The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-18
THEY WE'RE DOUBTFUL


1t is apparently so simple that there
were many in the assemblage present
at the test who accepted rather warily
the assertions as to what it would do,
as made by the company's superintend-
cnts. NJ. .R. Schlichter and Engineer
D. w. c. Suplee, who were present TO
conduct the test. These doubling ones
looked at the elevator fastened at the
top of the eight-story shaft with
block and tackle and then, gazing down
into the well 120 feet below, shook their
heads and joked with one another
about the value of the elevator al scrap
iron and kindling wood rates, when it
had been gathered up at the bottom of
the well. When 1900 pounds of iron
weights were piled upon the platform
of the elevator. making it's total weight
ton and a half, the doubters looked
at one another and smiled. When En-
gineer Suplee brought on a box in which
there was a dozen uncooked eggs rest
ing on a layer of loosely strewn nails,
they simply stared. A glass filled with
water was placed on top of one of the
iron weights and the dubious ones
wondered.
The elevator men then announced
would be cut and the carriage allowed
to drop the whole length of the shaft
into the twelve-foot we'll and that when
they got down there they would find
| the elevator whole and entire, the eggs
| intact and the water unspilled.
| The largest part of the crowd took a
station on the second floor to watch
| the experiment. At 4 o'clock the word
civ nd
the rope in twain. There was a rush,
a clatter. bang, smash and then a
| cloud of dust that was not unlike that
which might follow fierce explosion.
Everybody thought it was failure;
that something had gone askew and
that the elevator carriage would be
found down in the mines or possibly
China. That is everybody thought so
except the elevator man. mo, moth
! ing the matter whatever" said one of
them. Just wait till the dust settles
and YOU will find it was very sue
cessful experiment. That racket was
merely the rush of air. Everything
will be found all right
| EXPERIENCE SUCCESSFUL.
And sure enough it was. When the
steel door of the two-foot wall of the
well was opened from the basement
| there was Mr. Elevator Carriage rest.
ing snugly on the bottom with not as
much as a splinter showing. Not an
egg was broken or even cracked. The
glass of water retained it's position or
top of the iron weight. A little of the
water was missing. but this was due
to the suction of the air, it was eX-
| ,,.o 10 oil {
not overturned left this as the only
explanation. 1t was certainly marvel.
lous. Those who witnessed it will new,
cr have any fear of accident wher
riding in the Connell building elevators
it is expected that the building will
be ready for occupancy by April 1. II
IL ractically complete, nothing remain
ing to be done but to put on the finish
ing touches
IT is the largest and in many respecti
the finest building in the city of Scran
ton. The entire structure, including
the siX-story portion which was frs
built, represents an investment Of ovel
100000 1t is 9Ox150 feet and eigh
stories. or 10S feet i'm height. II Is O.
steel, fire-proof construction, with sid,
and rear walls of brick and front o
ornamental graystone. The interior Il
finished in hard oak, and the corridor
have mosaic floors.
There is one siX-floor store, one one
floor store and 102 offices in the build
ing. Twenty-Five of these offices ar
located on the two floors added to tn
original six-story building and the 9th
er eighty are i'm the eight-story addi
tion to the south. Through the cente
of the building extends a 30x40 area
way which furnishes light and venti
iation for the inside offices. On eacl
Of the office floors there are three room
facing each side of the area-way an
three others at front and rea
} of the building. A ten-foot cor
ridor extends through the cen
; ter of the building. A smaller corri
dor at either end of the main one an
running at right angles with il separ
ates the offices on either side of tn
area, thereby giving every room ligh
! from at least two sides.
: PUBLIC VAULTS.
. Each front suite of offices has a pr
vate vault and on every floor are tw
public vaults for common use of III
tenants. Condults containing tel,
phone wires, gas pipes and electr
e light wires tap every room. There is
mail chute also extending to the 10
floor.
The double elevator shaft, staircas
and lavatories have been built in