Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1913-02-26
peNyeR's MASSIVE MINT.
Il Would Take . Durslar Fifty Ysars
to orsak Into It.

" WouU0 IAN0 OUV0s~' VVNJ WIZ
to orsak Into u.
Ii a man twenty five years old start.
ed to rob the Denver mint he would
,be seyenty-ive before he finished his
task Of tunnciing and drilling. It he
ever reached the vault. When he did
reach the massive cage he could never
ret 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 50
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 a concrete wall four feet
thick. .
Surprising our 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 tic mint building are di.
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, He 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 60 by 20 feet and is ten feet
high. There are millions of dollars In 1t.
This safe Is girt on every side with
a lining OF chrome steel. In the corri'
dor within the great vault there arc
four doors leading into tile %subvaults.
The cells where are located these
vaults arc . 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 Dlebold safe is secured by time
locks. On tho inner side Of an eight
inch thick door is a clock. which can
be set at night to be opened at any
selected time. Until that time arrives
not even government employees can
Get ii the ponderous door. Two officials
! with keys must aid when the clock
is ready to let them in.
Tho guards will visit the storage
vaults every few minutes aud turn OH
a food Of lights. Inspectors 50 about
| day and night and visit all of the
treasure rooms Of the building. upstairs
and down. Special attention Is given
to the vaults. but no portion OF the
/ building Is neglected. Every thirty
| minutes "All's well!' is heard over the
| private telephone.
All over the building are hidden high
power magazine rifles. They are oiled
and inspected regularly. 1t is said that
there are ut least q HUNDRED OF these
guns always ready for eauss. ! Threaa
years ago 5000 was spent in the con
struction Of massive gates lending to
the rooms where the money aud 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 III the way Of defense,
with the exception perhaps of the M
| tional City bank Of New York. This
bank has an elaborate system OF steam
pipes around its vaults for use against
raids. II these valves were released II
would roast every one in the basement
Of the bank alive.-Denver Post.