N&W in 1911--Express building

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Bluefield Daily Telegraph
February 26, 1911

NEW EXPRESS BUILDING IS WELL ARRANGED
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Office and Facilities Provided That Make it Modern in Every Sense
    The Southern Express Company offices have been moved from the first floor of the company's building to the second floor, where cages and other safety contrivances give the place the appearance of a stronghold for the protection of money and other valuables.  The entire second floor has not yet been completed, but the half which has been finished has offices for W. L. Turner, agent; W. G. Weaver, cashier; C. W. Dickie, night money clerk, J. C. Mulkey, freight clerk, and when the second floor is completed an office will be provided for E. L. Lee, route agent for the Pocahontas division.
    All of the offices will be enclosed in wire cages, that of the cashier and night money clerk being wholly enclosed and only reached by unlocking doors which permit the messengers to enter a sub-office, the door of which locks on them so that they cannot be approached while they are handling money or other valuables.  An "old hoss*" room has been started which will hold all the uncalled for or undelivered express, while a record room with plenty of light will face the street.  Two stairways have already been built from the street [Princeton Ave.] to the second floor so that patrons of the office can enter without going to the warehouse which will be on the first floor.  The west stairway is for the use of the public.  An elevator will be built for the carrying up and down of clerks and of officers and for the handling of express which will be delivered to the people.  The agent and clerks consider the second story addition a great improvement which will materially assist them in the work, which at Bluefield is very heavy.
    W. L. Turner, the agent here, is thoroughly alive to the needs of the public, and makes every effort to give them the best service, and by the way succeeds as well as any agent anywhere.
*Blurred on microfilm.  Best interpretation is shown.
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Gordon Hamilton
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