The times., 1899-10-29

During the past year at least 10000
strangers have visited the Treasury Depart
ment. In other words. that number Of per-
sons have been taken through the vaults
and had explained to them the various
workings OF the divisions connected with
the Ofiics Of the Treasurer. The one place
that excites wonder and comment from tia
average stranger above all others IS ths
bond vault Of the Treasury. located on the
first floor. north haIl. at the extreme west
OF the corridor
In this vault are to be found $50. .0o0 coo
in bonds. S67 00o.000 Of which. however. ara
unregistered. These bonds belong 70 tha
national banks Of the county They are de-
posted with the Treausry to secure the CIR
culation Of the national bank notes Every
visitor is shown a little package OF bonds
and sometimes permitted to hold for a min.
ute 5000 eco OF them
The vault containing the 1000. eco
worth Of bonds is not quite as large al
one would expect in a building the size OF
the Treasury. But, then. it was built over
thirty years ago. and al that time ans
wered all requirements Every inch of
available space in the vault is now occu-
pied. 1t is claimed the vault is burglar
proof and freproOf. There is such network
Of electric wires connected with the eoos
leading into the vault that any attempt 10
dwill a hole into the door would set OF
burglar alarms, not only at the Treasury
proper, but in Police Headquarters. for
the wires are connected with the District
burglar alarm system
The bonds Of the several national banks
Of the country are enclosed in file boxes
made OF thick paper. such as is used in
the construction OF paper boxes. but the
dle boxes are placed alongside Of the
others. properly numbered The shelves
on which they rest are OF wood. The vault
is Illuminated by electric lights. the wires
OF which are specially protected so that
there is but little danger Of IRE from this
source.
An official, speaking Of this vault. said
to Times reporter: twenty-five or thir-
" years ago this vault was all right It
was fully up 20 the times and it was ample
TO meet all demands; but during that Pc
TiOd the country has grown. and today. I
believe there is not a bank anywhere with
capital Of $50 GOO that cannot beast Of q
vault far superior to this. It was but re-
Gently that modern doors were put on the
vault. The shelving inside should be con-
structed Of metal and the file boxes con
tanning the bonds of national banks should
be made OF aluminium. There should be as
little woodwork on the inside Of the vault
as possible. Just think Of the weight OF
S407 00O. 600 OF bonds and the combustIbIe
character of the ink used in printing thsms
Friction is one great source OF fires that
break out where least expected
Congress has been asked several times to
appropriate money for an extension and
improvement OF the vault. but no appro-
priatiOn has yet been made Really The
vault is too small; It is way behind ne
times"
II the opinion Of Treasury officials Con-
gress viii again be asked at its coming ses-
sion TO make the vault more modern By
providing money 10 purchase the metallic
fixtures mentioned and providing against
any loss of valuable securities through IRE.
Of course. the probability Of the desuuc-
tion Of the bonds by combustion is very re-
mote, but there is always danger, one Of
the officials SAYS. and 1t is advisable 70 uss
every device for the protection OF the enOr-
mously valuable papers stored IN this
vault.