The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-01-04

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~ Nelson A. Miles be
N M carried into effect
,lXZ the government
stNLyr buildings through
~ out the United
~ States will soon be
I strongly fortified
with Calling guns
for enforcing Law and preserving peace
In the event Of lawless upriSings. In
the plans for the new mint at Sixteenth
and Spring Garden streets. provision Is
made for the mounting Of guns at the
four corners Of the building and the
same idea will be introduced In the
new federal building In Chicago.
Genaral Miles would increase the size
n me permanent guard within the fed
eral buildings wherever Il be Judged
necessary and would see to Il that all
such buildings are constructed with
reference 10 adaptablllty 10 defense
from assaults from the exterior. az we'll
az 10 the safe preservation OF the con-
tents OF the treasure vaults from the
depredatlons OF persons who may have
gained access to the buildings either
singly or In bands.
In every great city a sudden upris-
inE OF the vicious or misguided ~ al
WAYS a latent possibility. There have
been occasions which are likely 10 oc-
cur again In this country. In times OF
national peace. when the police ostab-
llshment has been inadequate 10 quell
a mob, and the arrival Of the regular
armed troops has been necessarily too
taFdy TO prevent destruction Of public
property. To guard against such con
tlnEenoles General Miles strenuously
advocates the equipment Of the Treas
ury building In Washington. the sub
treasures In the various cities and
Skass .4nniAf baIldinEs with few
pieces OF effective ordnance 10 be di-
rected against an advancing mob.
some OF these buildings. the Mint, for
instance have for some years contain
ed Calling guns that the captains OF the
watch would not hesitate TO order 20
be iired into a street mob upon oecas-
ion. All the sub-,reasuries and the
treasury In Washington contain a small
arsenal Of reviewers. rifles, oarbines and
ammunition. that Ia regularly inspee.ed,
and a part OF which IL daily and night
~ In the hands Of the waiehmen In
charge OF the buildings
General Miles and many Others In
high places at the seat Of the national
government are hrm believers In the
efficacy Of the permanent visible pres
ence Of the instruments for the en-
forccment OF Law and the preservation
OF peace. In their opinion. therefore. a
few Calling guns permanently mounted
outside the federal buildings. com
handing the approaches thlther. would
prove quite as effective In preventing
lawless uprislngs az their shots would
be In quelllng actual outbreaks. Should
the counsels Of these men prevail the
brassy mouthpiece OF the majesty Of
military force. always ready 10 beleh
forth It, death-dcaling missiles against
a sinister host. may become a common
sight In the spots where Uncle San
boards bis gold and silver and bonds
There Is a carefully devised system
Of guarding the treasury In Washing
ton. A force Of slxty-eight vatchmei
all honorably discharged from thl
army and navy-is divided into tire
reliefs. They patrol the building nigh
and day. and during the day a specia
force ia on hand at the main entrance
always prepared for an emergency
Electric bells are turned In every hal
hour OF the day and night TO the OF
Gee OF the captain Of the watch.
There Il now being installed In IN
building a new protective alarm sys
TEN. communicating with the subter
ranean vaults. where Is constantly
stored more than $500 OOO.O 900 Of publ
treasure. So sensitive Ia the mechanism
that the light tap Of hammer on th'
walls Of the vaults or the slight pry
ing OF a Jimmy" u such an inslru
ment could be carried 10 the vicinity
OF the vaults without detection, Woul'
start an electric gong ringing Al th
stations OF all the watchmen In IN
building, In the residences Of the seere
l tary Of the treasury and the treasure
OF the United States and In the head
quarters Of the Washington detectiy
bureau. on a dial al the main entranc
20 the building would Simultaneous
be indicated the number Of the var'
that IL being tampered with.
BY pressing an electric button N
captain Of the watch can instantl
summo the Ere department and com
munlcate with the police headquarterI
and by telephone he can summon iou
troops Of cavalry stationed a. For
Meyer and four companies OF artlller
from Washington barracks, each with
IN two milea OF the treasury. The ma
rlnes al the navy yard would also b
available IN an emergency.
Each Of the vatehmen when he zoe
on duty IL armed with the latest I'm
proved revolver. and a supply Of n
volveru. rifles and carblnes Ia stored !
many Of the rooms. with these the car
tain OF the watch could on the insiar
arm several hundred men. Outs'd
watchmen are stationed In the wa'c
houses. which are 40 situated 90
command the entire building. tn
treasury day closes AZ o'clock
which hour work In the buildin
ceases. A. 8 o'clock all doors are clos
cd. except the main one, and the key