The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-04-17
SUB-TREASURY IS A FORTRESS
How the Government Funds IN Ne"
York Are Protected.

In the vaults Of the United states SUD-
treasury on Wall street, when the mas
sive bolts were turned preparatory 10
CLOSING, up the place recently, there lay
tho sum Of S1N,..YJO00. This amount Was
made up IN round numbers as follows
United states notes, S4O.uWWoi treasury
notes 81 900 900: silver certificates, S'lvVVi
odd coin. Sg23UOJO; silver dollars
I'll looOw. other silver coin, SWo"'
minor coin, Sza30e
Money enough here 10 make 1t well
worth while for Il determined nahu 90
attcmpt TO raid the subtreasury, lt Woulo
anpogr OF the uselcssness OF such an
attcmut any one connected with the FuD-
treasury building can quickly coHNIl'.
am inquirer The building IN inc HIsl
place is "a yeritable fortress H'tv Ia
no stronger structure I'm the business
section of New York. il Is built To stand
"a siege. if need be- and in the event oil
"a riot I'm New York there are many
reasons why 10 would bee % good place TOT
the rioters TO fight shy Of
In the first place the arsenal OF the
eub-treasury Is "a formidable one. In the
the upper part of the building theIe Is
stored ammunition enough 10 supply
regiment of men, steadily hring lot
boilrs. there are hand grenades ready
streets around the building in the event
of AN attack: there are rifles in racks
kent oiled and polished with as much
care as weapons iu military establish
meut. and last. but by no means least
there are two Calling guns, ana amnu-
milton enough for these 10 make iiem
very husinoss-like aids 90 the defense
o. the place.
This arsenal comprises the aggressive
armament OF the sub-trc1sury The pulla-
ing itself IS the most grlmiy interesting
part of the seemingly praceiul structure
an Wall street. stone piedOminates in
the material used. The staircases are
Of massive stone, cementcd into tne
walls and forming part of these. Inc
walls are as thick as those OF mcdlae-
val fortress. and of solid granite. Inc
stalrcases are winding affairs that per-
init of only the passage of a. rev abreast
and would be easy Of defence py Ic"
men. The corridors are of massive stone,
and it is stone everywhere until the roof
is reached. Here is the stonlest stretch
OF ALL Seen from the high wonuo"s OBJ
adjoining buildings the roof or the SUD-
treasury building is % CURIOSITY
The root Is constructed entirely or
heavy blocks of granite. each block over
laDpiug the one below 81. so that should
.,Icb "a contingency occur as bombshell
9Iighting on this roof. 30 would roll down
from the thick stone defense thaL DIS
practically bomb proof.
If the guide knows his business wnen
No shows YOU over tine sub-tredsur}
building he will point out tho heavy
shutters that are attached 10 al the
windows of the structure iucsr smut
tors arc made OF tWolucn Steel ann FORM
"a lunet-pro0f hirricade from behind
which the defending force can fire at "a
hostile party through The loopholes WIN
which the shutters are provided.
Shareholders will find the roof Of the
building "a splendid place for rifle prac-
tice for here are three steel turrets
from which the streets leading up 90 tho
sub-treasurv can De commanded the in-
teriors Of these circular turrets are ntied
with shelves. on which the marksineh
can sit while firing mp or down the street
through the numerous loopholes pierced
for the purpose.
nut v-nat OF the hand rrenades? In
connection wiki these the guide Will
show YOU one Of the most deadly ar
raneements in the building. In the store
floor OF the corridor that runs along the
front Of the building on the upper story
are numerous circular covers. whose on
fect is not apparent until the guide eN-
Dlains When one OF these covers. ~
pulled IN IT will be seen that the corrl-
dor IS Immediately above the porch OF
the building. and looking down through
the hole II is possible TO see the throng
that passes in and out OF the main en-
trance. Down through these holes, the
guide will explain 90 you. the defenders
viii drop the hand eronades on the heads
Of a stormlng party, who Will be looking
for an attack from any quarter but this.
To reach the entrance OF the building
therefore will be the worst possible
thing that can happen to an attacking
party for then they viii come within
range OF the most deadly means Of de-
tense in the hands Of the sub-treasury
defenders.
with, ~nch an armament; and with
such a skillfuly constructed fortress. IL
As safe to say that the immense sum
that reposes nightly Ia the vaults Of the
sub-treasury Is quite safe from designing
hands.-New York Commercial