The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1891-03-21
A Description Of the Handsome New
Block Now in the Course of
Erection.
1t Will Cost About $4,000 and
Will be The HandsOmest West
Of st. Paul.
The Structure Will be as Near Fire.
Proof as it is Possible to
Make It'll

A TRIBUNE reporter Yesterday had the
pleasure of examining the plans and
specifications of the new First National
bank and Townsite company building
which will be built this year on the
corner of Third street south and Central
avenue.
1t will be constructed of cut red sand
stone and when finished will be one of
the finest bank and office buildings west
of st. Paul. There will be four storles,a
sub-basement and basement, or practical
ly five stories in all. 1t will have a
frontage of so feet on Central avenue
and 100 feet on Third street south.
The architects, Bertrand & Keith of
Minneapolis, intend to make this a
fireproof structure from foundation to
roof, as the door frames, doors, windows
and mouldings will comprise about all of
the combustible material to be used in
the building.
The sub-basement floor will be of burnt
thing and 50 will the first or bank floor
The floors OF the three other stories will
be laid in white maple grouted under
meath or filled in with cement which will
render them as fireproof as thing.
The frame work of the building will be
of iron and steel, and the walls between
offices of brick, so that if a fire breaks
out in one portion of the room 1t will he
impossible for 1t to spread elsewhere.
A large corridor will run lengthwise of
the structure from the second floor to the
roof.
The inside of the building will be per-
fectly lighted, and there will not be a
dark Office in it.
A hydraulic passenger and freight ele-
vator will make one floor as desirable as
for office purposes.
The basement or cellar will contain the
hot water generator heaters, with which
the building will be heated.
The ground floor or sub-basement will
be fitted up for safe deposit vaults and
with an entrance on Third street.
There will be n large safe deposit vault
and a storage vault fitted up with seventy
boxes, in which subscribers
keep valuable papers and jewels.
This much needed acquisition to the
the first Of its kind to be es-
in Montana, will be run on as Sc
cure a plan as are similar institutions in
eastern cities.
The vaults will he provided with time
and trusty attendants will lie or
1uty during the day to wait on customers,
a Waterman will patrol the vicinity
the night. The boxes will be
'ented to responsible parties only, at a
nominal figure, and will be so constructed
hat the key of both a subscriber and the
attendant will be required to open any
)ne.
There will be also ample room for half
dozen offices besides the safe deposit on
he ground floor.
The main entrance to the Eank on the
irst floor, as we'll as the rest of the build
ng, will be through large double doors
IN Central avenue.
Stepping up four steps one will pass
through the massive portal and stand
within the main lobby, on the right is
he entrance to the banking room and on
he left double doors lead to the spacious
,fices of the Great Falls Water g. Town
lite company, while straight ahead is the
,ntry to the rarid elevator which will
larry one to the desired floor. Entering
he department intended tor the First
National bank the visitor will see as fine.
y furnished and conveniently arranged
quarters as a be found in the
vest. The president anu cashier will
nave fine rooms set aside for them. The
room for the clerks and book
will be we'll lighted and con-
,eniently arranged. The money and
book vaults will be Of the latest design,
supplied with time locks and constructed
10 as to defy burglars and the elements.
On the left of the main entrance the
and general offices of the Town
lite company will be arranged in cOnven-
and suitable style. There will be a
arge private Office fronting or Central
venue and the secretary's office and gen.
,ral cOunting-rOOm arranged adjacent.
The second, third, and fourth floors are
III designed on the same plan, having
.hree Offices fronting on Central avenue,
Xix or Third street, and three on the in
side.
As mentioned above the building is ar
'anged so that there will be no dark Of
ices or rooms in 1t.
This magnificent ediice when COM
Dleted will represent an expenditure of
,bout $4,000, and will be the peer Of
my bank and Office building in the north
vest. The people of Great Falls can
point to it with pride as a fitting monu-
nent to the men who we're instrumental
IN giving this city a start.
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