The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1913-03-19
DENvER'S MASSIVE MINT.
Il Would Take a Burglar Fifty Years
to Break Into IT,

70 oFcSN iUto ~.
If a man twenty-five years old start
ed to rob the Denver mint he would
be seventy-6ve before he finished his
task of tunnellng and drilling. II he
ever reached the vault. When lie 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 " water several
feet deep under the foundation of the
mint. He would first have to 20
through wall four and half feet
thick of brick and portland cement.
The boilers and coal bits are far I'M
dergroupd. They are on the Evans
street side aud more strongly protect
ed than n man-of-war. They are at
least twenty feet below the surface
and surrounded on the top, side and
| floor with 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 a steel door weighing seven
! tons. He would then face what Is
known as the outer vault. The safe in
this is GO by 20 feet and Is ten feet
| high. There are millions of dollars In it.
This safe Is girt on every side with
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 I'm tine storage vault. Each of
the eleven minor storage vaults Is In Il
steel girt 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 clock, which can
be set at night to be opened at aay
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 90 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 at least hundred Of these
guns always ready for use. Three
years ago 5000 was spent. in the con-
struction of massive gates leading to
the 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 Use against
raids. II these valves were released 1t
would roast every one In the basement
OF the bank alive.-Denver Post.