The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-08-14
Adams q Co.'S Ranking House-A Mode
BuiioiSs.

From the San Frsncisco Herald
We were on Wednesday very politely shown
through the new and elegant banking house of
Adams & Co, and were well repaid by an exami-
nation Of the admirable arrangements that ha ge
been adopted to render the building perfectly SO
against ERE. IL is located on the east side OF
Montgomery street, between Sacramento and Cali
fornia streets. From the base to the roof, every
means, dictated by experience aud judgment have
been employed TO counterfeit the influence Of heat,
and there be doubt out that the end has been
attained No expense has been spared, no expe-
dent neglected, which could contribute to tho OBJ
ject aimed at While in all the arrangements Sc
curity against ere has been ihce end studousy kept
in view, VIC do not find that 10 has compelled the
sacrifice OF taste. On the contrary, while IL is be-
yond question the strongest AID bes equp pcd build
ing in the city, in architectural symmetry and ee-
gapcc OF finish IL falls below none
IL Is, including the basemept f1nr stories high,
built of hard burnt brick, With wallis two feet thick
from the fou ition TO the top OF tbs parspet. la
the centre of these massive walls. and perv ,ling
them throughout their whole extent, IL a vacant
space four inches wide, communicating with the air
through sieve like apertures in the cellar and the
parapet. 10 is il the walls we're d)uble with the
air freely circulating between. This arrangement
is admirably calculated TO resist the transmission
Of beat from the outer To the inner wall, we'll
known philosophical principles AIR, il Is known, is
non-conductor OF heat-it only heats by contact,
ard when so heated, it instantly expands, becomes
lighter and rises, while q cooler current rushCs ia
to supply its place. These principles are practically
applied in the construction vi tns ediilce, and the
security they afford will at once be perceived.
The floor Of thebassme Mt and the small yard ia
the rear is solid coat Of cement, several inshcs
thick Beneath the surface of the yard Is reser-
yoir containing several thousand gallons Of water,
from which a pipe leads under ground into the
basement, where a force pump is attacned. hose
leads rom there up through all the noors TO the
roof IL Unnecessary. BY this Arrangement, access to
the water may be secured inside wlthout pOsure
to the heat, ard every floor may be Hooded ia few
moments, X necessary
The fret for, on level with the street, - the
banking aud express ofice-each kind Of business
kept Perfectly distinct, transacted az - didorcnt
counter, and attended 20 by different assistants On
one side Of the counters Get Oh for iho
OF Todd & TO = aud Freeman & o s Expresses
The counters, WHOM extend all around the room,
are made ct solid mahogany, tgo inches thick
They arc tastc'ully and highly wrought, and none
mo- 9 beautiful eau be found IN tho backing houses
~ The eastern cities Thy are tBc work ut Nc. g.
j. bcrt In ~ back conner of tho room q the vault,
ara hee al the Resources Of ga have been exh aust
60 70 uske assu ance doubly sure. suffice - 20
say. That sheu the iOtmrr house uf this hr1n was
destroy cd by the FIRE of the ID Of May, the scaling
wax ia this vault ives melted, aud yet, not
content with the arrangements then existing, add