The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-02-27
ALADDIN'S CAVE.
WHERE THE TREASURES OF THE
WEALTHY ARE STORED.
A Vault Which no Burglar Can Demolish-
A Structure Against Which the Mob
May Rage in vain-The
Inside.
New York Sun.l

New York SUM-
The vast fortunes in stocks and bonds of
the millionaires of the 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
a mob or the ingenuity 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 valuables
have been forced to 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 invent
i've genius could discover or money COM
mand has been employed to render these
places fire and burglar proof There are
many Of them scattered through the city
from Wall street to Harlem, all agreeing
in their main features of massive strength
and inspiring solidity. 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 embarrassing con-
trivances Is really wonderful
A description of one uptown near the
center OF the city will answer for the rest
Entering from the street you pass up to
wall Of solid steel bars, every bar as thick
as q mans wrist, and twelve or fifteen feet
high. These are firmly fastened to 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
terstices Of the screen. Ii their owner Is
impressed favorably there is a clicking Of
locks, a rattling of bolts, and slowly the
ponderous iron gate swings back. Next you
fall into the hands of the 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
Of the three entrances is double doored and
every door is secured by time and combina-
tion 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-ceiled, square
apartment The floor Is stone, iron, and
cement; tho ceiling is iron, and four iron
walls are concealed behind four rows Of iron
safes. This is the treasure house Of Wander
bilt Human skill could not build it stronger;
mortal genius has not welded steel and stone
into firmer combination.
the light of this iron chamber one perceives
that the surface Of the walls is divided into
little squares Of various sizes The depositor
inserts thin key of curious make in one Of
the squares. He begins to haul on the
square, and it lengthens out into an oblong
iron box nearly three feet long and divided
into compartments. These boxes are nova
ble, and may be taken out and brought into
a private room, where In the strictest pri-
vacy the contents Of the box may be exam
ined. Other safes are firmly fastened into
the wall, and have changeable combination
locks. The locks of the outside doors Of the
vaults are both time and combination locks,
and the time locks are so arranged that the
doors, once closed, cannot be opened until
o'clock in the morning. Outside and inside
at least dozen persons are within earshot,
and could easily hear the slightest unusual
noise. 1t is calculated that IL by any acci-
dent the locks should all get out Of order, it
would require more than four days Of con-
slant labor to effect an entrance
These vaults contain almost every variety
Of valuable property-gold and silver coin,
greenbacks, diamonds and other precious
stones, bonds, deeds and valuable papers Of
every description Families breaking up
housekeeping and removing or going abroad,
are obliged to store their plate and valuables
for safety's sake. Mr.. w. H. Vanderbilt
has an immense amount Of property stored
In this way. and frequently goes to the vault
to cut off the interest coupons Of his bonds
with his own fingers, or to read the tally Of his
golden hoard in all the seclusion that this
stone-steel vault can grant Private papers
OF immense value lie there In perfect secur-
ity. Lawyers use the little safes as deposi-
tories for important papers, and the key to
many bitter litigation is locked up within
those walls Many fashionable ladies keep
their jewels there, take them out for an
evening and putting them back the next
morning. Watchmen guard the vaults
within and without, and that all.potept
agent electricity, protects them by ingenious
systems Of bells and alarms Even should
mob set out to pillage and destroy the city,
it would rage in vain against these ironclad
structures. The companies generally guar
antee the safety of goods left in their care,
and charge only a few dollars year for all
this bolting, barring and unceasing vigilance.
A small box costs SEQ or $50. From that
figure the rental of the boxes runs up into
the hundreds, but all have the same measure
of protection.