San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-08-21
BILLIONS IN A CART.
HOW CUSTOMS RECEIPTS ARE TAKEN
TOTHE SU6-TREASURY.

From $500, 600 to 81 100000 Carried In
Modest Old Hand Czrt-A Simple Sys-
tem-Daily Cash-A New Plan Of Pay
ing Customs
A heavy wheeled hand cart, with a thick
set little guiding wheel in front and pushed
by two men from behind, clattered down the
steps of the William street entrance to the
custom house at 3:45 the other afternoon.
1t was instantly followed by four broad
shouldered aboring men, smooth faced old
man of clerical appearance and a stern
looking man with heavy brownish mus
tache, who quickly grouped themselves on
both sides Of it and in front of it and be-
hind The little group, with the cart rum
bling in the center, pushed rapidly to Wall
street to the north side and then went at
a quick pace up the street to Nassau,
then around to Pine street and was
swallowed up in the rear entrance to the sub
treasury building. All along the journey
from the custom house to the sub-treasury
people stopped and gazed curiously at the
group as it hurried along and tried to get a
glimpse of the cart. 1t was not a very hand
some vehicle The box was literally box
iron bound and tightly locked with heavy
brass paddock, but those who understood the
matter knew that it might contain anywhere
from $500, 900 to 81, 0OO, 900 or more, and that
this money represented Uncle Sans daily
tolls on merchandise imported from abroad,
and that it was on its way to be poured into
the treasury, another contribution to swell
the great surplus which now lies idle there.
THE ENVY OF THIEVES.
For over twenty years, at about the same
hour on six days in every week, the cart has
made the same journey surrounded by its
escort. How many thieves have cast en-
vious eyes at it, how many spectators on
the verge Of ruin, how many dishonest bank
employees with the impending crisis Of dis
covery hanging close over them, have
thought that to only have for but few
weeks or a few days the contents Of that
ugly iron bound box would be rescue from
ruin, fight or suicide, anybody can imagine
Doubtless many a gang Of knaves have
wasted many long hour trying to devise
some daring scheme to waylay its guardians,
smash the heavy box and make off with its
contents. But from all this nothing has
ever come For nearly quarter OF a CEN
fury the old cart has trundled over its route
and not an unlawful hand has been raised
against it Collector Hedden in his time
did receive, it is true, a written warning that
plot had been Matched to attack the treas
ure cart 1t was the work Of some practical
Joker, most likely. A little extra precaution
was exercised for time, but the plot never
developed The most daring robber could
not fail to see the madness of such an at
tempt. The cart has carried its millions
with never the loss of so much as a cent
Familiar as is the sight of the little vehicle
and its guard its appearance never fails to
partially stop the hurrying Wall street
throng for moment. Those who know
what it means cast a reverent eye on it as it
passes. Strangers who understand nothing
Of it catch sight of the big letters ~. S."
painted on each end Of the cart, and the hur-
ried seriousness of those who surround it and
know that 1t il no light matter that is in
hand.
The system by which the money is thus
transferred is perfectly simple. In the
cashiers office at the custom house are kept
four boxes, iron bound and made Of thick
oak board They are two feet in length by
one foot in breadth, and about a foot in
depth. At each end Is q massive iron handle
that in itself weighs nearly two Of the fifteen
pounds at which each box tips the beam
When the days work is completed the money
is counted and placed in these boxes. It is
then delivered to the custody of United
States Detective L J. Murtha- -Four labor
ers then come, and each one shoulders box
and carries it to the ground floor. Here the
boxes are placed in the strong box on the
cart, which Murths locks At the sub-treas-
ury the money is again counted, and T. it