The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-06-19

pose of keeping the papers and doc- uments of reference of the institu- tion.
 Perhaps the most interesting detail of the banks equipment, to most per sons at least are the vaults in which the bank keeps it's money, and also where the customer may feel justified in storing valuable securities to the greatest degree of safety. A vault is an essential element to a banks equipment, more so, almost than any other one of it's features, because of it's manifestation of security, stability and safety In this particular fea- t1re the First-Bridgepo National bank is exceptionally well equipped.
 The vault system is composed of a series of strong boxes or room for the safe-keepdng of the monies, the safe deposit boxes and the storage of the books and documents. It is so ar ranged that the foundations support ing this vault system will be used as large vault for the storage of silver, valuables, etc, which are usu- ally brought in trunks and boxes.
 The predominatmg feature, howev- CT, of the vault system is the ''secur- 1ty vauIt,'' which is used for storing money and the safe deposits. It is of ample size, 25 feet long by 10 feet wide, and entirely lined with especial ly constructed steel two inches thick, and completely enveIoped by heavy walls of solid reinforced concrete con struction. The IS ton doors to this vault are of particular interest to the observer because of their intricate bolt mechanism, all of which is fin ished in bright steel. The doors are made up in various layers of open hearth steel so arranged as to defy the drill or bIow-torch of the cracks man, and the onslaught of a, mob.
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 structed an Independent unit, sep aratez from the construction of the building so that it wiM stand by itself in case the building were demolish- ed.
 The forward part of the banking room is planned for the use of the officers and arranged conveniently for these officials as to their relations with customers. By means of a pri- vate elevator the directors may en- ter from the officers quarters to the directors room, which is on the mez- zanine floor over the main entrance. This room is treated in a dfgnified manner with, oak wainscoting, wall panels and ornamental plaster ceil- ing, and furnished with especially de- signed furniture. Adjacent to the directors room are the retiring and private rooms for the use of the di- rectors and the various committees.
 The body of the building above the bank is composed of seven floors of offices connected by a modern system of passenger elevators and laid out in accordance with the latest prin- cipIes of office design. The entrance to the office corridor is dignified in it's treatment and brings one directly to the elevators. The offices on the various floors, which are entered from the spacious corridors, are finished in fumed oak. The building is of fire proof construction. and equipped with modern devices which make for the Accommodation of its remnants.
 Around these interior arrange ments is built up in different mater ials the form of an outside coverin g or enveIopment which is called the exterior. design This consists of the banking story walls of solid granite of light gray color with a coIumed