The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-01-16
IMPROVEMENT OF SAFES.
The Days When a Watch Dog Gave
the Greatest Security.
Safes That We're Not safe in Them
selves-Lugging Them Around to
Sleeping Apartments - Some Incl
dents-The Present Modern Idea.

The safes of years ago, and not many
years at that, what were they? Mere
traps; easy to pass by burglars, an invi-
tatlon to clerks who had any kind Of ac-
cess to them, and a prey to flames. 4
Gtobe-Dem0er0t writer the other day
sought information on this score. The
years of the burglar, fire and mob-proof
safe are few, indeed. The claim has been
made for long time that all safes and
every make of safes were proof against
almost every possible raid, the burglar,
the flame or the mob; but amidst all the
progress that has been made the fact re-
mains that, until within very recent
years, there has been very little faith in
anything that would resist them. Where
the burglar wanted to get he generally
got, and he got there, too, within very
short time a good, honest Waterman,
with trusty gun, was better than any
safe That had ever been dreamed Of. AS
Tor anything that would resist mob,
that was out Of all question. A force OF
arms stronger than the mob was the only
thing there To prevent the attack of
the flames there have long been ideas,
but the really tire-proof SAFES and vaults
have been few IN number, and until very
recent years their builders were not alb
solutely satisfied that they were fire-prOof
until they had actually been tried by fire.
The change frOm these conditions was
very gradual indeed.
Not 10 90 back to ancient history, the
old safe, known to many people who are
still in business to-day, was nothing but
q heavy iron box, with j heavy iron door
and a big heavy iron or brass key. The
security OF the safe was presumably in
creased as the key was larger and heav-
1er. 1t was for all the world like the big
heavy door key which a stOrekeeper for
merly had to cart home with him, and
which was at once a key and a weapon,
as he could easily fell a man with il. The
lock into which it fitted was more or less
complicated IN design, but it, too, was
Dlg and heavy, ana offered the burglar
abundant opportunity for picking it. 1he
manufacturer of these safes should also
have had a regular dog farm for the
breeding and training OF fierce watch
dogs, one to 60 with each safe. In fact,
bankers resorted TO the use OF dogs to
such an extent that the name was given
TO the safe. The animals were trained TO
hold a position directly IN front Of the
safe, ana 10 allow no one to approach eX-
cepJ their masters, More faith was put
IN dog than in the cumbersome iron
box, lock and key.
There are some good stories told Of ex-
perienceS with these safes. In one case
being distracted between the time the
sale was locked up in the evening and the
time ii was reOpened in the morning.
The cashier could not understand it. lie
was certain Of the amount of money in
the safe; he was certain the key had not
been out Of his possession, as he had car
ried it home with him. The dog was
fierce and well-trained one, and was al
ways at his post OF duty, stretched out
before the safe. He did not think it pos
sible that he could have been tempered
with by anybody; in fact, he would him
self approach him cautiously at night.
But still the money was being taken al
most nightly. One night the bank was
entered 10y burglar; the dog was at him
IN moment and held him until the
watchman arrived and arrested him. The
stealing stopped then for couple of
weeks, at the end of which time it began
again. 4 closer watch was Kept upon
the bank, and 1t was found that the thief
was a clerk in the place who had made
friends with the dog, had worked the
lock of the safe, for which he had had
key made, and had gone to it just when
ever he wanted any spare change. The
safe was no obstacle so long as he had the
dog on his side.
A still more insecure safe, if that be
possible, was spoken Of by an old country
banker who was met at the BOatmen's
Bank. 1t was simply d heavy cedar box,
'
locked with paddock. twas an arrange
ment to put money and valuables in to
prevent their getting dusty, and that was
about all. The old gentleman in speak
ing Of them laughed heartily as he re-
cited how they put their money in the
heavy box at the close Of business. Then
they would all take hold and join in lug
ging it upstairs, where they had their
sleeping apartments. They didn't trust
simply to the box or the dog, though they
had both. Those were the days. he
said, continuing, when banking meant
something else than keeping your cash
straight. You couldn't go home then
and enjoy yourself with your family with
the abandon you can now. The cashier
was always just little anxious to get
around III the morning and see that ev-
erything was all right, and he was Just a
little bit sleepless in his bed, too, in fear
that some one would break into his house
and force him to give up the keys, for, of
course, there weren't any combinations
then"
The express safe, as it is known from
being used largely by express compa-
MES, was largely used after this time, and
during the wildcat money days, when
the city banks made raids on the country
banks for coin, and when the country
people did everything in their power to
prevent the representatives of the city
banks from taking the coin away from
box, with a key Of modified size. Then
the banks had ordinary brick vaults, in
which their safes were placed. The only
difference was that the burglar would
have to go through two locks, or through
a brick wall, instead of through the one
.Ock of the safe if il was allowed TO remain
IN position in the regular banking-room.
The dog was the security of the vault as
well as of the safe. Many and many a
llne have the Representatives of city
banks taken silver to the amount Of
thousands OF dollars from the country
banks, packed in boxes, and slept on
Them at night, feeling that the money was
rs secure as in these safes and vaults
They were armed, ready for any foe and
able to keep him back at least as long as
le would be kept back by the ordinary
lock and iron boxes, and then they had
he possibility OF making him bite the
dust.
Since then the tumbler lock, the com
Oination, the screw door, the burglar and
she time locks have all come in, and even
yet there are many safes and vaults
which cannot be confidently relied upon
as proof against the assault of burglars,
flames, etc. Fire-proof and burglar-proof,
however, are two entirely different things.
There are several safes which are proba-
Div burglar-prOof The very latest is a
globe within a globe, locked and I'M
locked by a com binatiOn, the turning of
a small lever and the working of a large
crank. The Boatmen'S Bank has two of
5hese, the largest capacity of any bank in
The country. Cashier w H Thomson
selected them, and he is satisfied that
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