Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1871-11-01

oy 8oods Brown ~ Co.-&ne COM
mercial Prosperity Of the City,
etc., etc.,
The best evidence Of the wealth aud pros
perity Of city Is its growth. The been
proof Of its commetciAl advancement is the
expansion Of its merchants, manufacturers
and business men.
The permanent and rapid growth Of St.
Louis since the close OF the war has aston
ished the business men OF the East, and
excited the envy Of her rival citiss IN the
West The new life that has been infased
into her capitalists, in applying their means
to the building up of the city, and giving aid
TO the forwarding of all enterprises OF
public character, is marked, and has become
q subject Of comment all over the conn
try.
The nerohants and business men are en-
larging their facilities to accommodate their
increasing trade, and be more fully enabled
TO successfully compete with other great
cities of our country. The leading jobbers
and importers sre transferring their stocks
OF goods to more desirable localities on
Fifth street, where number of large and
costly business houses are in process of
completion. ready for occupancy for the fsll
trade.
The class Of buildings now in process
OF erection on Fifth street will compare
fsvorably in magnitude and beauty with
any in either of the large cities Of the
United States. The one now receiving the
finishing touches. on the corner of s..
Charles and Fifth strests, sxcels in
beauty aud magnitude any busisess house
III St. Louis, and, with vsry fsw exec ptioos,
suy in New York. or either Of the large
oities The style Of architecture is Italian,
aud Is a proud monument to the enter,rs
sad EperSity Of the Messrs. Collier, the
o ~ners, As we'll as al ornAment TO the. city
which challenges the admiration of all who
visit u.
The enterprising firm Of DoId, Brown l.
c.. have become the lessses for q term Of
ysars, aud will haze their immense stock of
Cry goods arranged in il in time for the
grand opening, which will take place on the
first day Of eptember. We trust a brief de-
scripsion OF this truly grand structure will
OF prove uninteresting TO the general reader.
The basement is lis feet vide, by lao
deep, extending under the sidewalks on
F.fth and 81. Charles streets, and twelve
fse, 10 height, being in itself . magnificent
stors-room, and is lighted from the front
aud side By Hysu's Illuminated tiliHg, and
from the reAr by ground glass lights, form
lag part of the floor of the FIRST story The
frs, AIor is supported BY fifteen circular
cast-iron pillars, that not only uphold the
Rrdsrs that suppors the hoor, but add much
TO the symmetry and beauty of the base.
msut, winch is oonoreted and eemsnted.
T~o engines are placed in the rear end,
Cor the purpose Of running two Of the Miller
elevators. one to convey heavy boxes and
goods from the basement TO lhs fifth hJor ;
the other for the accommodation Of the cus-
tomsrs Of the house. These engines have
power enough TO propel che elevator from
ssn to one hundrsd and Fifty feet per minute
One Of Roots celebrated Patent Safety Boil
ers is situated under the rear alley il is
6o-horse power, and will supply steam to
heat the entire building IN oold weather and
run tbs elevators.
The first story is ISL feet high, having an
grJn front, with handsome pillars, crowned
eth Corinthian capitals which support the
second story. There are Twelve openings
oa Fifth street, nins Of which ere filed with
the finest quality Of French plate glass, six
feet wide and fourteen feet high; the othei
three TO be used as doorways; three win
dows Of same size on 81. Charles street, and
two others on either aide Of the entrano,
a. the east end OF the building on st
Charles street, and same size ss those IL
front.
The ground foor il 100 feet on Fifth
street, extending back l25 feet on ST
Charles. The Offices and clerks desks arr
upon this floor, enclosed by black wAlnu
sui glass screens, which is really an exhibi
tion of . high order OF mechanical work
manship and taste. The rear end OF Ihi
floor is lighted BY an immense skylighi
Two flights Of stairs, one iu front and on
in rear, lead to the ffth floor. The genera
finish Of the room 10 much finer than an
We have seen in the East.
The third, fourth aud fifth floors, or
not so high rs the first story, but are 6nish
ed in the sane style. There are 200 lsrg
wiudowS in the building, making it one @
the best lighted business houses 20 be foun
in the United States.
The four upper stories, fronting on Fif:
street, are built Of the beautiful cream
oolored magnesian limestone from the note
quArriss near Joliet, Illinois, which is
extensively used ip St. Louis and Chicsp
ia fronts OF the finest and most costly buil
iugs. The top is crowned with an slAborA
ooruice, and a balustrads extends arour
tbs whole roof, which adds mnch to Il
beauty and appearance Of the baildin
The 81. Charles front Is built Of press,
brick.
Great credit should he given 10 the ent.
prise Of Dodd, Brown 4 Co., who have b
come the lessees, and for whose benefit tf
edihce has been erected, As the inaupuraio
OF an enterprise which viii be Of .o mn,
sdvantsge to the city of St. Louis, and n
planning Of the building in its peculi
Adaptabiliiy to the purpose for which il ia
be used.
Ofthe 6ve great prinoely Dry Goo
EstAblishmeuts 10 the United States, VII,
business is estimated in millions 10 place
thousands, that Of Dodd, Brown 4 Co.
st. Louis is much the youngest, but
grown more rapidly than either Of
others. They iuauguratsd their whole.
Dry Goods hOuIe near the close Of the y
1866, and within the short period Of
years have been compelled to transfer Il
stock Of goods to larger houses two differ
times, to enable them to transact their
msusely increasing businsss-and, tod
the Wholesale Dry Goods house Of Do
Brown 4 Co. occupies the relation to
Louis that A. T. Stewart or b. B. Gle
Co. occupy to New York. Their busir
now extends throughout the length
breadth Of the grea, Mississippi Valley,
cluding New Mexico, Colorado, and all
Territories, embracing an area OF ooui
much larger and wider than pays tribute
either Of the greet oilies Of the West.
Since the disaster to Chicago there
been large increase Of trade to 81. l.,