Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1910-12-09
How The Government Guards Its
Strong Box.
WRITTEN FOR THE sENrINEL.l

| Ahio 10 OilCiC OdIll StOTt HOuSt WltIllI
whose strong walls his vast wealth is
securely protected.
From this great repository of riches, he
daily puts into circulation the crisp notes
and bright coins that start on their Journey
through the busy world, bringing wealth and
happiness TO some and sorrow and disgrace
to others.
Situated in close proximity to the White
House, pure Gothic in design, imposing in
ITS massiveness, grim and gray this granite
building stands like a mighty sentinel,
Keeping guard over the treasures entrusted
to its care.
Stored away in strong vaults under
ground are bars of gold and silver bullion,
piled up in stacks like so much pig-iron.
Here, too, is kept all of the paper money and
government bonds, made at the Bureau of
Engraving and Printing.
10 successfully protect these millions
against the attacks of expert robbers is no
small task, and entails large expense and
constant vigilance on the part of the gov
eminent.
The Treasury Department has its own
police system composed of three lieutenants.
SIX sergeants and eighty-two privates I'M
der the direction of the Captain of the
Watch, who is in command of the entire
|
OF eight hours each, so that every minute
of the day and night a sharp lookout
is kept for evilly disposed persons. The
grated doors Of this huge building are I'M
locked and opened at o'clock in the
morning to admit the army of clerks who
are required to be at their desks and at
tending to their various duties when the
clock strikes nine.
Visitors are admitted from 8 A. M. until
z Z. M. At this hour the doors are closed,
the bolts are shot, and none may enter
except upon official business, and then he
must apply to the Captain of the Watch
at the main entrance and be properly iden-
tilted.
An armed Waterman is stationed at each
of the eight entrances to the building,
ready at given signal, should it be re-
quired, to close the doors and sever all
communication with the outside world.
| Watchmen are on duty in the various
corridors and closely scrutiniZe strangers,
particularly those carrying suspicious look
ing bundles, as Washington is the Mecca of
cranks and some genial idiot with an
anarchistic turn of mind might seek to
win everlasting fame by the short route of
an Internal machine or dynamite bomb
In addition to the watchmen, secret ser
one knows who they are or where they
may be. Perhaps, simply strolling around
in the guise of pleasure-seeking visitor,
or temporarily in the role of clerk, quiet
| and unObtrusve, wearing no insignia of
their office, they are a continual source of
terror to the wr0ng-d0er.
| At the main entrance is the watch room,
where the captain or one of his lieutenants
| is always on duty with a reserve force of
men.
Here also is the armOry, where the men
| deposit their arms when they come off duty.
Arranged In racks along the walls are
0jnety-twO latest improved army rifles,
with regulation sword hayonets, and car
fridge belts filled with ammunition A
complete equipments for the entire force in
time OF emergency.
Over the desk Of the officer Ia chnree are
the electric enUnCiators containing rove OF
numbered blocks.
At stated intervals the men at the diff
ferent stations turn in by touching an cleo
trio button, which causes bell TO ring IN
the enunciator, and block falls with the
mans number on ii, signifying that he is
at his post and all is well.
The great vaults and safes are especially
constructed for the government, and are
supplied with every known device to give
strength and protection against the designs
of the enterprsing burglar.
Cunning little cOntrivances that are
known only to the proper officials are To-
Gated in the most unexpected places.
One day young lady clerk had occasion
to 90 to certain room on official business,
and stopped to have a social chat with a
friend who was there employed. Leaning
in comfortable position against the front
of safe which was built into the granite
wall, she proceeded TO discuss the latest
gossip of the day In about two minutes
there was a sound of hurried footsteps
coming down the corridor, and through the
door rushed squad OF men, who did not
look as though they were coming to a social
gathering. The lady promptly tainted, the
clerks were panic stricken, and explana-
tons were in order.
An investigation followed, and the dis
coVery was made that the young lady in
reclining against the ornamental front Of
the safe had inadvertently touched an
electric button which was artfully concealed
somewhere about its anatomy Immedi-
ately bell rang in the watch room, an
nOuncing the fact that some one without
authority was fooling with that particular
safe. Hence the hasty visit of the guar
dams OF the treasure.
The safes and vaults during the working
hours are under the surveillance of the
officials who have them In charge, and all
current work in the handling of money is
checked up at the end Of each day. New
money that is to 60 out and old money
that comes in for redemption, Is counted
and recounted several times, by different
sets of clerks, in order to secure accuracy,
abf "a ha mi ind
be dinnerless force Of counters at work
until the error was located.
During the day the danger of robbery is
at a minimum, but when the shades Of
night have fallen. and the many thousands
of employees have departed to their homes,
then the vigilance of the guard is increased
For when the deserted corridors are as
silent as the tomb. when darkness and gloom
prevail and the air is oppressive with an
uncanny stiffness, the hour is pr0ptiOus
for the skillful and desperate craftsman
to ply his trade.
Throngs of visitors are passing through
the building every day
There are hundreds Of places where one
might secrete himself, TO creep forth at
night on burglary intent and murder in
his heart Who can tell what danger may
Turk in each dark corner as the midnight
watch goes on guard. Quiet reigns supreme,
every little noise is magnified thousand
fold
The officer in charge is at his desk with
his eye upon the enunciator by this he
knows where each member Of his force Is
every minute Of the night.
The men move silently around In gum
shoes. armed with a iorty-fOur caliber re-
volver, which he must carry In his hand
To put il in his pocket or lay itdOwn for an
instant, would subject him TO instant dis
missal If caught.
On taking his post the Waterman turns
in, by touching the electric button. He
then walks to the other end Of his corridor,
and enters the last room, all Of the others
being locked. AS he comes back through
the different rooms which are commune
eating, he examines the safes until he
arrives at the room opposite to his starting
place in the corridor, where he turns in a
second time, and the officer in charge knows
that he has made his round and inspected
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