Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-04
FESTIVITIES AT OPENING
. OF: BANKS NEW BUILDING
Friends of District National In
spect the Institutions Home
on G Street.

Hundreds cf friends of the institution
thronged the new building of the District
| National Bank, at 1903 street, last even
| ing at the reception celebrating the for
NAL opening of the skyscraper. 1t was
after 10 O'Clock when the function came
| to an end.
| The structure which is the first to be
| erected under the new building regula-
| ton of the District, is model as regards
| fireproofing and furnishings. The interior
| decorations are elaborate and the well
arranged banking rooms on the lower
floor were enhanced last night by the
| lavish floral display.
All those who inspected the banks new
| home. and they were many, were unani-
! nous in their praise of it's beauty. Fol
| lowing the reception a dinner was given
by the officers. directors and stockholders
at the Shoreham.
Built at Cost of $25O,OOO.
| The building was designed by Milburn,
hester and Company and was built by
w. p. Lipscomb and Company at a cost
ofeS2JO.OOO. Its architectural appearance
and outfit in general is pleasing to the
| eye as well as substantial in construction
Its elevation is 10 feet from the curb to
| the cornice.
The building stands upon a foundation
| oI steel and concrete. The same rein
| forced concrete and fireproof construction
OIL each fOr extends to and includes the
| roof Itself.
Above the cornice is the penthouse,
| where the elevator machinery is located
| as well as tanks to supply water to the
| two top floors. This location of the ele-
xator machinery Is the exact reverse
| from custom. AS a rule it is located in
the basement. The elevators are what are
known as the double-traction type, &C
cepted as the safest and most satisfac-
tory for modern office buildings of any
considerable height
Limestone and Terra Gotta Front.
The front elevation is of limestone and
terra Gotta. with a handsomely carved
doorway of Vermont marble located inn
mediately under the massive stone arch
first two stories
The presidents room is richly deco
rated with East India mahogany VAIN
scotins for the walls, old ivory and gold
on the ceiling and cornice and Turkish
rugs spread upon quartered oak flooring.
The ladies' room is also fitted out in
East India mahogany, gold and ivory
decorations. with mahogany furniture and
turkish rugs. having the object of both
convenience and comfort for the woman
| customers of the bank.
From the ladies' room begins the line
of cages for the tellers. extending to the
bookkeeping department.. in the rear. In
this department Is one large double desk
OF mahogany sufficiently rOomy to ac-
commodate from six to eight bookkeepers.
10 the left of this desk is cage espe-
cially fitted up with everything neces-
sary for the convenience of the remit
lance and clearing house clerks. On the
right Is the book vault, with ample space
for all ledgers and other books, which
for convenience of transfers to and from
the vault are kept upon an iron truck of
roller shelves. In this vault are metal
cases for systematically filing Cancelled
checks. deposit tickets, letters, pass
bOOko etc.
Natural Bronze Counter Screen.
The counter screen surrounding the
lobby is of natural bronze-glass and
sienna marble. The bronze cornice, with
verde green to bring out prominently the
high light concentrations, is both mas
sive and elegant in design, and attractive
in every particular. The lobby of the
bank IS II feet long by 10 feet inches
wide. and covered with square ceramic
tile, with an attractive border, colored to
harmonic with the general decorative
scheme throughout the bank.
The eight floors in the upper part Of
the building are conveniently divided into
lightweight Office rooms, trimmed in
oak, attractively stained. with walls
painted light buff. The lighting fix
lures are square four-light electrics
Each room is wired for electricity and
telephones, and piped for gas, and in ad-
dtion to these supplied with a vacuum
cleaning, busting and washing system
throughout.
There will be access to the roof by an
two, tSf,. %1.
grand panoramic view of the city, Poto-
mac river and Virginia hills.
Its president. Robert n. Harper. is also
president of the Farmers and Merchants
Banking and Trust Company of Lees
burg, Va.