The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-01-28
a PRINCELY DRY GOODS STORE

WTlteT IOOCSGepS TOOK MIN on to w lsCOn.
son street, where the most prominent
object that struck his gaze was the mag
nlticent building Of T. A Chapman &
Co., which encloses one Of the largest dry
goods stores in the west. Il is q four
story cream colored brick front struc-
ture, and handsomely ornamented. Mil
waukee is justly proud of this beautiful
dry goods mart, for no city In the west
can show one more elegant or better
adapted to the trade, Field, Letter &;
Co.'S. on State street. Chicago, may he
larger. but in the symmetry of its pro-
portions and the quiet, good taste of its
ernamentation certainly does not excel
the house eff Messrs. Chapman & Co.
| The beauty of the exterior prompted
me to step within and see whether, as in
many cases | have discovered in my Chi
cage experience, the interior was sancti>
fed to outside looks. I was agreeably
surprised to find the interior fitted up
with that quiet elegance indicative of
good sense in the proprietor. There was
nothing of the gilt-edged gingerbread
order in the decorations, but the ceiling
were frescoed in the highest style of
that art, AND the eneIvlngs and counters
finished with cunning handiwork. Beauty
Of construction and convenience of the
purchaser seemed TO be the particular
aim of the builder. To further this
purpose grand rotunda sweeps up from
the first floor to the roof which is cover
ed with glass, and down this poars a
flood of light which enables the purchas-
er to critically examine the texture of
goods even on the darkest of DAYS. TIE
store Is devoted exclusively to the retail
trade. No wholesaling is done whatever,
and yet the yearly business of the firm
amounts up in the millions. In extent of
business it's excelled by but two or three
houses, whether wholesale, or retail
in the northwest. It may be news to your
Chicago readers TO hear that Milwaukee
has dry goods house of such proportions
ont it should be remembered that
Milwaukee is not st. Louis, and It's people
are of the same go-ahead, energetic class
as Chicago possesses. The secret OF
Messrs, Chapman s. Co.'S success is that
they have the reputation of selling
cbeaply, and the reason of their selling
cheaply is because they buy cheaply
Cash is the basis of all their transactions
This principle has given them the con.
fidence Of both manufacturers and the
public, and happily has enabled them to
steer safely through panicS and depres>-
ions in trade when many noble house
were crippled and borne down Their
prices are about tho same as jobbing
prices. This is a fact that your readers
should know. High prices have held
sway too long in Chicago already. You
can run up from Chicago in the morning
and get back the same night, and if you
have to purchase dry goods the difference
between what you would pay and what
you would have to pay at any retail store
in Chicago would considerably more
than meet your travelling expenses.
Mr.. T: A. Chapman, the senior partner,
is notable example of the self-made
man. He is a natives of the far-away
state Of Maine, where he passed his
boyhood years working in the summer
to gain the wherewithal to keep him at
school in the winter. In this way he laid
the foundation for an education which is
essentially practical and analytical.
Eighteen years ago he came to Milwaukee,
possessing little but stout heart, an
honest reputation, and an indomitable
will. His ready, good sersa told him
that Milwaukee was destined to be city
of importance, and there he decided to
stick his stake and make his fortune.
He laid down for bis motto "Square
Dealing and Low Pricess," he asked for
patronage. Itcame beyond his expecta-
tlons, and to-day, whether as citizen
or business man, no one stands higher
in Milwaukee than T. A Chapman.
After the city grew and rival houses
sprung up. it was the personal popularity
and untarnished reputation that Mr..
Chapman still maintained that kept him
his supremacy. He has ever been
philosophical citizen, and whatever
might tend to the welfare of Milwaukee
always found an advocate in the 6ry
goods prince. The moral as we'll as the
business influence he had exarted has
been great, and though it has been quiet
and transformations, it has nevertheless
been felt deeply in the affairs of the
Cream city. Few people have done so
much to mould public sentiment in the
right direction, and few men in the
northwest have higher standing than
Mr.. T. A. Chapman, or are as well &C.
credited for honest, upright, fair-dealing