The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-11-08
ROBBER PROOF TRAINS.
An Army Of CrdnkS and Inventors With
Plans TO Foil DeSpeTadOeS.
Cars That Will Defy Dynamite-How
the Strong Boxes and Safes of the
Transfer Companies Will Be Pro.
tected,
From the New York Press.

From the New York Press
Cranks and inventors by the score are
daily visitors now at the main ofices of the
express companies in lower Broadway. the
many recent train robberies having
brought out a new crop, and big one, of
men with ideas for robber proof express
cars. The officials of the exprss compa-
MES have patiently listened to the glowing
accounts given by inventors of how they
can absolutely protect the money in
transit But few of the ideas are at all
practical. Two New Jersey farmers
brought the most foolish plan to foil the
train robbers. TiieYr scheme had for It's
central idea safe with its flake" front
loaded with dynamite. When the robber
was given the combination he was of
course given the numbers that would set
off the Misunderstanding him instantly"
was the way the Jerseymen put it.
But how about the express agent?
Wouldn't your plan sacrifice him, too?"
was asked.
by gosh, we hadn't thought of him."
replied the inventor
There have been any number Of plans
submitted to the president of the con1pa-
mics during the past week that provided
a dynamite proof safe in the center of
the car This safe is to be built of steel
at least a foot thick. But the inventors
provided for the locking of the money so
securely that 1t would take several hours
TO get it out again. 1t might be true that
the robbers couldn't get at II in an hour or
h. hfff FNe4f HtaFs.
press agent when he had reached a way
station where he wished to deposit
pouch Of money in express train time
Right there was the rub" said an
official of the Wells Fargo Company I'VE
had any number of robber proof cars sug-
gested to us. but they were not practical
for express business. The only car that
will be of avail is one where the safe can
be got at readily by the agent. We can't
hold express trains an hour or so every
time we wish to drop a money package at
a station. Our company has tried a
hundred or more schemes, but we are not
vet satisfied. Some time ago we lifted I'D
several cars like men Of war; covered
them with armor plate an inch thick.
and sent them to do service In Montana
and the territories II looked as though
the plan was going TO work. but along
comes Mr.. Dynamite. A heavy charge
was placed under the cars by the James
gang.
did II blow It open?"
"WcH. It not only shattered the car.
but the safe as well. Since that time.
though. great improvements have been
made In tho building OF safes Dynamite
can wreck almost any safe, no matter
how strong. Greater restrictions should
be placed on the sale OF this frlxhtful
explosive. A. II II now you can get ali
YOU require Of II II yon have the purchas.
ing price our company IL now building
a number 81 cars with supposedly proof
dynamite safes but we don't expect 10
escape train robbers unless the govern
ment giveH M protection and Furnishes
the desperadOes more severely. No mat.
Ter how strong We get our safes the rob
beers, who are Of the most inhuman class
Of the community Will torture our mes.
Hengerr until they open ne safes. The
express messengers on those western
routes are fearless men. bat Hfan YOU
come 10 carving a man - with Bowie