Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-03-26
GERMAN. AMERICAN BANK.

GhkMAN- AMlhhlUAN DAMN.
Their New Building Opened for Public
INSPECTION Yesterday-A Handsome Ex-
terror and Well Arranged Interior-The
Safe Deposit Vault.
The new building for the German-American
bank, of this city, having been made ready for
transferring to it the business of the bank,
was yesterday opened to the inspection of the
public. The building No. 81 Third street, the
handsome front of which has become familiar
to all frequent passers-by, is thirty feet
front by ninety feet deep, three stories
high. The front is of Ohio white
sandstone, with ornamental columns of pol
ished red granite and topped by an elaborate
cornice corresponding with the cut stone work.
The upper stories are divided into offices, and
the first floor is fitted and arranged for the
banking business. Every room in the build
ing is amply lighted, we'll designed skylight
making the central parts of the upper stories
and the rear of the bank offices about as light
as the rooms and desks nearest the
windows. The floors throughout the
building are OF hard WOOD;
the Railways and stairs are wide and well
lighted, and the interior fittings and finish
throughout have the appearance of durability
belonging to good material and careful work.
The brick work of the building was executed
by James Boyd the carpenter work by Timothy
Reardon, the heavy and intricate stone work
under the vaults by VIM. Zollman, the plaster
ing by James Cullen, the painting and fresco-
ing by Beck & Rank, the counters, desks and
other fittings of the bank offices by Joseph
Hauggi, and the burglar proof vaults
Safe and Lock company, of Canton, O. One of
the rooms of the third story has been reserved
for the directors of the bank. The three offices
on the second floor have been lessed-one to
John B. & w. 81. Sanborn. another to l. V. D.
Heard for law offices, and the third by Mr. 4.
81. Stevens, manager of r. G.. Dun d Co.'s
great Commercial Agency. MIR. Stevens has
already moved in, and has one of the finest
offices in the city.
THE BANKING OFFICES
are very conveniently arranged. One door and
hallway serves for the common entrance to
stairway and bank, allowing the tellers, book
keepers, corresponding clerk and managing
officers of the pank to be grouped conveniently
near the front Of the building. The counters
and desks are of oiled black walnut, with glass
and wire screens and divisions-with which will
be observed judicious barriers against all
known grab games. The walls and
ceilings are handsomely frescoed, and
the general appearance happily unites
elegance with comfort. But the splendid
offices and elegant fittings were only mat
ter of passing interest with many visitors yes
terday. They were most interested in the mas
sive vaults and especially IN the feature new to
st. Paul, the
SAFE DEPOSIT VAULT.
The double vanlt stands on a great stone
arch resting on foundation laid in the bed
rock. In laying the foundation and building
the arch, as in constructing and encasing the
vaults every possible precaution has been taken
to make the structure fire and burglar proof.
The sides, bottom and top are exposed to view
so that mining and other burglarious opera
tions cannot be undertaken from any direction.
The foundation and archway are of hard stone,
laid in cement and anchored with iron. The
vault is composed of number of courses of
welded iron and steel, and is believed to be
drill and sledge proof. The bank compart-
ment is entered from the bank offices. The
large compartment of the safe deposit
is entered only from the custodian's enclosure.
The entrance of the safe deposit vault is protect
ed by double set of solid steel and iron doors,
each containing double combination lock and
the outer one guarded by time lock to pre-
vent its being opened by anyone outside of bus
mess hours. In addition to all these safe
guards the vault is TO be properly guarded day
and night, and the vigilance on the part of the
The vault has capacity Of 1,5OO
deposit safes, and now contains
over 500. These are twenty-three inches
in depth and vary from q ks inches to 10xl0
inches, except few extra large ones, for the
use of those having bulky valuables or a great
quantity of documents to deposit. Each safe
can only be unlocked by the duplicate keys
which the renter holds; but cannot be unlock
ed by them except by aid of a pass key in
charge of the custodian. No one is to enter
the vault alone and no more than two persons
may enter with the custodian. When the rentor
has, with the aid of the custodian,
opened his safe he may remove
the tin box containing his deposits
and convenient private rooms are provided
where he may examine or use the deposits at
his leisure. The approach to the vault and the
passage way to the rooms referred to are prop
erly protected, as that no grab game can be
played by thieves.
THE CUSTODIANS BOOKS
are designed for the keeping of a perfect record
of all safe deposit transactions of every day,
including the examination or handling of de-
posits by owners or their legally deputized
agents and everything which can be con-
ceived to be necessary to guard all
concerned from error or accident The custO-
dian is Mr.. Hermann Trott, late land COM
missioner of the late st. Paul g. Pacific COM
pany, and the fact that this very important
trust has been placed his charge will go far to
recommend this branch of the banks business
to the public. But really it ought not to need
recommendation since it is self evident that
it offers security such could be obtained no.
where else at very small cost. The
rentals are light, ranging from S. to
$25 year, according to the size of the safe;
the conveniences for renters are excellent, and
anyone who has valuable papers. titles, secur-
tiles or treasures to care for will readily ap-
preciate the advantages offered. The applica-
tions for safes are quite as numerous as the Of
icers of the bank expected to have by this
time but will be more numerous as the merits
of the safe deposit and the plans on which it