Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-05-08

| W '''thiieti Styi", save tndt Inc IndTDls
| finish is absent and the walls arr
"alnscoted i'll magohany, and all OF
the furniture in this room, as well as
| that IN the main banking room, are
IL the same material. The chairs are
| upholstered in dark green leather and
| in the centre of the room is long
table. A magnificent electrolier in the
| form Of Louis XIV chandelier is sus-
penItd from the ceiling by 4 long
bronze squarelink chain.
Tie ladies' room is small but COM
| tortably arranged and it will be 4
| great convenience TO the lady custom
| erS of the bank. The room is finished
| throughout in solid mahogany, with a
writing desk. chairs and other con-
VvnienceS. There are two rooms a
| lriilc smaller that will be used by the
gentlemen patrons Of the bank and a
| olndkroom in the conner will be used 1y
the customers, bank officers and clerks
| alike.
The most interesting feature of the
bank is the great vault. The vault
| stands in the rear Of the working
| space and is a wonderful example of
the at If the modern locksmith. The
vault was manufactured and Installed
Ly Remington & Sherman Co. of Plila-
!-lrhla. 1t is of solid steel and the
iiiS;de measurement is Sxl0 feet. The
interior is divided by a steel grill The
rear on second compartment has a
steel chast wherein are kept the bank
securities. The outer compartment
contains 235 safe deposit boxes, made
Of solid steel and modern in CONSTRUCT
ton, and fitted with the most costly
locks and safety devices procurable
These boxes, it is Intended will be
rented at prices varying from IS TO $15 Il
year according to the dimensions Of the
compartments. The main vault is
lighted by two clusters Of four electric
NIGHTS each.
A day gate, made of solid brass and
steel, and ornamented with fancy grill
work. secures the entrance to the vault
during the banking hours. This gate
closes by gravity and is secured by a
spring lock. Upon opening or closing
bell rings to insure greater safety.
The main entrance to the vault is Sc
cured by two massive doors of solid
undrilabe steel. The outside door
weighs tons and is one of the largest
nest Gnu fIlOSl Vault uDcIS
in this part of New England The
inner door is only slightly smaller. 1t
is fttcG with two combination locks.
as is the outside door, which also has a
very intricate time lock arrangement.
While the main part of the vault
doors are of solid steel, the bookcases
and closing devices increase the thick
ness of the doors by several inches.
The inner door has a solid steel plate
inches thick, and the outer door is 5
inches thick. The bolts in both are
shut by levers. The inner door has 90
solid steel bolts 1a4 inches in diameter.
and the outer door "A bolts Of 20 inch
diameter. On the outside of the outer
door there is a large steel wheel. about
16 inches in diameter, which controls
the pressure bar system which forces
the door into place when closed. When
the outer door is finally closed ana the
combinations set, The vault is absolute
ly air-tight and solid steel contact.
Beside the main vault. which is Of
course. burglar and fireproof, there is
freproof vault, with great steel
combination door. and measuring in
side 51-x101e, and 8 feet high, in which
the books of the bank will be kept.
In the basement, the visitor finds two
or three large storage rooms and a
large storage vault 10x16. In this
vault, which is fitted with a solid steel
door, secured by combination locks,
will be kept the old books and papers
Of the bank.
In another basement room is located
the heating apparatus. There have
been installed two Twin Mercer boil
crs. similar to those which supply heat
fnr the Augusta City hall. One or
these boilers is Of sufficient capacity to
furnish more than enough heat for the
bank, and both boilers will adequately
heat the entire building. The quarters
Of the night Waterman are located i'll
tn. basement and a water pressure
regulator has been installed to regu-
late the water service in the bank.
on the exterior Of the building two
great black and gold display signs
have been set up. One of these runs
the length of the building on Win
throp street, and the other OH Water
street. The Winthrop street sign is GO
feet long and one of the he aviest in the
city Brass signs are also installed
ut each entrance and two fine roll avn
ngS have been put in place. The
awning on the Winthrop street side Of
the building is 60 feet long and the
largest in the city.
The architects We're Hill & James of
Boston; the general contractor Ruel j.
Noyes of Augusta, and the marble and
mahogany work was done by Irving &
CaSson of Boston.