Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-07-09

little drawbridge swings into place. Pass
ing over this they open one of the trea sure
chests outer doors each using a separate
combination as before. So deiicately are
these doors adjusted that they swing at
the slightest touch, though each is four
teen ircies thick and weighs ten tons
But the opening of this door does not add
nit the men to the presence of the treas
ure, since there are inner folding doors 10
be unlocked and passed. and after these
have been swung there are small steel
chests which must be unlocked before The
gold Itself Is accessible.
The internal arrangement Of the great
treasure chest is admirably suited to its
purpose, there being three rooms. each
are each six feet wide, and each contains
seventy steel chests for the storage of
gold. They are ranged along the side
walls In tiers exactly like big pigeon hoes.
Each pigeon hole is Is by "a by - inches
In size; each has its own door and in1i-
vidual key, and each will hold one ton.
or 100000 in gold coin Of any denomina-
ton. 1t is the custom to store the coin
In strong duck bags. much like ordinary
shot bags in mattel ial and make. and each
large enough to hold twenty pounds aYoir-
dupois or 5000. so that II requires 100
bags to fill each pigeon hole. OF course
all are now filed. and besides a tier OF
extra boxes has been ranged down the
center OF each room, until the total dead
weight of gold now contained in the big
chest amounts to 800 tors
wore rum obD lons OF NOld.
Add the gold coin in the subtroasury and
the bar gold in the assay Office TO this and
the gross weight OF the precious yellow
metal at this time stored in what may be
termed the public treasure chests of New
York would amount to I'D tons. Were all
this gold placed in one side of a gigantic
pair of scales II would heavily overbAlalce
ten fifty-ton locomotives and the weight
of the chest in which It is kept would
more than equal the coal carried in their
tenders.
IT is evident from what is said above con-
corning the construction and surroundings
of the clearing house treasure chest tEaS
the thief who should succeed in rohbing IL
of any of its precious contents would be
a very ingenious and persevering fellow
indeed. Yet the half of the safeguards
have not BEEN told. nor will the custodians
of the strong box explain them all. 1t is a
fact. however, that even were two light
fingered gentlen en- to accomplish The i'm
possible and secure the double conhina-
uons, they vousc be morally certain they
would come to grief the moment they be-
gan to manipulate the locks OF the grill
doors. For they are fitted with electrical
contr1yanceS calculated TO bring disaster
upon any unauthorized and therefore I'M
familiar person who should touch them.
At the same time alarms would be sounded
in a dozen different quarters and arrest
would be made before the burglars could
get out of the place. So. while all con-
corned feel a certain weight of responsible
ity for the safety OF the gold in their care,
Trey still feel reasonably certain that moth
ing short of real magic. not even the rend-
ing power Of an earthquake can ever make
possible the robbery Of the treasure chest.
1t is not expected by the bankers OF New
York that the vast quantity of gold now
stored there will remain long undminished,
nor would it be likely TO remain at this
high-water mark even were no war in prog
ress. Its presence coincidently with the
early stages of the current hostillties has
undoubtedly had 4 great moral effect upon
the nations Of the earth. but IL is not here
because of commercial maneuverings any
more than because Of government pressure.
IL is here in the natural course of business.
A certain but not large percentage came
from the Klondike region. but most of 1t
was called hither from Europe in the set
Element of last years business. through the
balance of trade being largely in America ;
favor.
Big exports and small imports, heavy
sales of American securities abroad and 4
great influx Of new Klondike gold would
tend to maintain present conditions but
while there is no expectation Of a disastrous
gold drain within the coming year. IL ~
anticipated that the present store will be
greatly cut down before snow flies.