Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-02-19
The New Block On College Street.
THE WHOLESALE DRUG. PROPRIETARY NEDI-
CINE AND SPICE AND TEA TRADE OF BUR-
LINGr0N.
The new Stores Of Wells, Richardson q Co,

| LlNGION.
The nep Stores of Wells, Richardson d Co,
Henry. Johnson q Lord, and
Miner. Pope & Co.
have noted heretofore. from time to
ii e. the progress Of the new block of
four story brick stores an College street,
between st. Paul and Pine streets. Built in
the most substantial manner. it, spacious
front decorated with ornamental window
caps and bracketed cornices of galvanized
iron, it would be noticed as a fine block in
any city. and is marked indication of the
growth Of the business of Burling-
ton. 1t is occupied BY three con-
Germs, each established within ten
years in Burlington; each in line of
business then new to our city and each so
thriving as to demand enlarged quarters
for their prosperous and growing business.
They are all now fully established in their
new stores; and we extend with pleasure
some notes of a recent :our through their
premises. Beginning 1t the upper end, we
take first the new stors Of
Wells, Richardson Il Co,
WHOLESALE DRUGGISTS.
This has front on College street of 35
feet, and depth of 30 feet Stepping into
the main entrance in its handsome front
between windows of plate glass with
silver mullions, VIC find ourselves IN q
spacious counting-room Of 40 by 30 feet
The walls are wainscotted with chest
nut and black walnut, and ceiled with
narrow strips of pine on the sides and over
head. tastefully frescoed with tint of pale
robin 'segg green, with cornice of brighter
colors. A large and handsome desk for the
panels and mouldings of black walnut, and
guard of embossed glass, set in open work
frames of black walnut, is on the right. On
the left. behind heavy walnut railing are
the desks for the partners, of black walnut,
with every convenience, and supplied with
speaking tubes which lead to the other
floors The centre Of the room is occupied
| by steam radiator, in a handsome orna-
mental openwork casing of brown and gold.
surmounted by large slab of the rich
mottled green Moriah marble, highly pol
ished. In the rear of the office. separated
from it by black walnut rail arc the sample
shelves and counter. Here are arranged on
the shelves and in drawers. samples of the
drugs, essences, perfumes. soaps, sYringes,
brushes, combs, toilet articles. etc, which
come under the head os " Druggists sun
dries"
The remainder of the first floor is occupied
by the shipping department. This Is supplied
with counters with movable compartments,
in which the various articles Of each order
are collected, preparatory to the boxing
and shipping. A hand elevator, bya pull Of
a cord carries q sliding cupboard to and
from the drug room, for smaller packages.
Larger ones are brought from the other
floors by the large elevator in the corner
This Is, We believe. the only steam
elevator Of its kind in Vermont
1t Is of the improved pattern, made
by Campbell, Whittier i Co, of Bos-
ton. i controlled at a touch of wire cord,
and is provided with safety gearing which
makes fall Of the platform an impoSsi-
bility. The shipping room opens to the
rear upon driveway for the receipt and
delivery of heavy goods (for the handling Of
which blocks and tackle hang outside) and
has also front hall and entrance by which
express packages may be delivered without
passing through the counting room.
Stepping on 10 the elevator, with one Of
the courteous .Itners, We descend to the
basement below. This Is lighted by win
dows at the rear. has brick floor, and Is
provided with the necessary shelves and
bins IN which are stored the paints, var
nishes, dye stufs, mineral waters. acids,
and other heavy goods. Two spacious vaults
extend under the sidewalk, one of which
Is devoted to the fuel and the other
it is contemplated to use a. a warehouse,
in which to store, IN bond, the essential
oils, and other costly imported articles,
dealt in By the firm. In this basement IS
placed the steam engine, and It's boiler, by
which the elevator is propelled and t'.lC
whole building heated. The engine is Of
six horse power, made by the New York
Safety Steam Power Company, and work.
like cloek-work, and with e,s noisc
than many clocks.
| The second floor Is one spaco Us room, &C.
cupying the whole story. so = 81 feet, ant
Is devoted to the Drug Dep, .rtment. Tn,
walls are lined with shelvc, and stacks O
shelves stand IN the centre. The shelving
IL this room alone amoV nts to some tue.
thousand feet. On these are stored th,
chemicals in packages, tae solid and AdiC
extracts, the tinctures end the like Cup.
boards are provided for the poisons draw
ers Tor the lighter. and bins for the nor,
bulky drugs,-sll plainly labelled, to pre-
vent mistakes. A considerable portion o
thisroom is devoted to the Patent Medicines
Of which stock Of all the approved kind
known 10 the trade, is kept.
The third floor is devoted in part to tn.
Laboratory. This is under the capa bl,
charge Of M. Van Patten, the chemist o
the concern. 1t is provided with the neces
sary apparatus, sand baths, hot water tanks
gas stoves, sinks, etc, for Ii preparation
of tinctures. fluid extracts, ,erfumery, etc.
manufactured by the firm. The remainde
of this floor is the stock ,om for sponges
corks, powdered drugs. nd paper bags an
boxes.
The fourth stor, is also a stock room 70
glass phials. bottles nd the various arti
cles comip under thu head of Druggists
prescr rption ware" Here is stored also
what they call the " calamity stock til
! patent medicines which have lost their popu
larity for want Of sufficient advertising 0
for other causes. and for which orders ar
rare. Partitioned of on this floor, is also
,, light and neat front lodging room for clerks
r warmed by steam.
The construction OF the whole building
oftbe most thorough character. The floors ar
, of Georgia pine The aoor beams rest on tn.
sir stout iron columns. running from maso
Work foundations IN the cellar through III
several stories, to the tin roof. Each stor
t is supplied with water pipes. with arrange
, ments fer attaching hose, for use in case {
fire with gas and with steam piping fC
, heating, OF which there are thousands q
, feet in the building The comfort of th
employees his been cared for by proyidin
: wash rooms with hot and cold water, watt
, closets. and dressing room, in which til
packing Gle ks, (who change their clotht
!, while at work in order that their ordinar
: garments mf,y not become filed with Ii
2 powders and odor of drugs) hang their ga
ments. Careful attention has been paid I
+ the sewerage; and the establishment show
throughout the Planning of skilful and e,
1 perienced heads The propretors, who kne