The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1908-09-18
GUARDING OUR
PUBLIC MONEY
How the Treasury Vaults at Wash :
inGton are Protected.


was the time Martin Broadfoot had his
plans about perfected. This was back
in the eighties, and the plan was to
get into the building by means Of the
great sewer which runs under and near
the treasury and is known as the Fiji
teenth street sewer and which grows
larger as it enters the Potomac about
three-auarters of mile from the White
House.
Broadfoot's plan, as developed after
his arrest, was to get into the building,
crack the safes and place the money in
large rubber bags and float them down
the sewer to the Potomac, where his
pals would be in waiting. These bags
were found in his room when he was
arrested, and secret service men mad
often seen him walking along the shores
of the Potomac near where the big
sewer empties. This sewer is about
nine feet in diameter where it passes
the treasury. A man could easily make
his way up the sewer through a stream
OF water which under normal conditions
is only about twelve inches deep. by
entering the tunnel or sewer at the
river the journey to the treasury could
be made by keeping a sharp look
cut. When the man or men
in the sewer reached the Fifteenth
street sewer nothing wonld separate
them from the gold coin and bullion eX
cept about eighteen feet Of earth and
not too secure stone wall. 1t was
Broadfoot's scheme to dig his way
through this obstruction and to let the
earth float or wash down the sewer. Ii
would not have taken one man more
than two weeks, working only at night,
70 have made opening large enough for
man to crawl through. OF course
d badfoOt knew the exact location of
the vaults, and when he once reached
them he would have had no trouble in
getting the gold coin and bullion. 1t
was evidently his purpose to fill the
rubber bags with the precious stuff and
hoat them down the sewer to the river,
where they would be looked after by
his eOnfederates. This was the only
really well laid plot ever made to loot
the treasury, and just why BrOadfoot
was never given a trial has never been
known to the public.
He was an intelligent man, and sus-
his frequent visits TO the money rooms |
and vaults and by the questions he ask
ed Watchmen and messengers as to the |
hours Of duty, when the time locks
closed and what time they opened. and |
al such questions. That he could have |
successfully carried out his plans 80 far |
as getting into the building and vaults |
are concerned there is no question, for |
men have been in the sewer and conduits |
who say that it would have been easy
work. The most difficult part Of the job !
would have been IN getting away with |
the money and bullion, for it would |
have required hard work to secure it
and get away. About the only chance /
would have been 10 bury it somewhere
In Virginia, for if 1t had been placed on
boats 1t would have been easy to recov-
er it,
1t is the opinion of the secret service
men that many celebrated cracksmeh
have from time TO time contemplated
the conversion of few million treasury
notes to their own use, but after care
full study they have decided that the I'M
dertaking was too colossal in character.
Secretary Folger when he assumed
his duties was not slow in deciding that
the treasury was not properly guarded.
There was not an electric alarm in the
building, the watchmen were isolated
and had no facilities for calling help, and
the safes were of the old-time lock and
key sort, scattered almost all over the
big building. The secretary went to
work TO bring about a proper condition
Of affairs. He had the watch system
changed and re-organized,
putting them under the strictest discip-
line. Elaborate and extensive alarm
systems were installed. The old safes
we're replaced by modern steel affairs
with time locks and intricate combina-
lions. The gold and silver vaults were
itted with steel castings and time locks,
parts Of the combination being I,
distributed among various officials, so
hat the vaults could be opened only
With the concerted action of all of them,
md then only at the stroke Of the hour ,
,0r which the time locks had been set. ,
But without a perfect system Of watch
men to guard the safes the treasury
,Ould be easily robbed, for the most per-
iect safe ever made is not proof against
he professionals.
The watch force Of the treasury is s
organized, and the least In =
traction Of rules means a layof or dis q
.hargc The men seem 10 realize the Z
leavy responsibilities resting upon them, n
md they are careful almost TO a fault. B
The watch Is divided into three reliefs, '
be tour Of duty lasting for eight hours. a
However, the watch does not anticipate 3