The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-06-11
PLANSFOR GERMANIA
THREE ARCHITECTS DESIGNING
NEW BANK BUILDING.
WORK WILL START JAN. !
IF CONTRACTORS SAY THEY CAN
FINISH By OCT. L, 1908.

The Building VIII BE FireprOof,
With Steel ramewOrk-This Will
Admit of Rapid COnstructiOn-May
Be Finished in Nine MOnths-De-
sired by Oct. 1. 1908, for COnven-
fence of Tenants-FeatuTe of the
Building Will BE Its Elevators.
Bank Is Determined to Have No
Delays Because of Inadequate Ell
evatOr service-OgIethOrpe Club to
Have Two Floors.
Plans for the new building to be
erected at Congress and Bull streets,
where Livingston's drug store now is
are being prepared by Architects Nor
man & Bruce of Atlanta and Milburn
of Charlotte. They have not been re-
tanned for the work, but have under
taken it upon the understanding that
the plans that are regarded by the
banks directors as the best will be
selected.
1T is our purpose" said President
Henry Blum of the Germania Bank
yesterday. Ito let the contract and
have the work on the building COM
mence Immediately after Jan. l, next,
provided the contractors give us as
surance that they will be able to COM
plete the building by Oct. l of next
year. Unless it can be completed by
that time, there will be no object nj
starting it in January. Our lease upon
our present quarters does not expire
until Nov. 1, but we should like to
have our new home in readiness at
least a month before we are to oc-
cupy it.
To Be Finished in October.
Under the system that prevails in
Savannah leases terminate, as a rule,
on Oct. l, and that IS a reason, too,
why we want the building ready by
Oct. /. There would be many who
would be glad to become tenants OF
the building as soon as their leases on
the places they occupy prior to the
| completion of the new structure exyll Z.
| ihIs will Re the prime consideration.
1t will induce us to have the work
prosecuted as rapidly as possible. I'm
less the work can be finished by Oct.
l, there will be no need for it to start
be finished by Oct. l. 1904"
Capt. Blum was asked if he thought
it would be possible to complete the
building, which will be the tallest in
Savannah, within nine month. He
was not sure, but he thought it would
The question will be one of getting the
steel framework from the manufactur-
ers promptly. he said. The building
will be of steel, and absolutely fire.
nrnnf Snph q hI1ildinor "a ~
Blum. can be constructed much more
rapidly than one of the ordinary type
The stone work, after the steel frame
is in place, requires comparatively a
brief time.
Eight Stories High.
The building is to be eight stories
high, in addition to the basement
Capt. Blum was asked if he thought
the cost would be held down to $125,-
600. but his reply was that it would
probably run above that amount
The first floor of the building will
be used by the bank Capt. Blum and
the Building Committee of the direc-
tors informed the architects just what
was wanted on that floor, leaving the
arrangement of the other floors to
their judgment and experience They
will be devoted largely to offices
So continuous will be the traffic in
the building that there will be an in
novation in elevator conveniences in
troduced in Savannah. There is not
a building in Savannah that has more
than one elevator. There will not
be less than two elevators said Capt
Blum, land there may be more They
will be needed for the accommodation
of those who have business in the
building. The bank will see to it that
there are none of the delays that are
incident to an incommensurate ele-
Vator service.
The Oglethorpe Club will have quar-
tiers in the new building. The seventh
and eighth stories have been spoken
for by the club. and the bank has
agreed to allow the club to become it's
tenants. The location will be admira-
BILE for club quarters, and especially
so, as the two floors will be designed
with an understanding of the needs
of the club. The present quarters of
the club in the building at the corner
of Bull and Broughton streets owned
by Mr.. w. ]. DeRenne, will be given
up.