A TOWN IN A BUILDING.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 13351, 8 April 1914, Page 9

A TOWN IN A BUILDING.

Th© Woolworth Building m New York* which is the tallest habitable building m the world, contains no fewer; than 27 acres of floor space, states Harold J. Sepstone, m the Millgate Monthly. Yet it only covers a plot measuring 155 ft by 200 ft. Over 20,000 tons of steel -were used m its erection, as well as 17,000,000 common, bricks. There are no fewer 'than 34 elevators or lifts m this single,; buildings. They are divided into "locals/ which stop at every, floor, and ."expresses," wliich stop pt, certain storeys. These elevators have been installed -\yith a new, air-cushion safety device, which means that should anything go wrong, and the lift suddenlyi plunge down the wejl,.it will be gradually brought to a standstill with-out-danger to life. It is estimated that 1000 persons are killed every year m America on the elevators ; _ hence, the need for installing this device. , When the. .building was finished, its inventor demonstrated the feasibility of his invention by- cutting the i'ope and allowing the lift- to drop a depth of 700 ft. Under the dome of this wonderful building is a powerful searchlight, the I rays of which can he. seen £0 miles away. Immediately below this lantern is a" look-out gallery -accessible, to the sreneral public. This aerial wonder of the New World has taken some 2"f years to build* and is rightly described as the most complete office " structure m the world. But it is really something more than this, being virtually a- town m itself, .with a .transit sy&tent m its elevators, it*? water supply and fire-ex-tinguishing apparatus ,ou cyery floor, and its light, heat and power plants. A tenant, may supply all, his „ wants without leaving the bnildinjg. lie has at command telegraph, telephone, and messenger services. . He posts his " 'etters m. the mail chute, which- "extends through ali .the floors to the mail box at the bottom, where they, are collected by the- postman. He may lunch, m the restaurant on one floor j- take out m insurance policy on another, caslt his cheques at his bank' on a third, and put his valuables m t'he safe deposit m the basement. He may consult his physician, his broker, or his lawyer, and visit his tailor, shoeblack,, or barber, and buy his cigars/ (papers, theatre tickets, flowers and* sweets-— all under one roof.