The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-08-17

remain at all times under the direct
and watchful care of a competent GUS
todian during the day and of faithful
Waterman at night.
Capt r. G. Rhoades is in charge Of
one of these deposit vaults during the
day, and in the twelve years Of his
service he has seen many little ro-
manees enacted by the depositors
Capt. Rhoades keeps a watchful eye on
his many vaults of treasures, which
range from old family relics to the
most important papers of the largest
concerns in the city.
To become a renter of a safe in the
vaults, one has to go through consid-
cradle red tape, which is, however, nee
essary for the protection of the COM
pany and of the patrons.
In the first place when the applica-
ton is made, a description of the pros
pective depositor is taken that is sec
Ond only to the famous BertilIon sys-
tenn in use by the police. This COM
pleted, the depositor is given a key.
There is no duplicate to this key in ex-
istence. He is the sole 'possessor of it
and it can only be used by him, and
then only in the presence of the Gus
todian who has a second key, the pa
irons key is known as the master key,
but it is perfectly useless without the
second key held by the custodian as is
the custodian's without the presence of
the master key.
Given a Pass Word.
After selecting his box, which is
numbered and his key is turned over
to him he is given a private pass word.
He must not divulge this word to a liv-
ing person and he and the custodian
are the only ones that know it.
In time, of course, the custodian be-
comes acquainted with his patrons,
but even then the formality Of giving
the pass word must be gone through
each time the box is unlocked.
Then the patron is at liberty to make
his deposit. What it is concerns no
one but himself and no one but himself
is supposed to know what he has put
in the vault for safe keeping. The
custodian must not know, and under no
circumstances must he touch a thing
that is in the box, even if requested to
do so by the depositor. The custodian
is simply the guardian of the vault
His key must be at hand when the de-
positor would open the box, he must
see that none but the real depositor
gains access to the box, and there his
duty ends.
That these vaults or boxes are fire
and burglar proof is apparent to the
casual observer, and when the details
OF the construction are announced, the
first impression is greatly strengthen
ed. The vault which contains the
smaller safes is a two-story structure
1t is built of three thicknesses of chill
ed steel plates, welded together from
the inside. The floor and roof is of
railroad iron and around the whole is
ire wall, two feet thick built of ce-
ment and steel railroad rails. The out
er door at the first glance would af-
ford but little or no protection. 1t is
made of thick polished oak and appar-
emily could be broken through by a
strong man with little effort
Net Work of Wires.
A close examination, however, re-
veals the fact that the door is a net
work Of wires and once closed the
slightest touch will set number of
gongs ringing in a messenger office
nearby ana there will be a rush to see
who the disturber is.
Next to this is the first real door. 1t
is ponderous affair, weighing five
tons and equipped with a time lock,
the mechanism of which is equal to
that in the finest watch ever construct
ed.
This door is secured by huge steel
bolts which catch behind the steel
door casing, and once the door is shut.
the bolts shot home, it is impossible to
open it until the appointed hour set by
the time dial
Then comes grating which is Sc