Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1902-01-15
THE PRESCOTT NATIONAL BANK Opens for Business in Its New
 Building Today. Detailed Description of the Elegant New Qusrters.-HIstory of the
 Institution.


 ness in its elegant new quarters, after about eighteen months of try ing to handle its immense business in very cramped quarters, under the most trying circumstances.
 Very shortly after the great conha- grafton of July 14, 1900, the work of removing the old frame buildings from the northeast corner of Gurley and Cortez streets, preparatory to erecting splendid bank building, was begun and in one season the ma jestic structure of native granite be- gan to loom up, and as each mighty block, some of them weighing many tons, were put in place, fresh excla- nations of admiration were heard from all, until today it stands in all its majestic might and beauty, a monument to the pluck and enter prise of themembers of the institu- tion. In both beauty and durability this building stands today without a superior in Arizona or the southwest.
 It is not the purpose of this article to give a description of the new build ing itself as it is not yet complete in all parts, and that will be given when all the work has been finished, but a description of that portion which will be used by the bank for its quarters will be touched upon.
 The entrance to the bank is from Cortez street, up a short flight of granite steps, passing under mighty granite block that is supported by four magnificent polished granite pill lars, two of which are 12 feet high and twenty-two inches in diameter, two being nine feet high and fifteen inches in diameter. These pillars were brought from Rocklin, Calif., where they were quarried and polish ed to great beauty, and give an ap- pearance of strength and stability to the building. Passing through the large double doors one enters the main lobby of the bank which is about 12x35 feet in size. The floor of the entrance, as we'll as the lobby, is made of interlocking rubber tiling, each alternating block being white and red. This flooring is the latest thing out for such purposes and is a real novelty as we'll as beautiful, com fortable and durable, offering a sure footing to a person walking upon it and at the same time being almost noiseless.
 To the left of the entrance is a beautiful large table with chairs up- holstered in leather for the convent ence of any one wishing to write a letter, and this will be supplied with writing materials at all times. Also large settee of the same style, where one may rest a few moments while waiting. A large high desk provided with all kinds of blanks is also at the disposal of the customers of the bank. All the furniture is quartered oak with golden oak finish, as is the entire woodwork of the interior of the bank, which makes beautiful and perfect harmony in appearance.
 While the building throughout is heated by hot water, a large grate has been provided where a blazing and cheerful fire may be kept burn ing on a damp or chilly day when the furnaces may not be heated up. Over this grate is large plate glass mir TOT which adds greatly to the appear ance of the room. In fact, noth- ing seems to have been over looked which would add to the com fort or convenience of the patrons of the bank.
 To the right is the cashiers recep- ton room, which is always open and where MT. Fredericks, the cashier, is always ready and anxious to meet consult and advise with anyone. This room is handsomely furnished and carpeted with fine rug and is in keeping with every other detail of the interior. In front of the entrance are the departments for the paying and receiving tellers. These are sep arate departments, each teller being enclosed in a cage like room with automatically closing doors and with the exception of a small basket for the reception of papers in the parti- tions, the cages are absolutely inde- pendent of each other. These cages, as we'll as all the railings, etc, are made of brass with the Bowerbarf finish, which is the latest and most expensive thing used for those pur- poses. The marble slabs for the tel lers' and cashiers windows are all Egyptian green marble and harmo- nize beautifully with the railings. The electric fixtures are all of antique brass.
 To the left of the tellers are the private rooms for the use of the pa irons of the safety vaults. This Is feature the bank proposes to give special attention to in the future.
 The vaults, three in all, are just back of the tellers' cages, and are worthy of special description as they certainly are as fine, safe and com plete for their size as any that has ever been constructed in the United States. They were built by the Mos Ter Safe Co. of Hamilton, Ohio.
 In the first place the vaults rest on a foundation of six feet of solid ce ment, into which had been mixed scrap iron and steel as thick as it could be mixed, which would make the work of tunneling under the vaults almost an impossibility. On top of this have been placed three layers of chilled steel three -eighths of an inch thick each. These plates have been tested under a pres sure of 50,000 pounds to the square inch. The vaults are also lined with the same thing, both sides and overhead. Overhead there are also twofeet of cement with scrap iron and steel. The entrance to the vault containing the safety de- posit boxes Is guarded by double doors of chilled steel weighing 12,000 pounds, the outside one of which is locked with triple time locks. These doors are guaranteed to turn any tool ever made. There are log safety deposit boxes 30 se-