The Dickinson press., 1906-09-01
BANK BUILDING.

Inc nome OF tne MerCnantS National
bank, on the corner of Oakes and Barnes
Streets is easily the finest structure in
Dickinson. 1t was erected at cost of
about $4,000, and covers 80 by 50 feet of
ground. Brown flashed brick from the
Dickinson Fire & Pressed Brick Co.
works are used in the facing walls on
both streets. Portage sandstone is used
for trimming, and the solid corner pillar
supporting the second story was also
quarried from the same rock, its weight
being 5000 pounds. This massive col
umn, at the triangular entrance, gives
the structure very imposing appear
ance.
Entering the lobby, the first thing that
impresses the public is the beautiful
light green walls, the artistic design of
the ceiling. the quartered white oak
bank fixtures with their heavy Tennessee
marble base, mounted with oxidized cop
per plate grill work, and the panels Of
crystalline beveled plate glass. The wood
tered oak and all the furnishings are of
the same material to correspond.
There are four large plate glass win
and one on the south side, which afford
apartments very desirable.
The presidents room is off the lobby
by the south window, through which en-
trance is secured to the spacious banking
room. The lobby extends down on the
west side of the building to the directors
and customers room in the northwest
corner. From this room access is had
to the safety deposit vault, and there is
also door leading from the directors
room into the banking room.
The bank vault is separated from the
safety deposit box vault by a heavy fire.
proof wall, having its entrance from the
banking room, and only the officers are
expected to have access to it.
"A special feature of the safety vault is
asday wicket with electric gong attach
ment. This vault is absolutely fire proof
the same as the other three vaults in the
building, and within it are stacked the
safety deposit boxes. Parties who de-
sire to keep valuable papers and articles
of jewelry in safe place can rent the
small boxes at s. per year and the large
ones at S.. The renter is provided with
key, and no person can get access to
the box without it. Entrance to this
vault can only be had through the di-
rectors' room.
The new burglar proof safe of the
Merchants National bank is one of the
latest makes. 1t has patent steel sur
face, solid welded angle hinges, and the
eight bolts of the door are operated by a
duplex automatic 72-hour triple chro-
nometer time lock.
The entrance to the office rooms on
the second floor is from Oakes street at
the southeast corner of the building.
There are six we'll lighted and we'll ap-
pointed rooms on the second floor in
addition to the hall, all finished in natural
Georgia pine. One suite has the USE of
vault, and as soon as the city has its
water works completed connections will
be made for the lavatory on this floor.
The boiler and fuel rooms occupy the
north side of the basement, leaving a
large Office room, lavatory and vault in
front. The basement is provided with
an outside entrance from Barnes street.
In the selection Of the bank site the
directors departed from the old custom
of locating on Willard street and went
back one block on Oakes street. For
the, past four or FIVE years business has
been working back on the side streets Of
Sims and Barnes and it is certain that
with the city's rapid development Oakes