safety's sake.
MIR. W. H. Vanderbilt has AN immense amount
Of property stored in this way, and frequently
goes to the vault to cut OF the interest coupons
81 his bonds with his own fingers. or to read
tho tally of his golden hoard In all tho srclu-
sion that this stonc-steel vault can grant.
Private papers of immense value lie there In
perfect security. Lawyers USE tho little safes
rs repositories for important papers. md the
key to many u bitter litigation is locked within
those walls Many fash ionabs ladies keep their
Jewels there. taking them out for evening
and putting them back tho next morning.
Watchmen guard the vaults within anu with
out. and that all-potcnt agent electricity. pro-
teSs them by ingenious syaiems OF bells ind
alarms. Even should n mob sat out to pillnge
and destroy the city, it would rage in vain
against these ironclad structures. The COM
panios generally guarantee the safety OF goods
left in their care. and charge only u few dollars
a wear for all this boiling barring. and uncoas-
ing vigilance. A small box costs twenty or
thirty dollars. From that figure the rental Of
the boxes runs up into the hundreds. but all
have the same measure OF protection.