, 1885-02-13
ALADDIN's CAVE.
WHERE THE TREASURES OF THE
WEALTHY ARE STORED.
A Vault which no burglar Can Demoli-h-
A Structure Against which the Mob
May RaEe In vain-The
Inside.

The vast fortunes in stocks and bonds Of
the milllonnlros Of the city arc not stored IN
tho b~rornstone dwellings OF tho avenue.
The thin walls, black walnut doors, and
easily picked locks n thoso houses would
offer little resistance against tho violence OF
a mob or tho ingenuity Of a burglar. Tho
days when skfllfnl crnck4men could capture
large quantities OF vnlnn BILE property in rich
mems homes have almost passed away
Taught by experience, or admonished by
example, persons with portable lua blca
have been forced to seek places OF storage
and security. Within nearly tho last dozen
OF years there have sprung up In answer to
that demand buildings OF massive structure
and exceptional strength. All that invent
i've genius could discover or money SOM
mand has been employed % render thosa
places FIRE and burglar proof There are
many Of thcm scattered through the city
from Wall street 20 Harlem. all ngrceing
In their main features Of massive strength
Hafe deposit vaults. They usually occupy
the ground floor OF some stanch, nre-proof
structure, and tho mass Of locks, bau, bolts.
combinations and burglar resisting con.
trivancoa Is really wonderful.
A description OF one uptown near the
center OF the city will ans wer for the ro.t
Entering from the street you pass up to a
wall Of solid steel bars. every bar as thick
as a mans wrist. and twelve or fifteen feet
high Thess are firmly fastened 10 each
other and into the stone floor. and across
them Is placed a stout wire screen Two
keen eyes sharply survey you from the in
t~erzticos Of tho screen. II thoir owner Is
impressed favorably theru Is a clicking OF
locks, a rafting Of bolts. and slowly tho
ponderous iron gate swings back. Next you
fall Into the hands OF tho superintendent,
who gives you another keen survey, and
then. unlocking an iron wicket, ushers you
into the vaults. Two massive doors, each
nearly eight inches thick. stand ajar. Each
u the three entrances IL double doored aud
avery door Is secured by time and combine
ton locks and six large bolts Of steel. Leav-
ing the daylight with the outside world and
passing into the interior. the brightly burn
ing gas jets reveal a low-coilcd. square
apartment The door Is stone, iron, and
cement; tho ceiling Is iron, and four iron
walls are concealed behind four rows OF iron
safes. This is tho treasure house OF Wander
bilt Human SKIN could not build IL stronger;
mortal genius has not welded steel and stone
init a hrmer combination.
Whtn ones eyes become accustomed 10
the Light Of this Iron chamber ons percelves
that the surface OF the walls is divided into
little squares OF various sizes. Tho depositor
AltUINN n lulu Key III tuIIuuf mako IN one OF
tho squares, lie begins 10 haul ON tho
square. and Il lcnRthens out into an oblong
iron box nearly three feet long and divided
into compartments. These boxes are nova
bic, and may be taken out and brought into
n private room. where In the strictest pri-
vncy the contents Of the box may be exam
inod Other safes aru firmly fastened into
the wall. and have ~changeable combination
locks The locks OF the outside doors Of tho
vaults are both time and combination locks,
and the time locks arr 20 arranged that tho
door, once cloaed, cannot be opened until 0
O'Clock in the morning. Outside and inside
at least a dozen persons are within earxhot
and could easily hear tho slightest unusual
noise. II is calculated that II by any acct
dent the locks should all get out Of order. IL
would require morn than four days OF con-
slant labor to effect an entrance.
These vaults contain almost every variety
Of valuable p~roperty-gold and silver coin,
grcenbacks. diamonds and other precious
stones, bonds. deeds and valuable papers OF
every description Families breaking up
housekeeping and removing or going abroad,
arr Obliged 10 store their plate and valuabies
for nafety's sake. Mr.. W. H.. Vanderbilt
has an inmenas amount Of property stored
in this way. and frequently goes 10 the vault
10 cut of the interest coupons OF his bonds
with his own fingers, or 10 read tho tally Of his
golden hoard In all the s~sclusion that this
stone-steei vault can grant Private papcr
OF Immense value lie thero In perfect secur-
lily. Lawyers use the little safea rs deposi-
tories for important papers, and the key 10
many a bitter litigation Is locked up within
thoss walls Many fashionable ladies keep
their jewels there, taks them out for an
evening and putting them back the noxt
morning Watchman guard the vaults
within and without and that allpotenf
agent, electricity, protects them by ingenious
systems Of bells and alarmR Even should a
mob st out 10 pilage and destroy the city,
Il would rage In vain against thess fronclad
structure Tho companies generally guar
antsa the safety OF goods left In thsir carr,
and charge only a few dollars n year for all
this boiling, barring and INCREASING vigilance
A mail box costs go or so. From that
hguro the rntai Of tho boxes runs up into
the hundreds, but all have the ann measure
Of protection