The Washington herald., 1911-01-04

Beauties OF the Building.
President Robert N. Harper, the direc-
tors. and officials of the District National
Bank were hosts last night to a throng of
visiting friends who called to pay their
respects and to express their good wishes
upon the formal opening of the new
building at 1so6 street northwest
The tasteful decorations of the spacious
and well-aranged banking rooms. en-
hanced by the lavish floral display. were
q pleasing surprise to the visitors who
crowded the building and inspected its
every part The expressions Of congratu-
lations upon the wonderful and substant
tial growth that this institution has made
within its short life were hearty and sin
cere.
All New Years Day every employe was
hard at work getting all the parapher-
MALTA that pertains to modern banking
moved from the old quarters to the new
building. And but half the work had been
done when the moving had been COM
pleted, for yesterday morning it was a
heavy task to get the rooms ready for
the reception that lasted until after 10
o'clock last night
The building itself. designed by Mil
burn, Hester G. Co., and built by W..
p. Lipscomb & Co. at a cost of nearly
$eSc,o0o. is. in point Of design, finish.
decoration. and extent, a credit to even
the Oldest Of banking institutions.
Bank Is Yet Young.
But the life of the District National
Bank dates only from September 20, 1909.
and it is the boast of the institution
that. in this short time. it has seen its
stock rise in the open market from ITO
to 1S5 and 1876 bid. with none Offering.
The surplus has been steadily growing,
even with the extensive building opera
tions. and the bank finds itself to-day
magnificently housed in a building that
from its revenues will leave most salts
factory income from the investment.
In the face of such a record, it is little
wonder that President Harper and his
associate directors are proud of the work
of the bank, as well as of its acquisition
of a new home.
The building stands as a record of one
of the last official acts of Commissioners
Macfarland and West, who, with Com
missioner Judson, signed the new build
ing regulations passed at the last ses-
sion of Congress. 1t is also the first
building in the city to be erected under
those regulations governing the con-
struction of fireproof buildings.
After the Introduction of the bill In
both Houses OF Congress, President Har-
per directed his time and energy to ac-
Quainting each member of the District
Committee of both Houses of Congress- as
10 its merits The result was that the
bill was unanimously passed by the Sem
ate and House. and signed by the Presi-
dent.
G Streets Skyscraper.
The elevation of the building is no feet
from the curb to cornice. Above the cor
nice is the pent house. where the ele-
vator machinery is located as well as
tanks to supply water to the two top
floors. This location of the elevator ma
chinery is the exact reverse from custom,
as such machinery is az a rule located in
the basement. The elevators are what
is known as No. double traction type,
accepted as the safest and most satisfac-
tory for modern buildings of any con-
siderable height.
The front elevation is of limestone and
terra Gotta with handsomely carved
doorway of Vermont marble, located i'm
mediately under the massive stone arch
which ornaments and almost encirles the
first two stories. The building has 3S1s
feet frontage, and is IS feet deep. The
entire first floor is occupied by the bank
except that part necessary for stairway
elevators, ana entrance cOrrl0Of.
This corridor is richly wanScoted to
the mezZanine floor with Siena marble
The two electric elevators are enclosed
by an ornamental electroplated bronze
grill work and glass, and the stairway
from entrance corridor to mezzanine floor
is also of electroplated bronze and marble
From this corridor one passes through
massive mahogany doors into the bank.
ing room. This room is particularly
glass transoms and skylights. securing
ample daylight throughout the cloudiest
day for all clerical work.
To the right of the entrance Is the
presidents room, richly decorated with
East India mahogany wainscoting. To
the left Is the women's room, also fitted
out in East India mahogany, gold, and
ivory decorations, with mahogany fur
niture.
Bookkeeping Offices Large.
From the women's 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 enough to accommodate from six
to eight bookkeepers. To the left of this
desk is a cage especially fitted up with
everything necessary for the convenience
Of the remittance and clearinghouse
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 sys-
tematically filing cancelled checks. de-
posit tickets. letters. passbooks, &c
The counter screen surrounding the
lobby is OF natural bronze, glass; and
Siena marble. The bronze cornice, with
verde green to bring out prominently the
high light ornamentations. is both mas
sive and elegant in design. and attrac-
tive in every particular. The lobby OF
the bank is Al feet long by IS feet inches
wide, and covered with square ceramic
tile, colored to harmonic with the gen
eral decorative scheme throughout the
bank.
From the lobby to the bookkeeping de-
partment one passes through q massive
bronze and marble gate, surmountedN by
. specially designed clock OF bronze and
marble, artisticaliy resting upon Q bed
of oak leaves, cast Of solid bronze.
Beyond the door of the presidents Of
fee. to the right Of the entrance, Is the
space set apart for vice president. CASH
Ter, and stenographer. This section 10
decorated with mahogany. bronze, and
marble. with quartered oak flooring.
Turkish rugs, and mahogany furniture.
A particularly attractive and unique
feature Of this department - the fact Of
its being separated from the main lobby
only hy . three-foot railing OF bronze