The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-12
COOPER q CONARD, NINTH AVN M.prpr

indeed, in very important sense the life of a
great city is involved in the vitality of her
merchants. To chronicle the indications of
mercantile prosperity is therefore always an
agreeable duty.
The old corner of Ninth and Market streets
mas long been associated with the selling of dry
goods. 1t is today for all practical purposes a
HeO corner; but its uses remain unchanged in
kind, though greatly augmented in degree. The
propretors, Messrs, Cooper & Conard, belong to
me ndomitable athletic school of business men.
who take no account OF obstacles except to
render them subservient to increased success
and having Just completed one OF the finest i'm.
proVements in that section of our city, the pre-
sent Is mt time for some remarks upon the
history of this establishment.
GMessrs. Cooper Il Conard commenced business
at this locality in the spring of 1852, in one
room fronting on Market street. having small
snow windows and old.fashioned porches over
the doors. Their store then was what would
now Oe called contracted, badly lighted, and
poorly ventilated place. Their first progressive
step was to add basement for the storage and
safe OF domestic goods, and mOdernize the win
doWs, doors, and front generally, which was
then acknowledged TO be a decided improve
ment. Soon they felt the want of a cloak and
shawl room. which they obtained on the secoud
moor. But the march Of trade again straitened
their premises, which eventuate6 in their
obtaining possession of the Bl,Oe of the Or'jqinoI
building This they continued to occupy for
NUMBER OF years, making the most of its facili.
ties. But again enlargement became necessity,
70 prepare for which Messrs. Cooper & Conard
purchased the property running back to the
next street, giving them Ninth street front of
120 feet.
On the lot thus secured they commenced
The erection of new and substantial business
edifce in July last, the interior of which is
now receiving its finishing touches. To their
old store of fifty feet by twenty-five feet. they
have thus made seventy feet addition,
making the entire premises twenty-five feet
by one hundred and twenty feet, the whole
being three stories high, with a well-furnished
and admirably lighted basement. The new
structure, just completed, is as beautiful and
substantial specimen of brckwork as our CITY
ahords. The very best mechanical talent was
secured to superintend its erection, and we
believe nothing has been omitted to render if
complete business edihce. It's internal ar
rangements anticipate every want for the con-
Venience of customers and clerks, and in the
which are mixture ofwalnut and ash-togetber
with the means of lighting, warming, and ven
tilating, no expense has been spared nor labor
sighted to make building which should he
adapted TO all the requirements of the firm.
whether it be tor carrying on the business of
retailing, wholesaling or jobbing.
In some respects this structure is a model.
All the water from the roof, waste water water |
closets, etc., are conducted into the sewer at |
Jayne street: the light throughout the building |
Is uniform and excellent, which is of the utmost
Importance to purchasers in selecting goods: |
and the easy access to every part of the house
will be appreciated Oy all rs a convenience, and
by the lazy as luxury. |
The basement OF the building is divided into !
three rooms or apartments, the principal of
which is about seventy feet long, and is better
lighted than are many first floors. 1t is devoted
principally to the sale of Blankets and Quilts.
The first, or ground floor, is in one entire
room, l2O feet in length (and q most beautiful |
and attractive salesroOm it ls), devoted wholly
to the sale of cloths cassimeres domestics. and
dress goods.
Ascending by two easy flights of stairs TO the
second story, we find two distinct departments
in both OF which this house excels ViZ:-CO1ks
for Ladies and Boys Otothing-the south end
being devoted to the former, and the middle
portion as a salesroOm for the latter. The
northern part is a separate room, 20 feet by 36
feet, and is used as the cuthng-room, and for
taking orders for ordered work
The thId story Is occupied in manufacturing
garments that are exhibited for sale in the
second story
The present stocks of goods offered by this
firm, in all their departments, are in keeping
with their enlarged facilities for selling them.
In one respect, We may state that the tempo
rary delay to which they were subjected by
this Improvement has been of decided advan-
tage to purchasers. Instead of buying their
goods, both imported and domestic, at the
usual time, they were compelled to lCdu for |
the completion OF their warerooms and the |
result has been IN their Jdror by a Uery large per-
centdge, as nearly all kinds of goods have suf- |
fered a material decline from the opening |
prices of the season. Messrs. Cooper & Conard /
are hence enabled TO sell dress goods. such as |
piam ana PLAID poplins, French mernoes, 1
mourning gooos' cloths, cassmeres, fannels, /
imported goods generally, and all domestic /
wOollens, at reduction III prices which buyers Il
will appreciate They deserve credit for giving
their customers the benefit OF this reduction m.
stead of turning 1t to their own ADVANTAGE no
they might have done; and persons who have |
waited Tor the completion of these improvements /
in order to patronize their favorite store, win |
thus fnd a suitable compensation for their
patience.
The career of this house from the start has
followed the Excelsior motto-"0nward and