The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-06-26
OUR STRONG BOX.
Where Kansas Keeps Her Valu-
able Papers.
Over SS,OOO,OOO Bonds Locked
In a Single Vault.
STATE is CAUTIOUS.
Army of Burglars Would Not
Reach the Documents.
How the Official Coupon Clip
pers Work.
is CAUTIOUS.

one OF the most interesting places IN
the capitol building is the bond vault
Of the state treasury. 1t is situated in
the east end of the main office of the
treasury, and its entrance is guarded by
inner combination doors weighing a ton
and a ponderous outer time-lock door
weighing two and a half tons. The
vault is two stories in height and about
thirty feet long by fifteen feet wide,
being constructed of three thicknesses
of heavy steel plating and surrounded
by eight feet of solid masonry and
standing on a stone foundation twenty
feet high. The visitor who carefully ex-
afnines the structure goes away firmly
convinced that the states strong box
is a safe one, either against fire or
burglary. Nothing but one of General
Weyler's submarine mines would have
any effect upon it.
And this is as it should be, for it
holds no less than eight millions of dol
lars worth of the states property. Most
important of its contents are the bonds
of the permanent school fund, amount
ing approximately to Sc, 500, 900. Figures
do not convey much of an idea OF what
this means, but there are about 40, 900
bonds which compose this fund, and the
method by which these are arranged
and distributed is very interesting
study. Twice a year a coupon is de-
tached from each bond and filed away
sent to the treasurer of the municipality
from which it was issued. The work Of
clipping and registering coupons keeps
three clerks busy for about six weeks
semi annually, and the work of recei pit
ing for their payment gives them a bout
two months more work. Receipts in
duplicate and triplicate must be made
for the county or city treasurer. the
county clerk the state auditor the
bOOkkeeper of the treasury, and the
treasurers OF the states educational in
situations if their funds are concerned
In January and July money piles up in
the treasury so that a force OF twenty
clerks could not possibly receipt for it
as it comes in. but all of it is formally
disposed of in the course of the half
year.
the school fund holds some 500. 900
of bonds against the state which is
practically every dollar that the state
owes, and it is very gratifying to know
that what the states owes, it virtual
" owes to itself There are but few
states in the Union that can say so
much.
Besides the permanent school fund
the vault contains $3.50 600 belonging to
the university endowment fund. This
has been realized by the sale of lands
given by the government to the state
for this purpose. Here also are the ag-
ricultural college and normal school
funds The government always has
been very n1unihcent to colleges for
the study of agriculture and mechanic
arts, and our agricultural college has
about half million dollars in bonds in
this department.
The state normal school fund also
came indirectly from the government.
In early days lands were given to the
state for internal improvements, but
instead of spending the money thus re-
allied, the legislature many years ago
endowed the state normal school with
the gift and the present magnificent
fund of $f75,000 is a lasting monument
to their far sighted sagacity.
The vault is also a repository of in
surance and other securities. The Kan
saS Mutual alone has over 5000. 900 IN
mortgage bonds deposited here as a
pledge of good faith in their opera
tions.
The point which is most striking in
the conduct of the bond department IS
system. While there are 1900 bonds
and perhaps $4,000 detached coupons in
the vault, yet the state treasurer has
place for everything and everything in
its place. One who knows the run of
the office can find any bond or coupon
Of any school district in the state as
easily as he could tell the time of day.
System is the explanation of this. But
for this feature the discovery of
school bond would be a task in compar-
isOn with which the tasks of Hercules
would be but the pranks of a school