Evening star., 1926-03-16
FEDERAL
BANK T||ROWN0PEN
Many Visitors Admire New
Structure and Novel Fea-
lures introduced.

Washington's newest bank building
the Federal American, at the corner OF
Fourteenth and G. streets. threw It's
doors open to the public for inspection
last evening, and was thronged with
enthusiastic and appreciative VISITORS
who were delighted with the mana
some new building and the many
novel banking features which 1t con
tains.
John Poole, the president. headed
the reception committee, made up OF
all the banks officials, and the visitors
were accorded a hearty welcome at the
head of the short fight of steps lead
ing up to the elevated banking room.
Many of the city's leading business
men, including bankers, embraced the
opportunity to inspect the bank and
all expressed the opinion that the
new building was splendidly designed.
and carried out with exceptional archi.
tectural effect
Upon entering the bank the visitor
/ is first impressed with the absence O.
| tellers' cages, wickets and grillwork
| There is not cage in the bank. In
| place of the usual protective device
| there is new type of counter which
was originated by Mr.. Poole and con
! structed under the direction Of Alfred
{. Bosom, bank and engineer archi-
tect. Along the outer edge Of the
counter is an artistic iron grating per-
/ haps foot high. The counter is quite
| broad and the money Is. Of course
kept beneath it. On account of the
height OF the grating and the width of
the counter it would be impossible for
any one in the LOBBY to reach over the
counter and down under it TO where
/ the money will ha kan
Innovation Safe.
The innovation is therefore per.
fectly safe and IS expected to be sat.
! isfactory from the viewpoint Of both
the teller and the customer.
| Visitors We're impressed with the
| variegated stone with, which the in.
terror is finished. This is known as
'eorge Washington freestone and is
brought here from Virginia. It Is in
keeping with the Spanish design and
the gold-incrusted ceiling. The mez-
anime adds greatly to the general
attractivenesS of the interior.
All those at the housewarming were
taken behind the counters and shown
how and where the employees work
beginning next Monday, when the
bank is opened for business. The ar
ransementS appear to be as nearly
perfect as modern ingenuity can make
them. The money vault is in the
rear of the main lobby, while the
safe deposit vault is below the level
of the street and is reached by ele-
vators. The safe deposit vault has
room enough for the installation OF
5000 boxes should business in years
to come require that number. but
The most interesting feature is the
door to the vault. which weighs 80
tons.
In the furnace room two large boil
ers have been installed. Only one l.
now in use. It burns oil, but is SO
arranged that coal can be used Il
preferred. The heating system is no
water. The second boiler is not re
quired at present, but is in readiness
in case the building is later built Sc,
eral stories higher, the foundations
having been laid with this in view.
All of the banks furniture is new,
as nothing but the money and records
viii be moved from the present heaQ
quarters on f street.
The new headquarters will never be
more attractive than they were last
night. The bank did a large amour
of decorating for the occasion. and in