The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-11-19
MANY new IDEAS
New Mills Building VIII Have
Unique Features.
Mahogany Fixtures to Be In
stalled February /.
aBUNGALOW CORNER. Z"
E. b. Murphy Erecting Three at
Seventh and Lincoln.
A New Engraving Firm Estab-
lished in Topeka.
There Is an Awakening of the
Realty Men.

AS work on the new Mills Du1IQlng
at Ninth street and Kansas avenue
progresses it might be of interest to
note some of the features which will
go to make this the finest business
block on Kansas avenue, AMI the
most up-to-date structure of the kind
in Kansas.
All the latest ideas have been en-
bodied by the architects in the struc-
tural makeup, and the building built
as it is with steel reinforced concrete,
, and brick materials, is as near fire.
proof as it is possible to make bust
ness block. This fact is brought home
to the casual observer who has seen
fires merrily burning after dark on
the upper floors to prevent overtime
workmen from suffering with the cold.
wire glass and metal window
| For further protection against fire
frames have been provided on the
south and west exposures. These
| frames proved themselves to be most
| effective at the time of the San Fran
cisco disaster. The plate glass which
only melts at extremely high temper
allure does not not run off but clings
to the steel wire.
| The most spectacular thing about
the building will be the big sign which
will display it's electrical glory at the
top of the structure in big six foot
/ letters and which will be seen for
miles in any direction, and will be an
| excellent advertisement for the city
| in lieu of the light on the Ca pitol
dome which a committee of the Com
mercial club failed to have put up,
notwithstanding the fact that the gov
ernor approved the idea
There is 10000 spare feet of floor
| space in the building which repre-
| sents about three acres. The Mills
| company will occupy the first six floors
/ including the basement, and the two
i upper floors are being divided into Of
fee rooms,
The business block will be provided
with the only express elevator in the
state, which will. be used for the ac-
| cOmmodation only of those who have
business on the sixth and seventh
floors. There will be two elevators to
provide for the passenger traffic of the
lower floors occupied b ythe Mills Dry
II Goods company, aside from a freight
elevator to do the heavy work.
There will be ladies rest room on
the mezzamine floor which will be
sumptuously furnished with every
| convenience, coy corners and COM
Portable lounges included, and pro-
vtding such eonveniences as telephone
booths There will be hospital room
adjoining. On the fifth floor is to be
q lunch room to accommodate the
shoppers.
The interior fixtures will be of ma
hogany, and will be put in place by
the first of February, if there are nc
unlocked for delays in the construc-
/ ton work.
Vacuum Cash System.
l. A vacuum heating system will be in
stalled which will admit of the use
of low pressure steam, instead of high
pressure which the ordinary system
necessitates. pump win be provide ed
which will draw back the water from
the pipes, and the Edison company
: which will supply the steam will have
a pump that will return the water te
their plant The system is known as
the Illinois Engineering company'i
system Tungsten lights will provide
illumination for the structure.
Next week the work of installin:
5000 feet of 2h inch tubing for ;
cash vacuum system similar to thos
in use in the department stores of TIL
large cities will begin.
There will be 81 wrapping station
where the money will be put in cart
ridges Ski II inches, which will in turf
be placed in a head made of shee
| metal A lever will be pressed and al
most instantaneously the cartridge vii
| be received at the cashiers desk in tn
| basement of the building.
Then the change will be shot bacl
= through another pipe to the prope
:. isstation. The fact that two tubes ar
!, required for each station makes
| necessary to put in more than hal
| mile of tubing. The postofdce depart
4 ment Is using the vacuum method @
/ carving mail matter in one or two c
the large cities. A patent blower Q
III fan will be the means of creating
III vacuum in the tubes.
III Incidentally in speaking of the ele
vators it might be mentioned that tn
| machinery will be on the top floor II
| stead of in the basement as is usual
! the case.
RI Arthur Tillotson is superintendent
the work of construction as represents
I tive of the Mills Dry Goods compan.
The following are the contractors
III Douglas & Evans, general contractors
H. B. Howard, the wiring; the OF
Elevator company of Kansas City, an
the Lamson company of st. Louis, cas-
| vacuum system.
II Bungalow Corner.
IL Bungalow corner! How does thu
II sound? AS soon as the plans of e.
II Murphy are carried out Seventh an
II Lincoln will bear that name.
II Mr.. Murphy, who is contractc
and has built hundreds of homes