Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1911-10-13
UNCLE's MONEY IN BIG VAULTS

Uncle Sans pockets are buiglng
with the coin Of the realm. and his
storehouss 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 20 permit of the
handling of all kinds OF money in
bulk, direct from the treasure
agons to the vault.
The new vaults are wonderful
in their intricate construction.
They are surrounded by thousands
of highly charged electric wir es
imbedded in solid concrete, any
one of which 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
endorsement itself. Each vault is
about 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 I'm Gle
Sans treasure vaults have been
Entrusted with this work for
nearly half a century. F w.
Lentz, in charge of the redemp-
tion 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 for the pest Al wears. The
new vaults for the national bank
redemption agency are under the
direction of E. W. Wilson, anot her
faithful employe of Uncle Sam,
who has been in his service a little
less than half Il century. The
men in the vaults who actually
count the money are A. K
Wagner, teller. a trusted cmploye
for SO years. with Charlie:
Atkinson, as assistant, who ha:
served continuously for the past az
years.
All the money vaults in the
treasury are under the direct
control of Lee Needing. the
treasurer of the United States.
Mr.. McClung succeeded Charles
II. Treat in 1905. Frank j. F.
Thiel is private secretary to the
treasurer, and is Mr.. Meetings.
right.hand nan He has been
with Inc 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 hin
for use in this story. The
financial transactions of the
government are conducted on {
scale of such magnitude as to seen
alost incredible. For instance,
during the period of 13 year
from 1897 to June 80, 1910 tn,
accounts settled in the office o
the auditor of the treasury depart
ment aggregated the immense sun
of sos, 1S1, O00, coo an average o.
nearly So, $50, 00O,O 900 a year. Thi
vast sum embraces the income ant
expenditure Of the government
the issue. redemption and exchang
of currency, accounts Of mint
and assay Offices. customs ant
those relating to the posta
services, the %enu of whicl
for the fiscal year ending June 80
1909, amounted to 5000. 562. 3S o.
and the expenditures to 1921, 004,
1928.