The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-09-05

implements which are necessary to the
manufacture of naval stores.
MIR. John H. Hunter is a member of the
firm Of Hunter, Pearce & Battey, commits
sion merchants, who do a factorage bust
ness in both cotton and naval stores.
Mr.. j. w. Hunt is a member of the firm
of Peacock & Hunt Naval Stores
Company, who, as stated do
perhaps the largest naval stores fac
forage business in Savannah. The firm
has a large list of connections throughout
the naval stores producing territory, and
than any other Individual house in the
world.
Mr.. George ]. Mills is a well-known pri-
vate banker and capitalist. He has been
a director in the Central railroad for
years, and was recently elected a perma-
nent director in the new company. Mr..
Mills is prominently interested in many of
Savannah's foremost enterprises.
Since its reorganization the Citizens
Bank has built up a surplus and undivid-
ed profits of about $4,000 1t has stablish-
ed itself on a solid basis and is paying
regularly an annual dividend of per
cent. on its capital stock. In June, 1894
the banks increased business, and the
necessity for better facilities for conduct
ing it, led the directors to consider the
matter of having erected a new building,
and in the following December the con-
tract for a new structure was given out.
The new building takes the place of an
old structure, which, with the exception
of the war period, has been occupied by
banking institutions Of one kind or an
other since 1856. The old building with
the property upon 1t. which stood at
Drayton and Bryan streets, formerly
owned and occupied by the Southern
Bank of the State of Georgia, was pur-
chased from Capt. John Flannery in jan
uary. 1894, for $4,000. The entire cost of
the new building, including the lot
vaults, furniture and fixtures, was about
800 600.
The new building, which is of the re-
naissance style. Is a model Of modern
architecture. 1t is the only absolutely
tire-proof structure in Savannah, and one
of the few OF it's kind in the southern
states. 1t is five stories high the total
hight from the street level to the top of
the parapet being ninety-four feet, which
is much higher than any of the largest
surrounding buildings. The first story and
lower part Of the second are of oolitic
limestone, from Bedford, Ind.
while the superstructure is Of
Powhattan gray brick, almost iden-
teal in color with the limestone
in the stories below. The stone orna-
mentation furnishes relief to the state
illness of the building given by the arches
and towering parapet SUFFICIENT TO make
It most pleasing to the eye.
The construction of the interior is such
as to make the building thoroughly fire.
proof. The beams and supports are all
of iron, the walls and floors of terra
Gotta lumber, and the wainscoting and
floors IN the first story are of marble.
The only woodwork in the building are
the window and door frames and the
doors and flooring in rooms above bank
floor
The banking room and offices are per-
haps the best equipped and most com
plete in detail in the south. This room
is on the street floor, and is entered
either from the Drayton and Bryan
street corner or on Drayton street, the
former being the main entrance TO the
bank, and the latter the entrance to the
hallway leading 10 the electric elevator
and the stairs.
The woodwork in the banking room in
closing the offices and different apart
ments is Of antique oak handsomely I'm
ished. and in the lobby, where II en-
closes the separate apartments, Il stands
on base OF buzz Tennessee marble, and
Is surmounted by a metallic guard OF
harmonious color. The lobby Is almost
octagonal In shape. the floor and wains-
cOting being OF white Georgia marble.
and in It's center is a large column around
which is the check desk for the accom-.
mouatlOn OF the pubic. To the LETT of
the main entrance going IN, and almost
adjoining the cashiers office IL a pri-
vate room for the use Of the banks out
of-town customers. The next apart
ment going around the lobby
is the cashiers office, after
which follow in order the apartments for
discount and exchange. collections, indi-
vidual bookkeepers teller, assistant teller,
and the savings department. In the rear
TO the right is the apartment for the mail
ing and correspondence clerks general
bookkeepers and general working force.
In the rear Of the cashiers Office, reached