The Washington herald., 1907-10-13

and bolts of great size and strength. This
door weighs about fifty tons. and several
months ago. when it was unloaded on
Fifteenth street. a large force of men
was employed q whole week In getting
ii of the truck and sliding it into the
building Twenty-four hours We're con-
sumed in ending it up from horizontal
position, preparatory to starting il on its
toilsOme journey through the door and
across the bank-room floor. Within. the
vault is 10 by 20 feet. II has room for q
large number OF safe deposit boxes. as
well as for storing the banks cash and
securities. Every inch Of space is utilized
% the best advantage.
The big door has time-locking system
and the locks have two combinations. so
that no one man can ever get into the
vault.
No Unnecessary Expense.
In speaking of the purpose OF the di-
rectors in building the new bank. one OF
its officials said yesterday that an at
tempt had been made TO TT up a home
for the Institution that would compare
favorably with any banking room in the
country. without any appearance Of un-
necessary or lavish expense He said the
bank had been planned first for use, then
for beauty. He thought the rchitect had
succeeded admirably
The bank moves from the older build
ing next door, which II has occupied for
many years. All the furniture of the
new bank was constructed by special or
DER from original designs. The reuaoval,
which mas been going on since Saturday
noon, consists in gathering up the effects
in the old bank and carrying them 70 the
new. There Is no earting IN EFF heavy
furniture. The corporation owns the
older building as well as the new.
Marble from Cellar 20 Roof.
The upper floors Of the building com
pose one Of the largest and best equipped
Office buildings In Washington. The offices
are reached through a special corridor,
opening upon the street 10 the left Of
the bank. This entrance has large bronze
doors. and the entrance ike that to the
bank. is between handsomely carved
bronze lamp posts Of unique design. The
floors and walls of the Office corridors. in
Guiding the stairways, are finished in
Numldian and Skyrocks marble, all
white or with delicate veins Of gray OF
yellow The marble extends by way of
the stairway to the roof. with no cheap
ening Of the finish as one mounts from
floor TO floor, The back OF the building is
in the same style as the front, and all
the suites are of the same richness.
Appointments Are Modern.
Next to the north wall of the building
are the elevator cages, resplendent in
bronze and steel. There are three of
these. run by electricity. and are known
as high speed elevators. There are no
waits for opportunity to reach the upper
stories. The rooms are finished in oak,
with the natural color OF the wood pre-
dominating. The Office floors are also of
oak. highly polished. Each room has its
radiator and thermostat. The degree Of
heat is regulated by the wish of the
tenant and kept automatically at that
temperature. The building is fitted
throughout With a special cleaning device.
the work being performed by compressed
air, furnished by special machinery in
the basement The building is lighted
throughout by electricity.
The National Metropolitan Bank was
organized in 1914, and has had a continu-
Gus existence. 1t was Incorporated in
1865. and its present name was assumed
in 1906. from the National Metropolitan
Citizens Bank. The capital stock is $780,
0o0. in shares of a par value of 500 each.
The shares are now selling on the Wash
ington Stock Exchange around $500 a
share Dividends are payable semi-annu-
ally. in April and October, and for the
past four years have been from TO per
cent annually. The annual meeting of
the stockholders is on the second Tues
day in January.
The officers of the bank are: E. South
ard Parker, president; S. w Woodward,
vice president; J. Gales Moore, cashier;
w. W. Parker, assistant cashier.