Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1911-10-10
.UNCLE'S MONEY IN BIG VAULTS

Storenouse at washington is fairly
overlooking with gold and silver
says the Philadelphia Record. The
treasury at Washington which
covers two entire city blocks. is
too small to pack away the vast
amounts of gold. silver and green
backs. And, to properly safe
guard his treasure. he was finally
compelled TO build FIVE more large
vaults. which have just been COM
pleted, in addition to the eight
immense vaults containing billions
of dollars in gold. silver, green
backs and securities. and several
smaller safe-vaults in use in the
treasury for years past.
These five new vaults were con-
structed on the west side of the
treasury building. The old steep
roadway. was removed and lowered
at the same time to permit of the
handling of all kinds of money in
bulk, direct from the treasure
aagons to the vault.
The new vaults are wonderful
in their intricate construction.
They are surrounded by thousands
Of highly charged electric wir es
Embedded in solid concrete, any
one of whic h will give an alarm
instantly if touched by any person
not intrusted with the secret
combination. One of the new
money vaults has been built in the
sub-basement itself. Each vault is
alb out 25 feet wide by 80 feet
long, and all five are built of
reinforced concrete four and a
half feet thick and strong in
proportion. The vaults are as
nearly burglar-proof as human
ingenuity can make them.
The present guardians of Uncle
Sans treasure vaults have been
irtrusted with this work for
nearly half century. F w.
Lentz. in charge of the redemp-
ton division, has been with the
government since 1858, and has
had charge of the entire division
since 1904. James D. Rowe is the
man who has been on guard con
stantly r the past "a years. The
new. vaults for the national bank
redemption, agency are under the
direction Of E. w. Wilson, anot her
faithful employc of Uncle Sam,
who has been in his service a little
less than half d century. The
men in the vaults who actually
count the money are A. K.
Wagner, teller. a trusted cmploye
for 36 years. with Charles
Atkinson, as assistant, who has
served continuously for the past 40
years.
All the money vaults in the
treasury are under the direct
control of Lee McCInng. the
treasurer of the United States.
Mr. McClung succeeded Charles
H. Treat in 1908. Frank j. F.
Thiel is private secretary to the
treasurer, and is Mr.. Meetings.
right-hand man. He has been
with the government for the past
six years and during this time
made a thorough study of the
government finances. The writer
is much indebted to Mr.. Thiel for
valuable data collected by him
for use m this story. The
financial transactions of the
government are conducted on
scale of such magnitude as to seem
alost incredible. For instance,
during the period of 13 years
FIR ON 1897 to June so, 1910 the
accounts settled in the office Of
the auditor of the treasury depart
ment aggregated the immense sum
of $68, lS1, 900, 900 an average OF
nearly SIS, $50, 100000 a year. This
vast sum embraces the income and
expenditure of the government,
the issue, redemption and exchange
of currency, accounts Of minis
and assay Offices. customs and
those relating to the postal