The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1913-07-03
DENyER's MASSIVE MINT.
4 Would Take a Burglar Fifty Years
to Break Into II.


If man twenty-five years old start
ed to rob the Denver mint he would
be seventy-five 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 at 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 go
through a wall four and a half feet
thick of brick and portland cement.
The boilers and coal bins are far I'M
dergroupd. 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.
Supposing 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 the mint building are d.
vided into compartments. They are
separated, each compartment with its
own defense.
The thief or thieves would find
real problem to get into the storage
vault. He would first have to break
through steel door weighing seven
tons. He would then face what is
known as the outer vault. The safe in
this is 60 by 20 feet and Is ten feet
high. There are millions Of dollars in it.
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 netted 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 can
be set at night to be opened at any |
selected time. Until that time arrives |
not even 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
a food 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 the vaults, but no portion Of the
building is neglected. Every thirty
minutes "All's wellv' 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 at least hundred of these
guns always ready for use. Three
years ago $1,000 was spent in the con-
'truction Of massive gates leading to
he rooms where the money and bullion
ire stored.
The alarm system is connected with
police headquarters. 1t is said that the
Denver mint is the best protected in
he world, and no big building has any
hing better in the way of defense.
With the exception perhaps of the Ma
ional City bank of New York. This
'ank has an elaborate system of steam ,
,ipes around its vaults for use against ,
aids. If these valves We're released it ,
would roast every one in the basement
f the bank alive.-Denver Post. q