The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-06-24

ers The north side of the street, it APP
pears, formed part Of an extended tract
known as ''Shoemaker's Land, reaching
up to line near Ann Street and stretch
ing from Broadway eastward beyond VIII
liam Street. The shoemakers had origi-
nally selected this suburban district, as
their tan-pits were regarded as objectiona-
bic features within the city limits, and as
the marshy valley of Maiden Lane offered
the nearest available section beyond the
town wall. A map of "Shoemakers'
Land" dating back to IT'S, has been re-
produced in valentines History of the
City of New York Later on, the shoe
makers moved again, some going to the
borders of the Fresh Water Pond, north
of the present City Hall Park, and some
to Beekman's Swamp, the record showing
that having found the lend "to be rentable
for building of houses for an enlargement
of the city," they projected aud laid it ont
into 1G4 lots.
Our next glance at Maiden Lane pres
ents a view of the street N l7S6, which is
furnished by that interesting and note
worthy publication, the First Directory of
New York City, containing ''the names of
all the citizens, their occupation, and places
of abode" A careful scrutiny Of this
modest list brings TO light that No. l3
Moiden Lane was occupied by B. Halsted,
goldsmith and No. 33 by Thos. Daft, a
matchmaker. These two worthy citizens
may fairly be regarded as the pioneer jew
oilers of the present jewelry district An
examination of later directories shows that
in 1880 hardware and fancy goods divided
the honors about evenly, and that gradu-
ally during the next ten years the dealing
in watches and jewelry became decided
feature of the locality.
Tradesmen are subject to strange super
stitions. Maiden Lane between Broadway
and Nassau Street had gradually become
overcrowded with jewellers, but, for some
strange reason, few if any dared cross the
line Of Nassau Street. They erept around
towards the next uptown thoroughfare,
John Street, both by way of Broadway and
Nassau Street, and in the course of time
turned John Street into tributary jewel
lers' district. In later years bold move
was made to carry the entire jewelry enter
ests up town. 4 number of prominent
firms transferred their offices to Bond
Street and to Union Square, but nearly all
have come back, and at the present writing
there are more jewellers in Maiden Lane
than at any other time during its existence.
In the meantime the block between Nassau
and William Streets has been taken into
favor and is now densely occupied by them.
The gathering into one street of many
kindred interests naturally begets local
customs and evolves local characteristics.
One of the first requisites in a district
dealing with the precious material current
in Maiden Lane is an effective system OF
protection against theft. This sense of
preeaution is everywhere evident-in the
offices, in the express service, and in the
special police guard. To such degree Of
efficiency has this system been developed
that, according to Maiden Laue saying,
there is greater safety there at night than
during the day, when the glib swindler
can obtain with tricks and words what with
tools at night he would utterly fail TO
reach.
Every diamond office has from four to
Eve distinct safeguards. First, there is a
high metal railing impossible until a spring
bolt, securing the door, is withdrawn from
within; second, there is burglar-proof
safe, protected by network of wires con-
Meeting it with burglar-alarm service.
Above the safe is the certificate Of the
Jewellers Security Alliance, piece Of
paper which every burglar has learned to
know and to respect. In addition, there
is corps of private police that devotes its
entire attention to this district, and finally
there are the municipal police and detec-
tive officers So effective is the system
that burglary in Maiden Lane is thing
unknown.
Maiden Lane is one vast safe depository.
Fully 900 iron chests are to be found
within the narrow limits of its two blocks.
All kinds, Sizes and makes are included in
this list To furnish an idea of Maiden
Lane safe | shall pause to describe one.
In appearance it is ornamental, presenting
landscape vignettes upon a silver back
ground 1t weighs seven and one-half
tons; its doors are huge masses several feet
thick, and cannot be tightly closed without
the use of levers. 1t has a set of double
LOCKS, an arrar cement whereby portion of
the combination can be iptrusted TO one
person and the remainder to another,
neither of whom can open the safe without
the assistance of the other. When closed
it is absolutely air-tight, 80 as to render it
impossible to blow out the safe doors by
introducing powder. One portion of the
safe contains special diamond chest, which
is provided with burglar-proof door.
Burglar proof, it may be explained, as
applied to safes, means combination of
alternate layers of soft steel and chrome or
hard steel This combination is impervious
to the burglars drill, which on passing from
4 layer of hard to one of soft metal is sure
to break. At night, the safe having been
closed and the combination disturbed, set
of swinging wooden doors is placed in po-
sition and fastened. These doors that
completely enclose the safe contain net
work of fine iron wires which communicate
With an Office of the urglar-Alarm Ser
vice. The slightest interference with the
wooden doors would at once be recorded
and force Of armed men sent to the spot
to investigate. II not infrequently hap
pens that the proprietor, having closed his
safe and started for home, remembers that
he has forgotten something. He returns,
opens the wooden door, and before he has
fairly started upon the combination lock,
two men with hands upon their revolvers
are at his side to see who is tampering with
his safe.
The Jewellers Security Alliance Is an
organization formed especially to protect
jewellers safes. 1t illustrates in a very
striking manner the effect of moral force
Its emblem is a simple paper certificate
placed above the safe, stating that the
owner is member of the Alliance. The