The Monticellonian., 1906-01-18
FEDERAL BUILDINGS.
ARCHITECTURAL INVITATIONS OF
 FEUDAL CASTLES.
Contain Long Rambling Passages and Lookout Stations Very Similar to Those of Ancient
 Structures.

It is not generally known that the 1 United States has to some extent imi- lated the architecture Of the old feudal castles of Europe. Federal buildings are now constructed with mysterious 1 passages and inside towers. the mean ing of which is unknown to the unini- tiated. The towers are lookouts and the mysterious passages lead to them.
 The older buildings have not very extensive system. as t has been added since the buildings were constructed, but those recently bulls have rambling l passages that would to credit to any ancient castle.
 The lookout is not tower on the roof, where the weather man and the fire watcher may sit and enjoy the cool summer breezes, but it is dark and dismal, hot and dusty. and very lone some for the solitary occupant who often has to remain on duty all night, and sometimes for many nights or days
 The lookout is a preventive, a guard against the weakness of men under temptation. The government does not say that il thinks it's employees dis honest or that dishonesty is frequent, but when there is dishonesty it has a system by which the innocent will be protected and the guilty punished.
 The lookout is not a recent innova- ton, but has been in use for many years By means of it every responsl- ble department may be under daily inspection for weeks without the knowledge of more than one or two l persons.
 In the post office this inspection oc- CUTS when there has been a systematic taking of valuable mail which has been traced to certain spot. The watch is kept up until some one is seen in the act of aBstracting mail.
 One of the largest federal buildings in the United States is now under con struetion al Indianapolis For nearly quarter of a mile the lookout rambles along the first floor and basement. There are four entrances to it. one at each end of the building in the base ment and one al each end of the first floor These entrances do not adyer- Use themselves with red lights, but are put tn the most inconspieueus places possible.
 At the entrances on the first floor there is disclosed an unfinished shaft that looks as if it had been made for the accommodation of an elevator. A narrow iron ladder screwed to the sias or the shaft extends upwards into the darkness and down into the dark depths below.
 Upward the ladder leads to a narrow passageway which extends the entire length of the big room where the mail Is To be worked. It runs along tho middle of the room and is attached to the ceiling, causing it to resemble a huge yentilating shaft At regular in- teYals on either side of tLis passage way or chute are openings covered with immoYable shutters SD arranged that one may look through tho slats and not be seen. There are also small holes Tn the floor through which to look di- rectly down. The whole appearance is that of ventilator. A rubber walk extends down the center of the shaft so that footsteps cannot ta heard be. low. From this passageway are side i shafts extending to the money order. i register and various other departments so that the entire working force may be under inspection.