Richland beacon., 1888-03-10
MAMMOTH SILVER VAULTS.
THE NEW RECEPTACLFS FOR
BULLION AT THE TREASURY.
Burglar Proof DOOrs-HOw the Sill
yer VIII BE StOrcd-What q Burg
lar Might Expect.


visiting the new Treasury vaults for sill
yer, accompanied by Civil Engineer
Edwin c. Miller, says: A short flight of
winding steps led down into the sub
basement, where the chill of the outside
blizzard was intensified by \ dampness
that soon made the two visitors turn up
their collars and shiver. a couple more
turns brought them to n very ordinary
wooden door, near which Il number of
men were sitting in front of Il great safe.
This is one of the ''smallcr dcpositaric'
and contains only few millions" the
reporter was told. One Cf these men
brought the only candle the place af-
forded, bit of tallow an inch long, and
the three went through the door, which
was then carefully closed, into a perfectly
dark apartment, where the air, though
very cold, was in contrast to that outside,
being perfectly dry. On the right rose
the foundation wall of the building, gray
granite, and on the other was the new
brick wall of the vault The man will
the bit of ligh. went ahead and disclosed
the door which is to guard the millions.
1t is of iron, six inches in thickness,
and weighs 5000 pounds. 1t slides into
the wall on the right, clearing half OF the
passagcway, and requires the strcagth of
five men to move it, without the aid of
the mechanical device which 1t is pro
po ed to put in place. The lock is
circular brass plate, about foot in diam
cter, set an inch or SO into the face OF the
| door. The bolts are on the left hanl.
or east end of the door, and tit into slots
| in massive iron let into the wall on that
side, tl,e door going nearly a foot into
| the face of the wall. They are moved
into place by a turn of a large handle in
the center of the brass plate, and when
once shot cannot be turned back without
the use of a small key that fits into
very ordinary looking key-holc on the
upper rim of the plate. This lock is
said to be one of the best in use for
strength and reliability.
Once inside the door the vaults looks
very much like Jail room, except that
on this occasion it was impossible to see
half Jozen feet away, owing to the fee
bic light of the candle The walls are
hollow, and are now entirely dry. 1t IS
intended to run steam pipe through
from the main building, and to place in
candcsccnt lamps around the room 50
that it will be perfectly comfortable.
The money is to be stored in sixteen
cells, or rooms, arranged in two rows of
eight each, separated by a passage way
about four feet wide, with Il door from
each room opening into it. The parti-
tons are made of iron lattice work, Of
strips about quarter of an inch thick.
At the corners of each room is an iron
column formed by rivcting together four
pieces of iron shaped like a letter |. and
about fifteen feet long. These bear the
entire weight of the arches and directly
support a series of iron crossbeams or
cirders fifteen inches thick Not long
ago rumor found its way into circula-
tion that the weight of the roof had
bulged the lattice wO:k. thus indicating
an early collapse of this stOrchou>c for
the Governments treasure; but rs a
matter of fact the lattice does not quite
reach the roof, and the "bulging" was
the result Of the work of riveting. which
took place after the strips were in posi-
ton.
Mr.. Miller thinks that the columns arc
capable of bearing weight eight times
HEAVIER than that which now exists. The
dimensions of the vault, outside measure
ment, are 90. 10 feet b. us. This gives
IA surface area of 5,S11.1S square feet.
According to the nearest calculations the
weight now to be supported is about $50
pounds to the square foot. and thus there
is total weight of SSl sc. pounds.
Each room is twenty feet by ten, and
about fifteen feet high. The silvcr dol
l. -. nj
way that in the end of the room farthcst
from the door they viii be piled Ugh,
and graded down to the entrance. 1t Is
expected that each room will contain
eight millions if piled close to the top o
the arches. This will make the total ac
commodations of the vaults equal to
SIPS, 900. 900. The doors of these room.
are fitted with locks SO contrived thai
the watchmen cannot take the key on
until the door has been securely locked
in this way preventing the door being lef
aa-. A threc-fOot passage runs arounC
the vault. outside the rooms, with NJ
connection with them except in th'
front, through heavy pair Of doubt
doors.
The Star reporter tried to learn the
thickness of the walls and layers of as.
phalt, but Mr.. Miller wa; cautious, ant
said:
"They're thick enough"
"Yes, but how thick" persisted tn
reporter.
"Well, about so thick-thc walls :.
with a wave of the hands that included
anything from a six-inch stub to five
foot wall.
|, At this the scribe withdrew from hi
attempt 10 to penetrate the burglar proc
secresy that seems to surround the vault
eff a man should get in here" re
. marked Mr.. Miller, edging away from
small party that had entered while the FIR:
three were going through the rooms, %
say il m IN got in here, which amt YER
likely to happen, with these walls an'
these locks and guarls, he couldn't d.
much damage He might take thousan
9 dollars away, perhaps two, but it wouldn'
! pay him for his trouble. 1t would TAX
: ten or a dozen trips. back and forth,
!. make the experiment successful, and he
be sure to be caught before he'd mad
/. one. You sec," sinking his voice to
confidential whisper, and pointing s;gnif
cantly over ms snouider at inc otn'
visitors, "wc'vc got more walls an
u locks and men around than you migf
6 think for"
Just then the candle flame began (
I sputter and give signs of expiring. an
the party made rapid headway in II
i direction of the iro, door. As the
!, passed around III MT We barrier, Nj
e Miller's voice again assumed its raI..or
| tone:
: s'when we gc. the windlass anu :ran
y attached here il is rOinr to lie a har