New-York tribune., 1908-12-13
MANY NOTEL FIXTURES.
Nczc Home of National City Bdnk
Shoes Many improvements.

of granite standing in Wall street, possessed or
little save a few historic associations with which
to cothe its nakedness people fell into the habit
of walking by it and remarkng, Poor old build
ing" Now all that is changed, and New York's
old Custom House. rejuvenated in the role of the
largest banking institution in the United states,
is one of the youngest and one of the most thor
ouChly up-to-date buildings in New YORK
financial district.
The story of this rehabilitation is Of more than
passng interest. From the time of its purchase
by the National City Bank, in 1899, the struct-
ure has been the objective point OF concen-
trated determination to evolve from II Hlouei
banking institution. something unlike anything
in this country, in any other country anu
those who have been familiar with the work
from the start feel certain that the desired ehu
has been attained; that the banks new quar-
ters inst across the street from the present
one at No - Wall street, and IN which the
National City expects to be at nome 10 us
friends on and after December l9 constitute one
of the most thoroughly equipped banking houses
In the world.
one Of the chief desires of President James
StiIIrnan and other officers of the bank was that
the renodelling be brought about with as hItle
alteration of the general character OF the oiu
building as was consistent with the udhSd1'ioi
of a big banking business within us "allS
Much earnest study was given this point pS Nj
Kim Mead & White, the architects ana tue re-
Sllit that the Ola OuSlolll iiONN~ -
but on its shoulders stands newer ana younger
br51ding with Corinthian coonnade across the
Wal street front In many other respects II =
nracticaIlv a replica of the parent structure
To- months one of the banks officials travelled
over the country in search OF every posSIoIo '
venience and auxiliary TO the banking uus!ii'S
which might be incorporated In the NatIohal
e,itv,s new home The result Is an S'itu'io"
tiI. rrstIinq with innovations, ranging from
.n ooe+ un-to-date burglar protection TO
kitchens dining rooms a laundry ana other pro-
visions for the welfare of the employees. 90
Inst inside the great bronze doors, each 70
feet high feet l inch thick, and weighing "'''''
pounds-declared to be the largest doors ol 'le
.;rd i'm the country-one encounters one OF Ihe
National Citv's innovations III the shape OF dh
,f,,r,.,tion bureau at the left of the entrance
1bare answers may be had for the asking, not
only to all sorts of questions pertaining 10 the
hank itself but also to general questions "oou'
New York City. .
or bv 40 feet occupying the centre OF lle great
souare Of the banks main floor, while not dil III
go, is nevertheless an imposing arrange
+ an5 when peOpled by its working force Oh
over one hundred men will be one OF the OuSie9'
snots in New York The numerous colHl"i'
-oen+s into which the big cage Is diNldeu are
parked bv marble pillars, each carNtu Will
Seoront design and each treated IN the SAINT
AMI
xlicb is the color scheme of the Nh"le il'ei i''
Inside the working cage IS the great N"uil -
49,, o. feet and 20 feet high. only hdlI us
,i,. &c seen above the main floor, the rest eA-
.3;,e, down to the basement level, Where III
., f resting on the floor, its three huhuIeu
90. t,,,l, ie supported on a series OF steer Pille
=, o haight sufficient to permit man 70 VAIN
h,eoth Entrance to the vault . "'"'>'
from, the level of the main noor- .;
ru,4, ti, steel structure is divided It's eh'fe
,;b, into two separate compartments one i'i
.,.. ,f the day staff and the other TOT the
,.,f the night staff or bookkeeping force "i'il"
SIN. work at midnight Entrance t. each ul-
;io, Of the vault is through circular door"aSs
aach protected by a door ; feet IN olStihe'e'
ND - feet thick These doors W'iGh SlA'''H
,,s each and are so delicately p"lseG that
Mound Of pressure will open and close thenl
,rb hinge strong box is also divided horizontally
for the separate storage of specie and secuIIlleS
The burglar who tries to force this great vault
of the National City Bank undertakes Hercu-
,oar task A system of mirrors, 50 arranged as
70 betrav the presence of any person near any
side Of the vault. which is clear of the building
on all sides is one of the protective devices, but
q more deadly agent than mirrors has also been
ar7nIaved for its protection space of a few
inches has been left between the main banking
soor and all sides of the vault, and if a watch
man ascertains at any time that the vault is