The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1876-12-09

In 1857 Henry Dart, ESQ.,, came to
this city, from Pennsylvania, and opened
a small retail grocery in the old Copp
building. on Second avenue between 2lst
and 22d, streets. He did not remain
there long, however, for he moved the
same season to Union Block, on 18th
street, where he remained until 1859.
That year he was burned out, sustaining
considerable loss.
He then moved to Guyer's building.
and occupied the rooms now used by
Stengeps and Goes saloons. Here he
embarked in the Wholesale and retail
trade, which gradually increased until, in
1864, he was obliged to have more room
and he accordingly moved into the store
on the corner of Second avenue and 18th
street.
In 1866 his three sons, G. j., A. @. and
W. Ell. Dart, purchased their fathers in
terest in the store and since then they
have been only in the wholesale trade,
under the firm name of Henry Darts
Sons"
After the young men took charge of the
business the house rapidly increased in
popularity among the retail dealers until
the business of the firm now amounts to
many hundreds of thousands of dollars
annually.
Owing to their rapidly growing trade all
over the western country they decided to
erect large wholesale house on 18th
street between Second and Third avenues.
The credit of this enterprise is mostly due
to Cy. and AL. who generally worked up
the business while VIM. FL. attended to
the Office work
The new building was commenced dur
ing the past season, and is now completed
1t is of brick, 80 by l4o feet in size, and
three stories high, with high basement
The basement is used for storing heavy
goods. such as hogheads of molasses. sugar
barrels of salt, vinegar, wrapping paper
etc.
The first floor contains large double
Office, partitioned off from the main room,
with large glass windows which can be
moved at pleasure-the front Office for
general business and the back one as a
private Office; fine sample room, and a
store room for chewing tobacco, teas, cot
fees, foreign and domestic dried fruit,
soap, refined sugar, and fancy goods gen
orally.
The second floor contains two large
rooms. being partioned by large glass
doors or windows The front room is used
for storing candies and confectionery,
spices, and all broken packages of goods
Here, also, all small orders for goods are
filed and the goods packed. The back
room is used for storing smoking tobacco,
starch, crackers, hominy, beans, rice,
and general goods,
The third floor is used for storing
wooden aud willow ware, baskets, broOms
lamp chimneys, and all light goods.
Besides broad stairway leading from
the basement to the top of the building
there is also large Reedy elevator which
is operated by one of Parker's (Daven.
port patent hydraulic engines There i:
also small elevator which will be usec
for small packages.
The building, throughout, is fitted with
all conveniences, such as gas, water clos
cts, etc.; and, for fire protection. there il
stand pipe from basement to roof will
hose on each floor. Iron 6re-proof shutter
will be placed on all the windows.
The contract for erecting the building
was let to Mr.. j. d. Taylor, His foreman
and son-in-law, Mr.. Stephen Collins, for
mer student under l. N. Holmes. was tn
architectural he has done credit no
only to himself but to the profession.
Mr.. Taylor sub-contracted the work t.
the following named parties: Stonework
Julius Strahle; brickwork, Peter Farrell
painting, I. f. Cary; plastering, Thong
son 4 Dack; gas AID water pipes Thos
Yates; tin and copper work, w. A. Swi
Ter; slate roofing, Nipple 4 Co. (ot Day
enport) fire proof shutters,D. Donaldson
The carpenter work was done by Mr.. Tay
lor, the contractor.
The cost of the building is estimated g
$4,000, but this may not cover the Ell
pense.
The firm has moved into this new stor
and are attended to business as usual. br
their goods are not yet systematically al
ranged. Everything will soon be place
in position and then the firm extends
cordial invitation to everybody to call an
make tour of inspection of the larget
and best Wholesale grocery store in th
three cities.
The Turner Fair for the benefit of the Germa
English school, opens at Turner Hall to-day, al
clio es Monday evening.
The above valuable information is frol
the Rock Island editor of the Gazett