Grand Forks herald., 1916-11-25
FIRST NATIONAL
BANK OPENS ITS
new QUARTERS
One of Finest Financial In
stitutions in the
Northwest.
Public Reception to be Held
Tonight-Has Great
Equipment.

ing over a period Of several months.
during which its banking business was
transacted in temporary quarters in
the basement of the building, officials
Of the First National bank today well
coined the friends and patrons Of the
institution in their handsome new
quarters on the first floor. Beginning
at 1890 o'clock. there will be a recep-
tion for the public.
fixtures and banking equipment not
already in place was started after the
Saturday noon closing hour today. So
we'll has the work been planned that
it was accomplished smoothly and
rapidly. and with little inconvenience
to the business program Of the big or
ganization.
For the convenience Of farmer
friends and patrons and others unable
to be present at the formal opening
this evening. officials provided an in
spection tour of the vaults. banking
rooms and departments from to s
o'clock this afternoon. A novel fea-
ture which attracted the boys and
Of a free 81 bank deposit to each
holder Of a numbered button. provid-
ing the girl or boy matched their but
ton with another bearing the same
number.
A profusion of flowers, ferns. pot
ted plants and palms, arranged by
wives of officials connected with the
institution, gave the illusion Of a con-
servatory.
The formal opening will occur at
$3.50 o'clock this evening when an or
chestra will discourse musical num-
bers. Favors will be given to lady
visitors.
The new quarters and equipment
entities the First National bank to a
place among the most handsomely
equipped institutions in the north
west. The interior throughout is fin-
ished in the rare Bottocini Italian
marble. obtained from the quarries
between Italy and Austria only after
considerable trouble and effort be-
cause Of the war, and the highest
grade mahogany.
Entry is made through swinging
doors. which leads the visitor to the
corridor landing by means of a new
~ bu1lt short stairway Of marble. The
corridor is paved with marble tagging.
Watnscoting Of English vein Carrara
marble runs throughout its entire
length on both sides. An artistic,
sanitary public drinking fountain is
placed handily for the convenience Of
visitors. special marble front leads
from the corridor into the bank prop
er. AT the right is the executive Of
nee, set off from the lobby by a rail-
Ing of mahogany and marble, where
Individual desks are provided for Of
Meals. The fixtures are massive, vet
artistic. Indeed, the visitor Is instant
~ struck by the harmony and symetry
of his surroundings.
The floor is of light gray Tennessee
marble, laid in oblong squares. with
belgian black marble border. Counter
bases are of black and gold marble.
WIN a counter front facing of Bot
.ocinl sp Italian mable, surmounted with
bronze grill work. Four cages" are
provided for tellers, each with dou-
pie wlckets, a provision which en-
ables the serving Of two customers
at one time during rush hours in
stead of one. A check desk of artis-
tic design is placed in the center of
the room. with individual partitions
Tor the privacy Of depositors. 1t is
Of marble and bronze, with a top of
mental lights with old ivory shades
at each end. Twelve bronze and
leaded-g glass indirect light bowls are
suspended from the ceiling and Weld
a diffused glow. An ornamental
clock. connected with the exterior
chimes. is located above the massive
money and book vault
Wall decorations are in oil, with
the blended Tiffany effect, gradually
changing to ivory at the ceiling.
An ingenious inter-communicating
telephone system is provided, which
instantly connects any phone with
central or any bank department. Each
teller's cage" is provided with the
latest automatic devices against
burglars, connecting with interior and
exterior alarm gongs. The massive
vault is burglar-proof, and so sensi-
tive that when set the alarm is i'm
mediately sounded at the slightest
touch.
10 the left of the bank entrance
door opens to the customers rooms,
safe deposit vault, private rooms for
corporation and clearing house meet
ings. etc. Two private booths. with
desks OF transparent glass lighted
from above to safeguard customer
against the loss Of valuable papers
dropped on the floor, are provided. At
the rear is the stationery room, where
several thousand dollars worth of
stationery, blanks and forms needed
In the transaction of business are
stored. and dispensed by means of a
requisition checking system. At the
left of this room Ia the machine"
room, insulated against noise, where
addressing machines clatter away in
attending to the banks huge mail or
der business. Iavatories in white
marble are provided for the con-
venience of visitors and employees. All
windows are provided with Pullman
ventilators.
All told, interior equipment is ar
ranged with such nice calculation that
an artist or efficiency engineer could
And mn fo,,