Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1895-04-10
FIRE.PROOF SAFES.
Made to Keep Burglars Out as
Well.
HE TRIUMpHS OF SAFEMAKERS.
Magnificent Specimens of Skillful Work
manship-Elec Plays a Part In
Making them Burglar Proof.

gone. But until that time
they can feel quite secure in expanding
millions of dollars every year in discov-
ering new ways to make steel harder,
bolts stronger and locks more puzzling,
30 as to battle the man who tolls and
dares that he may possess his neighbours
wealth.
For the profession of burglary con-
tinues to attract many ingenious and
highly skilled workmen-and it is
nothing if not progressive. When
nitro glycerine first became known
burglars did much to introduce it to
the public-and they were always
shrinking and modest about their
efforts, too-and recently they have
become patrons of electricity. Indeed,
SO much industry and enthusiasm do
they exercise in their calling that the
safe-makers are compelled to be on the
alert every minute of the time. The
rivalry between the two is quite as hot
as it ever was between two competing
business houses. First the burglars
discover new kind of drill which will
drive hole in chilled steel almost as
easily as it would in butter, and then
the safemakers put in a layer OF
wrought-iron to break the drill point.
Not to be daunted by this the burglars
bore into the hinges and locks and
blow them off. The safemakers
promptly construct wonderful new
combination lock, the whole Of which,
except little round disk, is inside of
the door and hinges that may be blown
to atoms without injuring the stability
Of the safe. Thus the war is kept up.
The discovery of powerful new ex-
plosives has initiated somewhat in
favor of the burglar. Indeed, 1t is
now admitted even among the best
safemakers that if burglar is given
enough time he can blow up any safe
made. About year ago the old-style
of strong box which was placed inside
of the ordinary fire-proof vault began
to go out of style. 1t was found that
the burglar entele the vault door with
comparative ease and then by fastening
his charges of explosives to the outside
of the burglar proof" strong box by
means Of wad of putty he was enabled
to blow it up. Owing to the thick
vault walls the sound of the explosion
even of three or four charges-was so
dulled that it did not ordinarily alarm
people. Accordingly the tendency now
10 to make immensely strong safes,
some of which are square and some
round, and place them in the bank OF
office windows, where they can be
readily seen from the street. In this
way the publicity and the danger of an
explosion which can be heard long
distance keeps the burglars away.
But this new development in safe
making has necessitated much larger,
costlier and more cumbersome safes,
and there is always doubt as to
whether they will stand fire as we'll as
if they were inside of vault. Conse-
quently this branch of the business has
probably reached its limit. and within
the next few years great changes may
be expected, largely through the agency
Of electricity. Already many inven-
tors are at work ON the problem, and
there are several patents out. One of
the most simple Of the devices consists
Of a metallic ball, suspended from
wooden frame inside of the vault or
safe in such way that it almost fills.
but does not touch, metallic cup ON
the floor. The insulated wire which
holds the ball runs out through one of
the legs Of the safe or through corner
Of the vault and connects with an
electric bell. The cup is attached to a
wire leading to small battery inside
of the vault. A very slight jar ON the
door. or any sttempt to open it or move
it in any other way will set the ball to
vibrating until it touches the cup.
This completes the circuit, the alarm
is given and the first thing the burglars
know the police have them under
cover Of their revolvers.
But the burglar may have learned of
the existence of the wire. and try to
cut it off. To prevent this contingency
a cable is used. containing several
wires, one of which has permanent |
current and keeps the magnet locked in
a bell at the other end. If it is broken
the bell begins to ring. But this is
only a crude device compared with
some of the others. Indeed. electrical
inventors declare that it will not be
long before they can make any wooden
box burglar proof. But progressive
burglar may match electricity with
and then what?
The latest burglar proof safes and
7aults are magnificent specimens of
killful workmanship. Although the
loors often weigh tons they swing as
'asily On their hinges as window
hutter. After the first great door is
brown back and displays its glittering
fray Of bright locks. its glass. incased
looks and its smooth steel bolts there
. another door almost as strong. with
'olts and locks Of its own. When this
) open it reveals three other doors.
he upper two are of thin steel and
ave no looks. Only papers and books !
re to be kept in the little pocket or ,
igeOn holes which they inclose. !