The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1870-01-27


4 O.. NorthtresE corasy ~ Teaft aRd 3lar-
ksf Sfrssfs-
Cur city has a worldwide celebrity
for its medical colleges and its distin-
gaished professors and practitioners OF
the medical and surgical art. 1t is en-
titled to equal renown for It's extensive
drug establishments. We supply the
United States and countries south Of
Us not only with doctors, bat also with
drugs. Possessed Of a most salubrious
Climate itself, Philadelphia, ike an
angel of mercy, contributes more
largely than any other American city
II The r,Iicf of the sick in less favored
places.
Messrs. French, Richards & Co. have,
AT the northwest coraer Of Tenth and
Market streets, one Of the finest build
dIngs in the city, devoted entirely to
the preparation and compoundiug Of
drugs on a large scale, and to a general
wholesale jobbing trade in drugs,
chemicals, paints, glass, etc.
The firm was established in 1914, by
Clayton French, Esq, the present
senior partner. and Wm. Richards,
Esq. Another partner was subsequent
ly added when the firm assumed the
name Of French, Richards 4 Co.
Mr.. Richards died in 1893, and since
then two new partners have been ad-
ded. bat the old firm name is still re-
tanned. They now carry on an i'm
mense business Is manufacturers, i'm
porters, and jobbeEs. and own several
large stores and warehouses, besides
their principal mandatory al Crown
aud Callow hillstreets. The lastnamed
establishment comes most appropriate
IL within the scope of this series of
articles; yet wepTopose giving a hasty
sketch Of their buildings, and shall be-
gin with the splendid store at tenth
and market.
This is a large building six stories
high, besides cellar or basement and
ub-eeIlar. 1t has wide frontage on
Market street, aud extends back a con
siderable distance on Tenth street. 1t
Is constructed in the most elegant
and subs .antial 81 le, the internal ar
rangements being particularly tasteful,
Convenient, and some Of the rooms, as
the offices, almost luxurious. 1t occu-
pied over two years in building. The
old store, upon the same site, was
burned down in October, 1868. The
present structure was completed and
occupied in February, 1868, and is val
ueI at upwards of S}O0,0
There are three distinct buildings at
this location, occupied by Messrs.
French, Richards & Co, though all
these are adjoining aad connected with
each other on the lower stories.
The main building, immediately at
the corner, contains on the first floor
the commodious and elegantly-fur-
nished Offices and counting room. In
the east part Of the large room, opening
on Market street, two members OF the
firm, assisted by several secretaries
and attendants, receive customers and
transact the active business Of buying
and selling The desk and furniture
generally are Of massive black walnut,
the ceiling is lofty, aud everything
about the room and its occupants cal
culated to create the most favorable
impression. Druggists from other
cities. aud from the country, must
surely 90 away from this establish
ment delighted with their reception,
and therefore profited, even though
they have neglected to make pur-
chases.
The west side of the room, partly
partitioned from the east sidean fitted
up in the same style, Is occupied as the
general counting-room by numerous
clerks and book keepers, under the
supervision Of another member Of the
firm. Opening into this room from
/ the rear Is an elegant little withdraw
ing room or private Office, and the sam
pie room, where the customer can be
shown samples of anything from per.
/ flmery to paint, and from the costliest
/ essences to the coarsest of medicinal
roots and leaves. Tiny vials are rang
+ ed in rows on shelves, all around the
/ little room, mysteriously labelled with
long, unpronouneeable Latin Names
+ Here the purchaser has an opportunity
/ Of making his selections, after careful
inspection and tests as to quality.
A most wonderful thing about the
i estab ishment is the Hydraulic Hoist.
/ ing Machine, extending from the bot
/ tom of the sub-cellar to the top of the
sixth story, ninety feet. This curiou:
I and beautiful piece of mechanism is {
practical application Of the principle
/ well known in natural philosophy
that a column Of water, no matter how
small if only sufficiently high. vii
balance any possible weight in con
Meeting tube. The same principle i
sometimes exempted by toy ealleC
Hylrostatic Paradox. This elsyat0
consists chiefly Of a solid piston rod
ten inches in diameter aud ninety fee
long, fitted loosely into an exccedingl!
/ strong iron tube, which is sunk il
whole length in a hole drilled in th
rock beneath the building. \ franz
work extends to the top Of the house
and the piston-rod, with an ordinar.
platform attached near the top, play
/ up and down according as the water