Evening star., 1928-08-05

insides of these columns are hollow
and the moisture on the ceiling is car
ried of in this way and then blown
above ground by compressed air. BY
this method the place Is kept perfectly
dry and clean, although there is q con-
siderable amount of seepage.
we are now IN the temple OF gold, .
the official Smilingly remarked as he
pointed to more than 1000 little kegs
full of American gold coin behind some
heavy bars.
The immense chamber which is bril-
liantly lighted by thousands of electric
lamps, has now been divided UP into
many sections. There is one section
where the $i.00o,000,000 In gold is
stored and to reach 1t one must pass
through two more steel walls and turn
ing towers. There is another where
the bank rents few hundred safety
deposit boxes to its principal clients.
and still another for the most impor-
| solutely fireproof, of course, and ex-
traordinary precautions have been taken
to prevent short circuits.
In another corner are all the ma
chimes necessary to heat, light and
purify the air OF this subterranean city
IN case 1t is cut of from the outside
world. and the fuel oil 10 feed them is
stored in cave Of it's own. Ordinarily
the air Is constantly and noiSeleSsly re-
newed by machines at the surface
I'm case OF q gas attack against Paris
the garrison of 1900 men would be alb
Solutely safe here" an architect in the
means of getting supplies OF fresh air
even II the vicinity OF the bank Is
| flooded with gas. and the staff should
I be able TO work just as comfortably as
though there were no gas within hun
| dreds Of miles. With this Subterranean
construction we have probably solved
rthe problem Of protecting cities. or at
least the vital parts OF cities. against
gaS attacks and air raids in the future"
v
TT took 1850 men. working day and
night. three years To build this fort
ress. The underground river had 10 be
damned and the pool drained, After
that the workmen took out 100 900 cubic
yards of solid rock, including some Sc
cret tunnels that lead no one knows
where. 1t is rumored that all the gold
could be evacuated In several hours by
these tunnels If there were any good
reason for it, but the bank officials
won't say word about this
Working zoo feet down IN the earth
under all this mass of solid rock. con-
crete and water. the bank stan would
not hear the slightest sound
1T viii be as silent as the grave"
the architect added. "Frhey will not
hear the worst thunder or lightning, I
doubt II they would even notice ter
| rife bomb explosion above their heads
| They win neither be ANNOYED by heat
nor cold, for we shall keep the place az
the same temperature all the time. II
will not be unhealthy. either. as the dir
will always be pure and duStlesS Aside
| from the artificial light. cannot think
Of any more ideal working conditions"
| The ofiicialS emphasized that the
| fortress might not be used for emer~
| geney purposes is a small stan
| Of ofiicials guards and mechanics ON
duty all the time, OF ceurSe~onee In
| 100 years, but they have taken the pru-
dent course OF stocking Ii with hard
biscuits and canned foods Of all sorts,
which viii be changed from time to
time to be sure they are in good con-
| dttion,
The Kitchens are all ready, there are
dlahes a-plenty piled In the euphoards,
and on few minutes notice the chef
could have 1900 dinners ON the FIRE.