Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1885-02-06
Modern AladdI... Caves.

millionaires of New York are not stored
in the erown-stone dwellings Of the av-
enue. The thin walls, black walnut
doors. and easily picked locks OF those
houses would offer little resistance
against the violence of mob or the In
genuity of a burglar. The days when
skillful 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 val
uables have been forced To seek places
of storage aud security. Within nearly
the last dozen OF years there have
sprung up In answer To demand build
ings OF massive structure aud excep-
genius could discover or money COM
mand has been employed TO render
these places fire aud burglar proof.
There are many Of them scattered
through the city from Wall street 10
Harlem, all agreeing In their main fea-
lures of massive strength and inspiring
solidity. These are known as safe de-
posit vaults. They usually occupy the
ground floor of some staunch fre-proof
structure, aud the mass OF locks, bars,
bolts, combinations, and burglar-resist-
iug coutrivanccs is really wonderful.
4 description Of one uptown near
the centre of the city will answer for
the rest. Entering from the street you
pass mp TO wall Of solid steel bars,
every bar as thick as a mans wrist, aud
twelve or fifteen feet high. These are
firmly fastened TO each other, aud into
the stone focr, aud across them Is
placed a stout wire screen. Two Keen
eyes sharply survey you from the In
terstices OF the screen. Ii their owner
Suppressed lavorably there is clicking
of locks, rafting of bolts, aud slowly
the ponderous iron gate swings back.
Next you fall iuto the hands Of the su-
pertendent, who gives YOU another
keen survey, aud then, unlocking an
iron wicket, ushers you into the vaults.
Two massive doors, each nearly eight
inches thick, stand ajar. Zach OF the
three enuances is dousle-doored ani
every door is secured by time and COM
bination locks and six large bolts OF
steel. Leaving the daylight with the
outside world, aud p"ssing Ia 10 tho In
terror, the brightly bL uing gas jets re-
veal low-ceiled, square apartment.
The floor il stone, iron, and cement;
the ceiling Is iron, aira tour iron walls
behind four rows of iron smOs.- This
Is the treasure house OF Vanderbilt. Hu-
man skill could not builG 1t stronger;
mortal genius has not welded steel aud
stone into hrmer combination. When
ones eyes become accustomed 10 the
light of this iron chamber Que perceives
that the surface OF the walls Is divided
into little squares Of various sizes. The
depo.ltor inserts tnin Key OF curious
make In one OF the squares. lie begins
To haul Oh the square, and it lengthcns
out Into an obloug iron box nearly
three feet long aud divided into COM
partments. These boxes are movable.
and may taken out aud brought into
private room, where In the strictcst pri-
vacy the contents OF the box may Do
examined Other safes are frmly fast
ened into the wall, aud have change
able combination locks. The locks Of
the outside doors of the vaults are both
time aud combination locks, the tims
are 50 arranged that the doors once
closed cannot b. opened until 9o'clock
la the morning. Outside and Inside at
least dozen persons are within earsbot,
and could easily hear the slightest uD-
usual noise. IL Is calculated that II by
any accident the locks should all get out
OF order, Ii would require mole than
four days of constant labor to effect an
entrance.
These vaults contain almost every va
riety Of valuable property-gold aud
silver coin, greenbacks, diamonds, and
other precious stones, family plate, sill
verware, Jewelry, msmentoes, bonds,
deeds, aud valuable papers Of every de-
scription. Families breaking up house
keeping aud removing or going abroad,
are obliged to store their plate and val
uables for safety's sake. Mr.. w. ~.
Vanderbilt has AN immense amount Of
property stored in this way, aud ire
quently goes 10 the vault 10 cut OF the
interest coupons Of his bonds with hi.
. own fingers, or " read the tally Of bis
golden hoard IN all the secluslon that
this stone-steel vault can grant. Private
papers OF immense value lie there la
perfect security. Lawyers use the little
safe as depositoriss for inportaLt pa
pers. and the keg to many bitter iitl-
CATION is locked within tbSse vaults.
Many fashionable ladies keep their jew
elry there, taking them out for an even
ing and putting them back the next
morning. Watchmen guard the vaults
within aud without, and that all-potent
agent, electricity, protects them by In
genlous system. Of bells and alarms.
Even should mob set out 10 piiiage
: and destroy the city, .: would rage Ia
vain against ti,ese ison-cIad structures.
The companies generally guarantee the
safety Of good. left Ia their care, and
charge only few doIlars year for all
this boiling, barring, and unceasing
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