Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-11-27
GUARDING THE CASH.
The Southern Banks New Quarters
Its Big Vaults.

! The Southern Banks New Quarters
Its Big Vaults.
Yesterday morning the Southern Bank
| threw open the doors of its new building
z aud started business at the new stand,
| just across the street from the building
which it has occupied for 30 many years.
The banks new home is magnificent
building within and without, although it
is not imposing by reason OF great size,
and is not specially unique or grand
architecturallY.
The banking room on the first floor
IS perhaps not any larger than the
old banking room, but 1t is more conve-
niently arranged, utlliZes the space occu-
pied to such advantage that its facilities
for doing business are largely increased
and it's furnishings and decorations have
an elegance and finish that make tnem
pleasing and comfortable 10 the eye, with
out appearing gaudy and out of place in
bank. Large plate glass windows that
reach almost TO the ceiling light the new
quarters we'll, and give promise OF cool
breeZes in summer. The fixtures OF the
Office are solid mahogany, and the effect
is remarkably ric-
This Is genuine cherry, isn't itT' was
a question that was asked dozens oftimes
uuTlHR bH6 udJ. L ue QOSstlOhci lbNoi io-
bly, referred 10 the half PARTITION which
keeps the clerks and officials out eff the
public's reach. One of the officials looked
very tired as he replied: Genuine ma
hogany." A paint has been used on the
wood work. The walls and ceiling are OF
spotless white. The window caslngs,
doors and wainscoting are OF cypress and
California redwood, oiled, which har-
monte perfectly with the mahogany
fixtures and the bronze and gilt on the
pillars and wire work.
Vice President Horace A. Crane is the
only officer who has room to himself. 1t
Is around to the right on Bryan street as
one enters from Drayton street. The
room is separated from the banking de-
partment by an unique partition OF ma
hogany and glass. 1t will also be used
for the meetings of the Board Of Directors.
Adjoining Mr.. Cranes room are the
vaults, and ne would be a sanguine bur-
alar VINO would attempt to get within the
walls after once seeing what they and the
doors are ike. The largest vault Is
greai tw0-story structure of steel, around
which Is built thick, strong wall lined
with steel.
The door on which the vault rests is Of
two layers of steel rails filed in with
PortiaEd cement and the top is of the
same. 1t is all SO strong that dynamite
hOulu DdIuly DlOW III u y duu q DuEBldI
could no more drill hole into the vault
tnan he could dig an artesIan we'll with
bis jimmy, The doors are Of the most
approved vault pattern. with
double time locks and double
combination locks on the outside
door OF steel and one com bination lock on
the inside door. TIE outside door weighs
Two tons. Each of the outside com Dina
tions are set on five dgures which alone
is almost enough to make the door proof
against any one not an expert. To see
tue door opened one would think that an
engine was being started. First lever
| on the right is turned and then one on the
lett, and then u shorter one, which serves
as handle. The levers are for the puT-
pose OF lifting the door in and out Of
place and dovetail lips on the door into
grooves in the casing, In one grove rum
ming around the casing is rubber tube,
which presses against similar tube in
| the door when it is closed, the whole
making the door fit air tight.
| One part OF the lower vault contains
| the safe deposit boxes. There are 1874 of
them of different sizes. Each box has a
| different key, and each box contains a
tin case, which is unlocked by another
| key. These boxes are rented out at from
So to SIS year, according to size, The
vault is fire and burglar proof, and has
| the further safeguard OF burglar alarm
| attachment. 80 that even ii an officer of
the bank should attempt to get in after
| the doors are closed for the night there
would be an alarm. The boxes are for
the deposit of private papers, diamonds
or anything the patron may choose.
Il lew fest from the vault is a coupon
| room in which a depOsitor can take his
case of Iapers and sit down, look them
over aud cut off his coupons or do what
| ever he wishes with them. This vault,
like the cash vault, is always closed, even
IN day time, by steel grating. The tel
| Ter and the cashier have separate COM
partments IN the vault. A miser's eyes
and mouth too would probably water If
be could get peep at the bags of silver
and gold and the packages of notes that
are piled up in these compartments
Something like $4,000 were moved on
Thanksgiving day from the old building
to the new one. Half of that amount in
silver would weigh two tons and "A half.
Up over the cashiers and teiler's vault
is one that Will be used for records, and
step ladder will have to be used to get
up to 1t. Back OF the big vault Is a
smaller one for books. IL is fire proof,
but not intended to be burglar proof.
| The compartments in this vault are of
wood. They were designed by Mr.. Crane,
and made at the Vale Royal Mills.
One ledluTe dUOuJ Ine DOOk sDelFes Is
that the bottoms are of rollers, so that a
book can be put in and taken out easily
aud with scarcely any wear ON the book
back. Down stairs there Is u cellar that
| extends under a part OF the first floor,
| Another vault is located down there, 1t
is for family plate, etc. The heating APP
paratus aud coal bins are down there,
| 100.
The bank was incorporated sixteen
years ago. Capt. John Flannery is the
present President, but MIR. Crane is the
active head of the business.
st. Johns Parish Ent ertsinments.
Rev. Charles Ii. Strong will begin on