Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 9.djvu/211

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This engraving gives but a slight idea of the sound, solid, and substantial fire-proof building of the New Hampshire Fire Insurance Company at Manchester. The new building just completed is 30 feet front and 100 feet deep, situate on the west side of Elm Street, nearly opposite the office formerly occupied by the Company. The front is Nova Scotia sandstone lined with brick, the facade being of a modified Queen Anne style of architecture. The walls are of brick, 20 inches in thickness. The floors and roof are 12 inches thick, and of the most solid description. They are built of spruce plank, placed side by side and spiked together, and both underneath and above this planking is a wire lathing and layer of asbestos paper. The first floor and basement are leased by a dry goods establishment at a rental that pays the Company fair interest on the investment.

The northerly entrance leads by an easy flight of stairs to the second story, where is found a permanent home for the Company. Competent judges pronounce it one of the best arranged, best lighted and ventilated insurance offices in the country, specially adapted to the growing wants of the Company. The office, or working room, is 100 feet long by 30 wide, 14 feet stud. The front is lighted by one plate glass window, 8x10 feet in size, and two, 5x8 feet, and the rear in a similar way, and supplemented by two large turret skylights, furnishing the room with a flood of light. Four handsomely finished fire-places, one in each corner, furnish ample ventilation to this story. Over these fire-places are handsome mantles and large plate glass mirrors. This story is also amply supplied with lavatories, closets and coat rooms, most conveniently arranged. Upon the south wall of the office is a row of cherry casings, 65 feet long and 14 feet high, divided into two sections, provided with sliding glass doors, and shelves and pigeon-holes to accommodate the accumulation of records and other