The Centre reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1871-1940, 1877-03-29
From 4 SPECIAL coxRrsraNpENr.

Phiisde'phla. March y, ls7-.-For the
past ten days the expectations of the shop
ping community hSye been considerably
exercised over the promise Of an event
.hat was 20 mark y new erS in mercantile
circles in this city. These expectations
were sharpened and kept burning from
day 10 day by the appearance in our city
newspapers Of double column advertise.
ments, under the fac-simile sign.mAnuAl
Of john NanAmaker. announcing that
upon the l2.h inst, bis Grand Depot,
the largest clothing establishment in the
world, would be converted into a man.
moth dry goods emporium, = Ia stewart Of
your city. For some time past il has been
obvious 10 even casual observers that Mr.,
WanamAker, having reached The scme
OF his ambition in the clothing business
would not rest satisfied Herewith, but
yearning for new and more extended field,
in which 10 exercise bis administrative
business tact would surely driil into The
general dry goods trade. Ts>day the gen,
ergl expectation has bean EhundAntly re-
allied by the Inauguration ofopenIns day
and il can be Said 10 be quite satisfactory
both 10 visitors ard visited Theimmcusr
size Of the building. occupying the whole
square known AS Centre-sqIAre and GOV
cring an uubrOk"n ground area of 2jnI373
feet has enabled the proprietor aud his
able corps OF assistants % design and ar
range = dry goods store ghaI Is really
ulHryelously well Adapte for The purpose
TIE general idea seems 10 be taken from
the spiders web. In the cen
ter Of the building a circle II shelving aud
counters ninety feet ia Circumier.
ence IS taken rs the pivotal point from
which range NJ proper Intervals circle ai
ter circle of similar shelving and counters
dissecied st proper distances by aislrs
leading from the centre 10 the outer circle
Z Thus il will observed 3, the very bet
plan thai could be devised. ina.much rs il
give. II most ready access from one point
10 smother, another OF no slight ,mpO lance
in building Of such magnitude and af
tords well - a very complete opportu
nifty VI dividing the Establishment, inlu
appropriate departments These depart
mems are classic d into sections under a j.
phabetIcAl heading. which sections aTe
again divided into sub-seciious Some
general idea oi the magniludr IF the con
Germ NAV be had from the follow tnZ data I:
I The are 80 blocks of counters. numreriu <
I in all lZ9 IT. font ui thesc there are for
the convenience II choppers. 400 stools (:
| length Of main aisles. 1876 ieet aggregate
| length ofaisles, II miles area Of d-or
over 30 600 square feet. In addition there
are elegantly htted rooms Tor chi drcn .
! goods ladie-' finished suits and other
special departments. besides pArlors. re-
firing rooms &c, for the comfort Of Gus
TONERS. Ia the space enclosed by the
central counter is elegantly carpeted and
1 finished dars room, lighted only hy gas.
used for showing silk goods for evening
/ dress, but this IS the only plsce in which
l Rass is needed, iuasmuch AZ the entire edI
/ Tee is flooded with daylight from the nu-
/ mefUus skylighs which cover the root
/ The entire building in every department
lis filed with new and attractive stock OF
goods The store No 1913 Chestnut ST..
has been purchased and demolished in or
| der 10 make n beautiful arcade leAdin ng
from Chestnut street into the great store.
| This arcade is hia bly, ornamenied in front
and mHgnif.sntly lighted with stained
glsss ard elaborate chandeliers, Tiled with
! marble, and otherwise rendered attrHct
| i've
@ pr.ing dav was a great guccrrs