The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-02-09
LOCAL MATrHRs.

&4SG&79 AsA - - - AsAs -
THE gupERB SroRE OF KENT, PAIEE a.
Goa HorsE WARMrnG.-Yeste the splendid
new brown front store OF Messrs. KENT, PAINE e.
Co, Nos 1863 and 165, Main street, was opened TO
guests, and bountiiul collation., concluding with
champagne, etc, served up for their qualification,
This collation. was spread 10 the upper cellar, 0here
are two below the ground,) and the number who
parook of 1t and had the pleasure of drinking the
health and prosperity Of The enterprising firm, was
very large
Its rather difficult matter for any considerable
crowd of vrsinians TO get together without little
and generally good deal of oratory. At an early
period of this house warming our friend, JAnEs B..
FERGUSON, Jr, set the ball In motion by neat pre-
fatory to toast 10 the firm. This was happiiy re-
sponded to by Mr.. HORACE l.. KENT, the senior
partner. Other gentlemen were afterwards
brought out and speaking and toasting con-
tinued for several hours There were many very
capital things said; but IN consideration of the pri.
vate nature of the entertsnmen. and the wholly I'm
promptu character OF the sayings and doings, we
abstain from very particular reference to them
Suffice 1t TO say that the enterprise, business tao.
and energy and the personal worth OF the members
of the firm OF Kent Paine & Co, and especially
the senior partner, who is the more noted because
the older soldier 10 the cause OF the commerce OF
this city, were dwell upon very earnestly and elo-
quen,ly and certainly with entire justice by most
ct the speakers. On conyiviaI occasions, we all
know how profuse are the sentiments OF gloriica-
tion how rapidly gas Is accumulated and thrown Of
in the form OF Iaudaioa and euogy; but the one to
which we aude furnished themes for eulogists
excited by the usual concomi.ants of the festal
board, which were not capable of distortion
by extravagance-their highest praises were all
deserved; and they were freely piled up on firm
whose merits are as solid the granite pillars
which sustain their magnificent warehouse.
The entertainment was conducted with great lib
crafty and courtesy by the hosptable partners, aud
the whole company enjoyed itself most heartily
We observed among the crowd a number Of intel
ligent strangers who have recently come to the
city, and whose presence has challenged The curl.
osity and stimulated the wit Of the citizens. At
seasonable hour in the afternoon the company ad.
journed lea wing the long saloon which had echoed
TO their eviaI voices as quiet as banquet hall de-
serted.
THE SToRE.--The splendid Few Warehouse
which Messrs. Kent, Paine & Co. built and which
they will open to their customers next Monday is
not surpassed by any establishment of the kind
south OF New York, we are sure 1t Is four stories
above ground aud two below. In the course of it's
construction, which has occupied many months
many serious difficulties from the caving in of
walls, &c, have been encountered, which added to
the expense OF the building. All were surmounted
and the building at last finished, constituting mer.
camille edifice which, for beauty ard strength is
hardly excellea any where in the Union. 1t must
have cost in the neighborhood of 100000 We
give below full description Of this superb estab
lishrnent:
The building fronts Al feet on Main street, and is
stories high above the pavement, besides base
naent and sub basement below.
The door dimensions are 40 by 40 feet The
clear heights of the different stories are:
Sub basement, 9 feet in the clear. Basement, 10
do. Principal Story, do: Second Story, 10 do.
Third Story, - do. Fourth Story, 9 it. l6i n
The front of the principal story is constructed of
iron, and presents a colonnaie OF Corinthian col,
ard antae OF elegant proportions, with hand.
capitals deliberately an beautifully esriched
The entablatute and the entire front shove the COZ
umns is built of finely cut and polished brown
stone. There are window pieces to each of the
stories, beautifully executed ia the Romanesuue
STYLE with prof ecting tablets and consoles pannei
lea prAsterS ana massive slIi5. ne cCrGcG and
eptablalure surmouhiDg the front isalso construc-
ted Of brown stone, in architectural keeping with
the other parts. 1t is composed of architrave, ia
ella aud moulding, panneiled frieze and heavy pro
iecting cornice. The cornice is supported by II
beautifully orpamented consoles In front, aad , on
the returns. The whole of this front rests on mas
sive granite pillars springpg up from the base-
n ,nt.
The rear front Is approached by new street. re-
Gently made from 10Th street The entrance from
kfia ia IN q level with the IA
The interior of the building is constructed aud
finished in the most approved aud substantial man.
ner. The different 1ors are framed with princi-
pal girders well coupled and Joined at their inter-
section, with collars and shoes of cast iron--the
whole supported in the centre with series OF era
mite pillars in the endorsement, and cast iron Cos
lunrns sc. ABOVE them, up through the different
floors 10 the roof In the centre of the root is con,
structed large sky light, OF iron, and glazed with
thick hammered glass" Directly beneath The
sky-light. on every floor are openings made, %
feet by 10, handsomely rallied in for the purpose OF
lighting more eli sctually the central portion of the
store rooms. la the sub-tasement are placed two
OF Bolton Il Yaies' calorc furnaces, of the largest
capacity, for the distribution OF heated air through.
out the building The basement is intended Tor the
reception, packing and delivery Of goods In front
of this story, large vault is acquired underneath
the pavement, and lighted moot brilliantly with
Hyatts patent lights. Throughout, this room Is
flashed most handsomely, in all its Details both as
regards the carpenters work and plassering.
The nrst floor is Intended for the principal store
and business roomt is fitted up most elegantly with
ornamented columns, beams ard plastered ceilings,
With classic cornices &c on each side are ranges
of shelving, and 10 the the requisite count.
ing rooms fitted up in very tasteful style; in the
front are three entrance doors and two windows;
the doors and windows glazed with The finest
crystal plate. The stories above are finished in
similar style and character. The enclosed hoist
way, the apparatus, &c, are OF the finest and most
approved construction. Take the building as a
whole, whether as regards The architectural de.
sign the quality Of materials the judicious appca.
ton OF them, the skiful construction and execution
of all its parts, it is house of which the city of
Richmond may we'll be proud.
Messrs. Esall & Lybrock, Architects
john & George Gibson, Carpen.eraa
Calvin Green, Gil ante Work.
VIM. McCloy, do.
McAu if s. Malone, Brown Stone Work
George Turaer, Brick Work
Russell & Kennedy, Pissterers.
Philip Rhsm, Cas-. Iron Work
D Badger & Co, N Y. Cast Iron ft.wk.