The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-12-02
entirely to the receptl ~

bas asement, devoted enJlrely 10 the recepu )p
On the first floor, enterinh rom Market street
through the grand arch doc. oydne saIas'
ourselves on the threshold OF ~ w o,r Ie,,
room as our metropolis affords v. ~ ononi, 90,
e1lendlpB onearly midway, is the Rent> 'nsi
ness emporium OF Itself On our right srraugs,.
IN perfect order, are great piles of clothing ex
tending for long distance. These, we are told,
are business coats. Proceeding on ward, we
reacb The alcove, which has been mainly appro.
prlated for the use of the NOOK. Keepers and
cashiers, and Immediately atJOiniug this Is tue
private Office AT the rear end of this floor ~
the department for chtldTen's cothing, well
STOCKED with garments for smaller Children.
In this connection we must note another evil
dence OF the great growth OF the house which
necessitated additional room. SO great were
the crowds OF customers that it became incon-
Venlent during the large thrOngs to do business
properly, and the proprietOrs were compelled
10 lease the building adjoining on the east, and
incorporate itwith their own edihce This was
done by removing portione Of the wall, and on
the nSrt floor, In easy contig uity with the chill
drens department. we are lnrod need TO the
youths and boys departments, large, roomy
pace llght ana airy, well stocked with every
thing needed for any sized lad, either for
schOoi, nome, or dress wear. Az purchases in
these departments are largely made by ladies'
the convenIence Of having them separate a nd
on the first floor Is highly desirable.
We now ascen d to the second story by O mas.
sive walnut staircase and find ourselves in a
spacious salesTOOm, elegantly fitted up, and
used solely for the Custom Department In
Bl6nclng around over the maze OF fabrics aud
busy life which here greet us, we fancy that II
two ordinary cloth stores and dozen Old.
fashioned tailor shops were thrown together
INTO one, the effect produced would be very
similar.
The central and north portions of this floor
present stately gaery-like effect, from which
the nrSt floor Is seen in its entire extent. and
around which are arranged pants aud vests in
endless profusion. Every style, quality, sII
price of vest has its speci Al gallery and bracket
by which even the very walls of the room are
brought into requisttion for storing purposes.
Neat and convenient dressing rooms, with all
the etce; etas, are here provided for the use of
not fnnf fN af
AS he light of this house is very striking
and most valuable feature to buyers. we will
notice 1t here. The Sixth street side OF the
building is alone perforated with more than
has free ingress at ali hours of the day
The third story floor Is wholly devoted to
overcoats and fee dress coats Forty' nine
counters are here arranged, all loaded with
garments made up In every desirable mode and
sy le to suit people of all sizes, ages, tastes and
The fourth story brings ns TO the wholesale
and manufacturing rooms, where large por-
made up. On this floor, also, the inspection of
The work Is conducted, where every garment
thai enters the house is subjected TO the closest
scrutiny.
TO give an idea of the vast quantity of goods
cut in these manufacturing rooms, thirty-three
men are Kept constantly BUSY In cutting the
garments needed In the sales rooms of this
mammoth concern.
cashmere, and trimming room. In this room
all the piece goods are examined with the
order to detect the slightest i'm per fections
either la the face or texture of the articles, or
in their strength. After inspection, each piece
OF cloth goods Is passed under the sponging
rollers, when it is ready for the cutters. Every
piece of wool en- goods that enters this house Is
sponged before 1T leaves this room and all
linen fabrics are boiled, thus rendering suose.
quent shrinkase impossible
This department of the house employs a
special corps, whose whole time is occupied
with The care OF materials a large proportion of
which is specially made or Importei for this
r1 m
on goods expressly for their own sales. The
amount of these fabrics stored here is enormous.
They are piled around ike wDolen mou utains,
The rear portion of this floor is oc upied as
the trimming department, where all tri "a mings
are received and Kept under the care OF COM
petent person.
The northern part of the floor is devoted to
the piece goods in large lots while the rear por-
tion OF the room is partltioped off and occupied
by about a dozen men as a busneling room,
connecting with each of the departments, aud
the delivery desk on the first floor. by dumb
waiter. This closes the description OF The IN ain
building. The connecting prope ty, however,
floor as cutting and receiving room for the
youths, boys, and children's departments,
while the third story is packing room" for
wholesale bills; but the most )nspicuous use of
this building is the second floor, which is known
es the "back ronm." This is something like
the "mourning depertmenp of the dry goods
houses. Every article or black wear-in Goals,
pants, and vests-is collected and properly
arranged In this room.
The hands employed in the manufacturing
department enter from the rear entrance In
Minor street, and by means OF bridge con-
structed along the east ern outside of the build
ing, gain access to their respective departments
without going through the salesrooms
The amount of sales during the first year was
$4,000. They have steadily Increased, and for
this present year will be not far snort OF one
million (el. 900 G0C) of dollars.
The house is provided throughout with
speaking tubes and dumb-Waiuers, by which
means AL paris are brought into direct COM
munication with the office, without incurriug
labor or consuming time.
The number of people who daily visit "Oak
Hall' average about i've hundred animal
aggregate OF one and a half million persons
The number OF persons TO whom this esta-
Dnshnent now o gi'es sleauy employment. oy
ten re clerks and book. keepers, forty one
statesmen and assistants, thirty five cutters,
and hands making up clothing make up the
balance. The great majority OF these person %
have families which are supported from their
earnings, so that IL is no eXJravsganJ estimate
10 state that this establishment affOrds co astant
support 10 no leSs than 5000 people-enOuZh TO
populate q county town.