Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-09-22

touching distance. Like all other cracks
men. skilled IN his business he knew
tomething about the Gefences OF the SUD
Treasury, and with this knowledge ne
concluded that he might just as easily
try 10 capture the rock OF Gibraltar SIN
gle-handed.
II is q boast OF the Sub-Treasury people
that half a dozen Of the finest cracksmen
on earth could work undisturbed all night
On the building, with the most improved
burglar tools known to the craft. and they
would be no nearer their goal IN inc
morning than they were the evening ne
Tor. But the Treasury officials do not
dououd upon the architectural strength or
the building for defending the riches IL
holds The Sub-Treasury IS really great
fortress II could hold az bay moD
Of 1860 people, and II they came near
enough blow them into atoms.
A tour Of this building is an interest
ing work. and when il is over the visitor
realizes the utter hopelessness or any al
tempt 70 rob or mob II.
AN OLD BUILDING.
Fifty years ago work on the build
ing was commenced, and not SUCK OF
wood was put into the structure. To
ct FIRE 10 il is an inposslbility. The archi-
tect was J. Frazee, and the build
ing was the pride Of his life. He used
60 go down town two or three times
week, a few years ago, and gaze at II
with admiration. IL any one compliment
"a the old man upon the work his de-
Light was beautiful 70 see. 1t would make
him talk. too. and he would tell how
each OF the great Corinthian columns
WAS laborlously drawn down Broadway
behind q dozen oxen, and followed by hair
the population OF the city.
The walls are of granite. eight feet
thick The floors are of marble and
steel. The interior walls are of iron and
stone. the arches and ceiling are Of solid
masonry; the window-casings are iron
tteathel. the stairways are of iron, and
The roof is Of granite; so solid and deli
caiely curved that projectile from one
or the huge, twelve-inch guns In the mod
ern batteshlp would strike II and bound
away In some other direction.
The building was erected when the I'M
pements Of warfare were very crude
compared with those of to-day, yet II
could withstand modern assault with
more success than perhaps any other
building. not excepting the Treasury at
Washington, whose weakness has more
Than once been criticised.
AN ENGLISH VIEW OF IT.
Some years ago an English writer had
h.s 70 say about the Sub-Treasury build
INK. The officials Of the Sub-Treasury
seem 20 have lively apprehensions that
some day outcast New York may rise In
Is rage and misery on the remaining
'oigth o. opulence and ease. Their bas-
ale " wealth is always ready TO resist
assault by q forlorn hope. It's bullet
root doors. hand erenades. and Calling
guns are regarded as matters OF course.
such precautions are common at every
t,ogrLOuse OF riches in the city. Not
snly can the safe-deposit cellars be Hood
- On the event OF fire. but every passage
them can be filed at moments no
Zee with scaldinS steam TO repel a mob.
Tho water and steam were a pleasant
'ancy Of the English writer. They do
not exist there. AZ least in the way de"
icf.heG. No mob could get near enough
20 the Treasury 10 make water and steam
o. any use. These are the reasons: Inc
granite roof IS studded with armored tur-
Pets strong enough 10 Withstand a hail
Storm of bullets. and built IKE the turrets
On the monitors OF the navy. Portfolios
Jiefce the walls OF the turreis. Some are
JUST large enough 10 hold the muzZie or
rife and give the marksman space 10
ctaw a sight on the surrounding obJects'
While others are large enough for me
nose Of the Calling and Maxim rapid-nre
guns
TIE ARSENAL.
tp IN the third story, through numerous
walls and iron DOORS and up winding IRON
s'airways IS the arsenal. An OLD cOiorea
man who fought IN the navy and on lana
u the King Of this room. He is shrewd.
Intelligent fellow. and has picked up a
wonderful knowledge OF firearms. no FOL.
lows al the new Inventions carefully. ana
they are worthy. induces the officials
70 Introduce them into his arsenal. In this
way the defensive and offensive equip
Mehts are Kept strictly up 10 date RE
spends most OF his time cleaning ana OIL
ihg the 100 45-cailber repeating rifles: me
y" p-ealiber reyoiyers, and the rapid-nre
guns and keeping the ammunition nicely
st'ased lie also inspccts the hand gre
haoes some OF them S-pounders and
e,hefs 5pOunders
LIS Old eoiored man Is confident that