The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1901-11-06
SUSPECT EVERYBODY
UNIVERSAL plsTRuST RULES IN THE
SAFE DEPOSIT BUSINESS.
Sven Patrons Have to submit to
Calling Restrictions-Comedy In
the Taking OF PcdiErees-RemRr rlS-
able Memory of Employees.

OalllnE hcstrtcttohs-Nohc An
the Taking Of PediErees-RemarlS-
able Memory of Employees.
Many millions Of dollars in plate, jew
els. stocks, bonds, cash and other deSira-
bic things are locked in the vaults Of the
safe deposit companies doing business In
New York city. These millions are guard
cd with scrupulous care. SO much pro-
lection is thrown about them that their
owners are obliged to submit TO reStric-
tons in handling their property which
would be CALLING indeed il the reason was
not obvious. There is a fortune FOR a
daring thief behind the vaults steel
doors, and the sight OF riches lying easy
Of access has turned many a well mean
ins but weak man into a rogue.
This is ono reason why visitor at the
offices Of these companies, be he patron
or not is regarded with embarrassing
suspicion aad why the man who desires
20 become customer is forced 10 submit
to an ordeal family suggestive OF the
Spanish inQuiSition. Mark Twain trans
formed the old adage about putting AL
your eggs in one basket" into the smart
cpigram. Put all your eggs in one basket
and watch that basket" The safe deposit
company has all its eggs in one basket,
and the watchers Of that basket are Ar
gus eyed.
OF the 26 companies doing business in
this city IL are independent organiza-
tionS, and the remaining six are identified
with parent banks. The capital Of the in
dependent companies is over S5,0O0,OO0,
and the value of the riches in their keep
ing may be roughly estimated at from 40
To 30 times that amount. One representa-
tive down town company has in its sub
terranean vaults 1900 steel compart-
mcntS, ranging in size from boxes l6 by
by = inches to safes in which 10-ycar-
old boy might stand upright.
The annual rental Of these compart-
mcnts varies from So in the one case TO
| $500 in the other. The smallest boxes
are large enough for n comfortable for
tune. What can be tucked away in a
big safe would tempt a Cresus Usual
ly these latter compartments are rented
by business partners. Each compart-
ment has double combination. half Of
which is known to each partner. Both
men therefore must be present when the
safe is opened, and an attendant has TO
use his key before the heavy doors can
be swung back.
The customer who wishes To get into
the vaults, perhaps 10 enjoy the pleasing
| pastime of cutting off little green cou-
/ pons with sharp pair of scissors, does
not find il a simple matter. There is an
outer gate guarded by n watchful Ger
berus, an inner gate at which is a sec
ond CerberuS. and finally a third gate.
around which is clustered small army
OF attendants. When the man with the
money has passed these successive bar
riers, he gives the key to his box TO an
attendant, who is distinguished among
his fellows because he possesses a truly
remarkable memory. He knows the per-
son TO whom each one Of the 1900
boxes belongs. IL there were 21,000
boxes, he would know their 27,000 own
ers. He wouldn't brag about it either.
| His memory is the most valuable asset
in his business.
When this mnemonic wonder has re-
ceived the key to any one of the boxes,
he goes with the customer unerringly to
the right number. aud. unlocking the box
with the necessary aid OF his own key,
he carries the steel drawer TO one Of
many little rooms equipped with scissors,
paste, pen, ink and the like. Here the
customer locks himself in. When he
leaves. the process is reversed, and at
length he arrives on the sidewalk with n
considerable idea Of his Importance to
the company which has the good fortune
to safeguard his wealth.
person who wants 10 rent a box is
severely catechised. His pedigree to the
third and fourth generation is deemed es-
sential. His age. his profession. his hab-
its. even his hopes and aspirations. are
put on record \ few days ago an old
gentleman and his wife, who were either
the pOssessors OF suddenly acquired
wealth or recent arrivals in the city from
mp the state. called at Broadway safe
deposit company for the purpose of rent
ing a box The box was TO be entered
in the wife's name. and her husband was
asked il the wife had any popularity by
which she could be identified. The old
man hemmed and hawed and rubbed his
chin doubtfully.
well" he said at length, looking at
his wife out of the corner of his eye,
well, must admit that Alice is a leetle
quick tempered"
"Why. William" was the retort, IL
haven't said mean thing to you in going
on 30 years"
Now. Alice" said her husband. fenc-
ing for an opening don't you reccllect
the time
mo, don't, and you don't neither"
At this point the examiner thought il
best to intcrpuse. He said that the mat
ter of identification would be waived.
The essential parts of each applicants
record are communicated TO the attend
ants. who are required to keep intelii-
gent watch Of the drift of patronage.
| \ woman who expected to meet a friend
IN the vaults on a Saturday morning
asked an attendant If any one had called
to see her
Not today" was the reply. but your
sister was here last Thursday afternoon"
n statement which was perfectly true.
Instances Of this watchfulness might
be multiplied.
Persons who don't have to worry aboui
/ where their food and clothes are coming
from are proverbially careless. This care
lessness is the cause Of much trouble to
safe deposit companies. One woman left
a pearl rope worth S2S000 lying on the
table in a room she had just quilted. and
another was mildly anxious because. as
she confessed to an attendant, she didn't
know what she had done with bonds
which a modest valuation put at $4,000.
Evidences OF thoughtfulness are afforded
by the lists Of found valuables posted
each week.
No one should visit safe deposit com
pany in the hope OF finding such articles
on the floor. II he did, several large. ro-
bust men would hold him until police
man came.-New York Mail and Ex-