The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-01-09

an entire block and cost s14,o00.00o. Il
1t grew from the smaller structure
first planned by Henry Baldwin Hyde
when he organized the company, into
the great financial palace first oc-
cupied in 1870. The structure shell
tered business representing $2,000,-
100000.
There was not another building like
the Equitable Society's in the world.
There was a lawyers club" On one
floor and insurance mems on another,
a free library and dining room. The
famous Lawyers Club grew into n
membership OF 1000 shortly after the
building was occupied.
| For years it was one Of the show
places of New York and was the
scene of splendid dinners and other
social events.
The building was deliberately plann
ed by Hyde for the purpose of adver-
tising his insurance concern. 1t was
widely copied, after It's success was
assured.
The entrance from Broadway was
through wonderful arched portal set
with ornamental grill of solid bronze.
i Colored marbles in columns and
4 arches gave a magnificent effect OF
\ richness. The corridor that continued
. through the block to Nassau street
! was lined with other costly marbles
. and hundreds of incandescent lights
turned the otherwise darkened inter
i ior. into brilliancy as they flashed on
| the glittering marble and bronze.
5 The first floor and a portion of the
4 basement was occupied by the Mer'
S camille Safe Deposit company, which
! was controlled by the Equitable. The
1 famous Cafe Savarin. which was the
L scene of many gay parties, occupied
g the remainder of the basement.
S The main office of the Equitable or
e the second floor consisted of a lofty
d hall, in which stood two rows of col
t ored pillars, the working offices ant
S the cashiers department.
n In the rear was magnificent stain
IS ed glass window to which a marble
IS lined and marble floored corridor led
Another passage led down to hug
N vault where at least $20o,0OO,0O0 II
~ securities were kept.
On the same floor were the office
fe1of August Belmont and company, tn
lie Mercantile Trust company, and tn
IN Equitable Trust company
lg The public quarters of the Eqnitabl
IN Society contained an insurance librar
n, of more than $500 volumes. In thi
ID library was the entire history OF tn
rs science of life insurance.
The greater portion of the librar
was in large room with gilt frette
vault overhead and wonderful allegol
in ical painting on the wall, which wa
d. also used for banquet purposes.
The president of the society an
lie other high officers had rooms on tn
le third floor of the Broadway side.
to Lawyers were the chief tenants {
le the remainder of the structure, a
KS though the Southern and Union Pac
ce fic Railroad companies, where Harr
as man once held sway, and the bankin
rs firm Of Kountz Bros. also had the
ne general offices there. The Wester
IS, Maryland Railroad also had executiy
ey headquarters in the structure.
ce The Lawyers Club took UP tt
ht fifth and sixth floors. The law libral
was on the seventh. The upp'
ng floors of the building were most ma
in nificent. corridor lined with blat
as stained marble led into smokir
ed room that dazzled the eyes with Il
he lustre of it's great squared column
ng The suite included main diniI
at room and a dozen more which We
de used for private parties. All of the
Id were decorated in white and pink
hung with splendid brocades that pr
ire duced bewildering effect.
lp- From the entrance to the top
lld the entire building, nothing was lie
A undone that might add to the gore
he BUSINESS OF the decorations.
M The Rescue Of Giblin.
is The rescue of William Giblin, pre-