The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-04-24
WONDERS OF ELECTRICITY.
II Will be Impossible to Rob Banks in
the Future.
Both Fire and Water May Also De
Guarded Against by tile Use OF
AnnunciatorS.


During a recent experiment MADE III
Cincinnati, O., it was proved conclu-
sively that any person capable Oh SAFE
ly handling two ordinary live electflc
wires can burn a large hole in steel
safe in less than ten minues. me
feat was accomplished by bringing to-
gether two ends of a street circuit ana
making ar are The arc was allowed
to play against the steel door OF d
large burglar proof safe, and it fused
its way through, as one spectator re
marked at the rate Of cubic men
per minute" Any burglar could thus
take advantage of the lighting taclh-
ties of a bank building, and burn his
way into the vault. But the expert
bank rObber does not need this 1nfor-
nation to help him in his calling, for
he can carry enough tools in an ordl-
nary handbag to enable him TO break
into any safe or vault after two hours
of uninterrupted work. In spite of
these facts, which merely prove that
no safe or vault is burglar proof, the
days of big bank rObberieS are over.
In large cities at least such a thing as
a wholesale bank robbery could not
happen. This statement is made with
out reserve. The banks themselves
could be broken easily enough, but the
united system of protection which sur
rounds them is not only practically per-
feet, but the mechanical features of
its makeup render it absolutely incor-
ruptible. 1t may be also said Incl
dentally that were the United States
Government to invest its prisons with
the same system of protection such
thing as a jail delivery would be I'M
heard of.
BANKS SURROUNDED BY ELEC-
TRIO CURRENTS.
Although the same thing exists in
nearly every large city in the United
States, the banks composing the New
York Clearing House Association com
prise the best example of what a pro-
lection syndicate is like Seventy-five
banks, most of which belong to the as
ISOLATION, are represented at a central
station, in which electrical instruments
keep silent though efficient tab on all
that may occur within those seventy
five walls. Watchmen are not needed
in the bank buildings, yet not a latch
can be lifted, not a bolt drawn, nor a
window raised without the fact being
at once recorded in the central station.
Delicate galvanometer needles are con-
stantly pointing out what is going on in
the banks. and these needles never fail
of their office. 1t is of no use to the
burglar to understand the system. The
more he understands it the more will
he become convinced of the futility of
his calling. 1t is of no use for him to
try to circumvent the system. The
least disarrangement is pointed out by
the needles and an alarm is at once
sounded.
II is liberal truth to say that the
bank buildings are surrounded by a
continuous current of electricity. What
is known as a CLOSED circuit is used.
The difference between this and an
open circuit" must be explained. An
open circuit alarm system is one in
which the opening of a door. or window,
the sliding of a bolt or in fact the OPP
Grafton of any movable contrivance
turns on an electric circuit and sends
in an alarm. In closed circuit work
the current is kept flowing all the time.
1t passes through wires connected to
every bolt, bar window etc, and is
SO delicately adjusted in its path that
the disarrangement of any movable
current and thus send in an alarm
The very walls and partitions of the
bank buildings are lined with wires and
strips of tin foil through which the
electricity is kept constantly flowing
Therefore. if the burglar merely bores
a small hole through the banking
house wall he disarranges the circuit
and sends in an alarm.
TIT &c L rrO DnI A
MODERN BANK.
Even this is not all of the system
1t is merely the principle on which it is
founded. The expert electrician land
many burglars are expert in this lne)
might claim to be able to pass through
a door or window which was part Of a
closed circuit without disturbing the
latter. but here is where the system
takes on the bond of perfection. If the
alarm was merely the ringing of a bell
the claim might be made good, but the
amount Of current passing through the
wires cuts a very important figure
While it might be possible to break into
a bank without entirely breaking the
circuit, for instance stretching certain
wires so far as to enable man TO
pass between them. it could not be done
NilhOul tHaii5iiS tAe iSitS VI HOW VI
the current, and this would be pointed
out at once by the galvanometer needle.
The operators in the central station
can, by using resistance wires. change
the amount OF current flowing through
The line every hour SO that the burglar
ran never, by previous observation.
know the amount which should flow
through at given time. Thus, even
an intimate knowledge of electricity
Is of no use to him. BY means of in
struments of precision the Waterman
in the central station can tell whether
any disarrangement Of wires has oc-
CURED inside or outside of the bank
This often saves trouble and much I'M
necessary alarm. as the wires in the