Daily Kennebec journal., 1900-11-02
New Vickery & Hill Building
Nearly Completed.
A Fire Would Burn Itself Out on
the Floor.
An Abundance Of Room Tor Increasing Needs
Of the Various Departments.


every way admirably suited to the
needs of this company which does such
an immense business.
The new building. when viewed from
the outside. presents an attractive ap-
pearance. as ii is three stories high
and occupies q ground space of g. by
20 feet. and when joined to the build
ing in which the companys work was
formerly done. it makes Il plant fully
large enough to carry on the immense
and constantly growing business.
The ground tIoor or basement will be
used for the present as a store room.
but later will be occupied by the i'm
mense presses. ana will furnish ample
accommodation for the purpose re-
quired
The next floor Nill be occupied by the
business odies ana the cumpo sing room.
As one enters from the street he steps
into a corridor. at the end of which is
the door Of the composing room. This
extends from unc sidr Of the building
to the other. and gives large light
ana airy room Of ample accommoda-
tion for the typtsettinG machines
which are used in the work. Power for
llltSt Ui'liililltS N HI Nv iui fliSutN ny
electric motors.
The first door t" the right as one en-
ters the corridor ~ the advertising
room. which will he devoted t. the use
Of those having charge Of that depart
ment. IN the rear of that. ANA in the
southwest corner j. 4 large office which
VIII be occupied by the book keepers.
This contains large vault perfectly
fire proof. SO that there is no danger OF
loss through that means.
Next to this is the private ntiic" IF
COY. elect John +. Hill. which viii be
fitted with thoroughly modern appli-
ances and is large and airy. on from
this is private toilet room fitted with
the most modern sanitary arrange
ments
Leading from this floor to the CORE
spending floor Of the old building is
long corridor % ny 40 feet. 50 that easy
access may be had from one part Of
the building to the other.
An iron staircase leads from the sec
ond 10 the third story in the new part
This staircase il one Of the marvels in
the construction Of the structure. A
stated. il IS entirely Of metal. but that
ii may not be dangerous to passers the
tops of the steps are covered viii
preparation similar to that used in
making cement sidewalks. BY this
means the stairs are not only fire proof
but also perfectly safe for those going
up and down.
These parts Of the building mention
ed are not occupied as Yet. but are only
waiting TO be completed before the
business Of the company will BE- car
ried on there. The upper story is now
in use and here may be found the
large number Of people working under
the direction of Charles Il. Hall. who
has charge Of the mailing department
At the right Of the entrance To this
room are the desks of George NickerY.
the general manager. and his assist
ants. Further on is the desk Of Mr.
Hall. SO located that he can see not
only every part Of the whole room in
which he is located. but also through
the corridor to the section Of the mail
ing department. located in the old
building
The whole of the upper story in
which the mailing department is lo-
Gated. is one large room with windows
on every side 50 as to furnish An
abundance of light during the day.
while in the evening an electric light
for every person employed, besides the
clusters Of lights at the ceiling, makes
the department almost as light AS
when there is no necessity for electric
lamps
1t is almost Impossible tn describe
this department 50 that the word pic
;ure will give the same impression AS
would be gained from personal visit.
Steel ceilings are used throughout
These not only add to the attractive
ness, but also carry out the idea Of
making the department fire proof The
steel pillars used in supporting the
roof were first covered with Il substi-
tute like adamant that they may be
fire proof. 1t is stated that, without
this fire proof covering, should con-
hasration occur, the heat would be Ii
able to warp the posts; but with this
covering there is not the slightest dan
ger of their being started.
1t was the desire 70 move into this
department as soon as possible that
no risks from fire might be taken. as
it is here that the 2.500.0 600 names of
the subscribers are kept, and should
they become lost or destroyed they
could not be replaced. Now that the
clerical force, is working in this depart
ment there is not the slightest danger
Of loss. for the building is as near fire
proof as possible. The building is con-
stlucted wholly Of brick and steel, and
the only places where wood is in use is
in the window frames, doors and floor
ing. The floors are laid in cement
Thus the wood is five inches above the
steel girders The floors are covered
spreading from one part of the build
ing to another. should a contlagration
occur. AS to the floors, it is stated
BY the builders that if by any chance
fire should be started in the middle
Of the floor it would probably burn
itself out in short time without
spreading over a distance of more than
few feet.
On this floor, as on that below is a
corridor 20 by 40 feet. connecting the
! old with the new building. At either
end of this is fire proof door so ar
| ranged that when the heat reaches l65
| degrees it closes automatically. The
| floor of this corridor slopes toward the
old building that trucks may carry
/ mail matter back and forth. This cor
! ridor is utilized as a lavatory for the