The Savannah morning news., 1901-01-20
TREAsURY's ARMoRED WAGON.
1t Carries n Big Fortune Daily
Through the Streets of WASHING

1t Carries n Big Fortune Daily
Through the Streets of Washing
ton.
Washington. Jan. 1s.-Almost any day
on the streets of Washington there can
be seen a wagon loaded with s1,0OoOOO or
more in cash. or with thousands Of dollars
worth of stamps and quantities of the
priceless paper used in the printing Of
money. This is the L. S. Treasury's cash
wagon. 1t might at first sight seem an
easy way to become a millionaire by
holding up the outfit and getting away
with the contents, but the execution OF
the undertaking would prove exceedingly
difficult as well as dangerous to life and
limb. Although the route traversed by
this daily conveyancer OF money lies In
a comparatively unfrequented part of the
city and bordering a great park, nobody
has ever assayed to interfere with it, nor
do the Treasury officials lie awake OF
nights worrying about its liability to
successful attack.
The wagon is of bullet-proof steel, and
is constructed in manner to present
great resistance to a forcible attack. It
opens at one end by the removal of i'm
mense steel bars, and the unlocking OF
an intricate system of safety locks. The
body of the wagon hangs low to the
ground and is covered with wooden
roof and awning. the conveyance being
drawn by three great draught horses that
sometimes have a hard pull to move the
cumbrous affair. This is when it is loaded
with box after box of precious green
backs" newly printed money In bills OF
all denominations, or with the even more
valuable paper from which the money
Il A., Of
letters would rather have the paper than
the printed money, for with that in their
possession they could turn out as much
money and in as large denominations as
they chose.
In addition to the immunity from rob-
berry afforded by the steel casting ana
the heavy locks and bars, the wagon has
the protection of an armed guard which
accompanies it at all times when valua-
bles are aboard. Four men, in addition
to the driver, usually go with the convey
ance They carry big Navy revolvers on
their persons, ard several Winchester
rifles are ready at hand under the drivers
seat While the money is being loaded
and unloaded at the Treasury building
or at the Bureau of Engraving and Print
ing the escort guard is augmented by
the presence of watchppen from the build
irg. who stand around in an unostenta-
tious way, but ready for business. care
full system of checks and receipts re-
qures accounting for the contents OF the
wagon, and there is no possible loophole
for anything to get away
The vehicle travels between the Blu
reau of Engraving and Printing where
money, stamps and bonds are made. and
the Treasury of tie United States, where
they are stored.
The men who handle the money be-
come so accustomed to seeing and nm
gering immense sums in greenbacks that
they come to regard the money as SO
much green paper. and it has not the
fascination for them which any one else
would feel In holding a package or
thousand 500 bills. When the money
leaves the Bureau of Engraving ana
Printing Il is complete. with the excep-
ton of stamping a small seal upon eacn
bill, which is done at the Treasury, anu
after that ceremony is finished it is ready
for circulation.