Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-07-06

Many on tho street last evening stopped
to gaze through the man moth plate gisss
window Of the new banking rooms Of the
Augusta Savings Bank into the brilliantly
lighted interior. This morning tho bank
will open in its new quarters, The finest this
side OF Boston. Saturday lhey moved and
Sunday The rooms were put In condition
tor occupancy. Securities TO tho amount
II about 90 600 600 were transferred from
The old bank on Saturday and are nov
secure in the finest vault ia the State. where.
TO use the words Of Mr.. Damon, Of safe
making fame and who made the steel NJ
tings Of the vault or d the doors III would
he willing to put half million In that
vault, lock it up and Offer IL TO the
person that could get it out In
~ bours.r This vault has its founda-
ii,ns in The ground some five feet deep on =
granite bsse and about l29 900 brick wefa
u.ed in It's copstfuction--enough to build
one OF the new pavilions at the hospital. IL
was commenced yer ago last June, and
The work Was done Dy Smith T. CLARK. The
brick work 10 thought to be thicker than
that of any other vault In the country being
2G inches in thickness. Inside this there
are about eight inches Of alternate, layers OF
iron and steel and air spaces. One layer
Of this steel is 90 hard thst no drill has the
slightest feet upon IL One door Of the
vault has IS bolts and the outer door has 20
operated by three chron0meter clocks work
Jog automatically. The Damon safe
company were given orders to build
the best they knew regardless Of expense.
The outside Is covered with the finest onyx
tile, and the fscings OF the two freplaces
and the hearths are Of the same material.
Extending from this vault to this large win
dow is the massive oak counter, 30 feet
long and ~ inches high. the top being W
inches wide. This counter is richly carved.
the top being sufmounted by an elegant
railing about 40 inches in height, composed
Of an oaken frame about bevelled plat.
giass, the lattice work Of tho surmouDtpg
rail and the wiekets being of bronze fssb.
ioned in rich and artistic designs spec,slly
| designed by the architect, Prof. X b.
CapeD. It should be said here
ibs. Mr. Cspen has originated the
designs for the entire work, excepting
ths frescoing. which WAS done BY Mst.
Berry Of Gardiner. an account OF whose
| work was given in the JOURNAL several
Etk4F AHOs oEbSb ~ w o1y u~s VIZ ASs'.J
| never did more artistic piece Of work.
For more than 8 year Architect Cspen has
given this construction his attention and
| many Of the most pleasing features ase Ut
his designing. = credit to him and the bark.
The hugh plate window. Is feet snd
inches long snd feet snd 8 inches high
snd three sighibs of an inch thick. were
placed in position yesterday. When fully
| lighted the effect Is TOO brilliant TO be de
scriped. There are three chandeliers, each
contsining four gss snd four electric lamps
while there are two each on 10 dif-
ferent brackets arranged around the
| rooms. Ner osk furniture has been put in
The wsinsco.ting Of both rooms 10 osk hand
.omeIy carved In psnel work. The sSo
| Greplsces have richly cssvsd msbtels over
| which are tevell ID Plate glass mirrors.
| The floor outside the couotsr 10 la,d with
Trent tile in pretty desisns. The door
epeniog into the trustees room ~ lighted
~iin cathedral glass iioIshsd with lead work
snd In colors and special designs hsrmonis-
| ing with the whole. Arranged - bsse
boards are the radiators Of the Quincy hot
water beaiiag system. Conascsed with the
rooms Is laya.osy Of the most approved
pattern. The plumbing was done BY Cosan
Co. Nsth. NoJcs had charge OF much
Of the construction Hollis Randall did
| the finishing Of the OAK Haings.