The times., 1896-02-14
The New Bank.

State Bank Examiner Sherwood iSatur-
day morning met the directors of the Citi-
zens' Savings Bank and found its affairs in
proper shape to do business. About fifty
of the stockholders took dinner at the Will
dermuth.
The appointments of the bank are very
neat. Large plate-glass windows on the
north and east sides admit plenty of light.
The sashes, as well as all the furniture are
quarter-sawed oak, highly polished. There
are two entrances, one at the northeast cor
ner and one midway on the north side.
The window of the lobby contains a
convenient check desk, while the floor of
the lobby is tiled with small white and dull
red tiles, placed by e. Q. Parson, of Kali
amazoo. In the body of tie tiling the red
prevails, while in the border, of Grecian de-
sign, the white color prevails.
The counter has Dashboard of polished
granite surmoutned by panels containing
pretty hand carving. The rail is of bill
plate, Clipped glass, surmounted by artistic
grill work of steel, finished in Oxidized cop
per- The cashiers cage is of steel finished
the same way and has a door mounted on
an incline which keeps it always shut and
locked, unless held open. The presidents
Office is separated from the lobby by an ex-
tension of the counter and neat door,
The counters, cage and grill work were
made by the Ketcham Manufacturing Co.,
of Toledo, and shipped in sections which
| fitted the place designed for them, perfectly.
The private Office at the west of the north
entrance is about fourteen feet square, with
floor stained and finished with hard oil and
graced in one corner with tasty fire place
of rock-faced tiling and bronzed metal work.
A large oaken directors table with COM
Portable arm chairs and handsome rug are
also placed in this room.
| The wainscoting of the main Office is
about four feet high and is handsomely
panelled and beaded
The steam heating plant and the plumb
ing were put in by Sproul e McGurren, OF
Grand Rapids and are thoroughly up-to
piping are nicely brOnzed.
The front dOor'of the fre-proof vault is 6
fine piece of work. Its color is steel gray
with narrow gilt border. The door-post:
are in the form of square ,futed columns,
surmounted by Corinthan capitals, support
ing graceful Romanesque Intel. Thi:
door is provided with wheel and axle Sc
that it can be shut air-tight, precludlng the
use of liquid explosives. The vault itsel
is capacious, containing room for Office file'
and depositors' boxes besides the burglar
proof safe. This is quite solid affair anC
has round door, which by means of /;
crank and c0g-wheel is turned and shut lik,
the breech Of modern rifled cannon. Th,
time lock consists of three clocks acting in
dependently so that If one or two breal
down the third one will unlock the safe a
the required time. The door has to b.
turned with considerable force before 1t cal
| be locked, and then the door Is air-tight
This safe was made by the Mosler Safe Co.
of Hamilton, Ohio, who claim that this styl
of safe which has been used for some year
has never been robbed.
, The frescoing was done by the Vintol
Co., of Detroit, under the personal direc
! tion of S. G. King, who had charge of tn
frescoing of the state capitol. The fresco
ing of the private Office is in the style @
Louis xiv, cream and terra-cotta shade
being used to produce pleasing soft effects
The border is very wide with its lower edg
; waving. The frescoing of the main ofhc
: is the same in color but the figures are moi
|. Rococco and the border has straight edg'
|. The bank expects to begin Its reguls
business tomorrow.