The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-04-11
HANDLE MILLIONS
LIKE So MUCH JUNK
Wall Streets Wealth Is Not
So Legendary As One
Would Think.
SENSATION is NOT LIKED.
HHERE 10 PEACE ON THE STREET
AND ANY OLD CONVEYANCE is
SUFFICIENT, MONEY KINGS Be
LlEVE.

sts bonds is a puzzle to many a stran-
ger In the financial district Of New
York At first sight he doesn't even
see that there is much money, and
Shinks, perhaps. that the wealth Of the
uistrict is somewhat legendary The
people who hurry along the streets
with handbags or without don't look
particularly different from other bust
ness folk. There Is the usual traffic
of express wagons and trucks.
mounted policeman or two and three or
four on foot are the only visible repre-
sentatives of authority. Messenger
boys scuffe, curb brokers shout and
play pranks within their rope inclos-
ure. and an evangelist holds d side
walk meeting. There are a few cabs
drawn up to the curbs waiting for the
close of the business day.
The visitor is astonshed to learn
that while he stood for five minutes at
Broad and Well streets about a million
dollars in cash and two millions in
checks passed him. Who had Z" he
asks. Well" is the reply. there was
a tall. thin checked young man. d bank
messenger. who climbed the steps of
the sub-treasury with a black valise
containing s16,23S in greenbacks. You
thought he might be a lawyers clerk:
he seemed quite alone.
Looks Like Porter.
Then there was a short man with
sandy mustache looking like a porter.
Under his waistcoat he had a wallet at
Lon cfr nd
in the wallet were six ten thousand
dollar bills and checks representing
three-quarters of a million dollars. No
body paid any attention to him any
more than you did. Perhaps you did
hot take a second glance at a trim,
blonde young woman who lifted her
skirts daintily at the curb. not because
you imagined there was a thousand
dollars in small bits in her handbag,
money she was taking to the subtreas-
ury In her capacity as cashier of res
taurant. The rest of the large amount
of cash that passed you was aboard
that open two horse truck. 1t was
gold In small canvas bags and square
boxes, apparently supplies for some
hardware dealer or grocer. If you
give the outfit thought you reflected
that tradesmen ought not to intrude
on the financial district Since
there is really SO much money at
large" says the visitor. what are the
precautions taken to guard it? Why,
the carelessness of these people is al
most criminal.
Millions So Much Junk.
"They handle millions like so much
Junk. Think Of the temptation to
some hard-up man who should learn
about this easy circulation of wealth.
A small band of desperadoes, at least
might attack the district and make
away with millions" 1t would be in
teresting just as an exhibition of Wall
streets defensive resources. to watch
the results of varied attacks ranging
from lone robbers venture to a raid
by hundred or a thousand desperate
men. One pistol shot in the street
would probably summon a dozen Cen
trail office men, five private detectives.
three Pinkertons and several private
policemen. all armed. A volley of
shots would cause the district to bios
som out with rifles like a western min
ing camp ready for a lynching bee. The
arrival of dangerous mob would eX-
hibit the sub-treasury in the role of a
fort, pouring deadly fire from rifles
and gatling guns in its upper windows
and even dropping dynamite bombs in
the midst of the enemy. There are
fifteen hundred bombs. or hand gre
nth will los
in the subtreasury.
Display Not the Policy.
1t Is not policy, however. to make
display of the iron hand beneath the
velvet glove of finance. and so preCau-
tions are taken to conceal precautions.
Honor is supposed to rule modern bus
mess: man $ word is presumed TO be
as good as his bond, and cashiers and
bank messengers are assumed never
TO go astray. 1t would spoil the effect
OF these assumptions if the army of de-
tectives and shadows put on uniforms
and if people saw deadly weapons
stacked in corners of financial
institutions The hidden pro
lection is. besides, more efficient. A
show of force attracts a crowd and in
creases danger. As II is. a bank en-
plove has a comfortable sense of being
trusted with vast sums, while he is
constantly under the eye of an armed
escort. Perhaps the escort is not so
much to avert dishonesty on the part
OF the employe as 10 guard him
against attack by third person. Once
there was an express company that
sent load of money to the sub-trcas-
ury In a wagon guarded by men with
rifles in their laps. The sight drew
such mob that the company took ad-
vice and was less obtrusive in its pre-
cautions afterward
Too Much Sensation.
Automobiles used 10 convey cash in
hurry during last falls panic. made
too much sensation for the quiet low
ing guardians of the district They
would have sent the money in a rag
picker's wagon, truck or any com
mon looking vehicle. There is a free
and easy atmosphere in the spacious,
marble flooTed government building,
with its Doric columns and statue of
Washington, at Nassau and Wall
streets You are told that it is a pub