The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1917-10-26

vaults were possessed by macy banks
tn frSt V"hlc safe deposit vaults
t.. the United States were built in 1861
for Col. Francis II. .Snks and were
located at 1902 Broadway, New York
The lowest rent. charged for these
vaults vas $40 year. Two years
later Col. Henry Lee built the Union
safe deposit vaults the first Of their
kind IN Boston, at 40 State street.
r. 1871 there were six safe deposit
companies in the country.
At first only small part of the pub
lie appreciated its need for the pro-
lection offered by these fireproof
vaults. But the great Boston fire Of
1872 proved nm impressive object les
son. Guarded by troops, the Union
safe deposit vaults were center of
excitement. Frantic hOy-hOlders,
alarmed by the annihllation of prop
erty on every side. had TO he forcihly
restrained from taking possession OF
their valuables. After the fire was
over it was found that properly con-
structed vaults preserved their con-
tents unharmed. while safes of the
very best make could offer no effectual
resistance to the fire. This conclusion
has been confirmed by every great fire.
notably the fires of Baltimore and San
Francisco.
The structural strength of safe de-
pOsit vaults has been gradually in
creased to Il point exceeding all pos
Sible demands upon 1t. \ vault made
of solid plates of manganese several
inches thick and nine feet square, so
hard that it cannot be machined once
It is cast. is encased in a concrete wall
two feet thick. The vault rests upon
a foundation especially prepared for 1t
and IS usually so constructed as to be
entirely separate from the walls, floor
and ceiling of the building in which
it stands. so that II may be patrOlled
on all sides by watchmen who are on
duty day and night The structure
Of steel has thick double doors with
locks Of which only one
person knows the secret or the secret !
may be divided between two or more !
persons no one having the entire com |
jination. The inner door Is provided .
with n lock set on different COmbina- /
-ion from the outer and known only to .
another person or set of persons, and .
his will work only upon the running .
lOwn of a clOckwOrk mechanism at a .
certain prearranged time. Thus at least .
,,rvaIcfI,11 a rAp11irp1
o open the vault, and they cannot do
t between time of closing and that set
or opening.
The time lock obviates the posi-
pility of a person being compelled by
burglars to open the vault, and its con-
also prevents the insertion Of
IN explosive.
During business hours these heavy
lOuble doors stand Open and an inner
loOr or gate of light grilled construc-
ion is used. The inside walls of the
,ault are lined with steel compart-
nents of various sizes. To gain access
o one Of the boxes kept in these
two keys are needed.
The custodian has a key which must
'e turned in the lock before the key
f the tenant will open it. The key
o each compartment is different, and
% tenant can open any box but his
wn, nor even that without the assist
nee of the person In charge. No ten
Mt can enter the vaults or gain access
D his own rented compartment with
ut being accompanied by the custo-
ian. In addition to these safeguards,
ficient burglar alarms are provided
,hich give immediate notice Of any
with the vault.