The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1913-02-28
DENvER'S E;Ac3iy: hAiMT.
II Would Take a Burglar Fifty Years
to Break into Il.

If a man twenty-five years old start
ed to rob the Denver mint he would
be seventy-tive before he finished his
task Of %tunneling and drilling. If he
ever reached the vault. When he did
reach the massive cage he could never
get ut the money without detection.
He would have to bring his diving
suit along, as there is water several
feet deep under the foundation of the
mint. He would first have to 60
! through a wall four and a half feet
thick Of brick and portland cement.
The boilers and coal bins are far un-
d%ergroupd. They are on the Evans
street side and more strongly protect
ed than a man-of-war. They are at
least twenty feet below the surface
and surrounded on the top, side and
floor with q concrete wall four feet
thick.
Surprising Jul young boring friend
got through that wall. when he
emerged he would find another just as
thick and just as strong. The lower
portions Of the mint building are d.
vided into compartments. They are
separated. each compartment with its
own defense.
The thief or thieves would find a
real problem to get into the storage
vault. lie would first have to break
through a steel door Weighing seven
tons. He would then face what is
known rs the outer vault. The safe in
this is GO by 20 feet and is ten feet
high. There are millions of dollars in 1t.
This safe Is grit on every side with
a lining Of chrome steel. In the corri-
dor within the great vault there are
four doors leading into the %subvaults.
The cells where are located these
vaults are barred and Melted with
steel. There are no less than sixty
doors in the storage vault. Each Of
the eleven minor storage vaults Is In a
steel grit cage, which has two massive
steel gates. One is above. the other
below.
The Diebold safe is secured by time
locks. On the inner side of an eight
inch thick door is a clock. which a
he set at night to be opened at any
selected time. Until that time arrives
not ever government employees can
get in the ponderous door. Two officials
with keys must aid when the clock
is ready to let them in.
The guards will visit the storage
vaults every few minutes and turn on
IA flood of lights. Inspectors go about
day and night and visit all Of the
treasure rooms of the building. upstairs
and down. Special attention is given
to I:le vaults, but nc portion of the
building is neglected. Every thirty
minutes "Alrs well." is heard over the
telephone.
All over the building are hidden high
power magazine rifles. They are oiled
ard Inspected regularly. 1t is said that
there are at least Il hundred of these
yuus always ready for use. Three
years ago $1,000 was spent in the con-
struction of massive gates leading to
he rooms where the money and bullion
are stored.
The alarm system is connected with
police headquarters 1t is said that the
Denver mint is the best protected In
The world. and no big building has any
thing better in the way Of defense.
with the exception perhaps of the Ma
tional City bank Of New York. This
bank has an elaborate system Of steam
pipes around its vaults for 3 against
raids. If these valves were released 1t
would roast every n in the basement
of the bank alive.-Denver Post.