The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1879-04-23
FROM PHILADELPHIA PAPER,
Aprsg 5. 1879.

Fifty years ago and the queer old water
works that afforded water to We city y occu.
pied Penn Square. They were long walk
from the sbult.up city, but then objects Of
great curiosity for citizens and stran els.-
The Mint was soon after planted in Chestnut
street, opposite. Then the Boys High School
on Jumper Street ; later on, the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company came along and tore down
the Boys High School and built their great
freight station, covering the entire block at
Thirteenth Street. Then the new Public
Buildings dropped down on the old site of the
water-works, and the four beautiful Penn
Squares were demolished, the great Railroad
Company had to pull up stakes and move
away, as the freight trains could neither go
through nor around the new City Hall. For
two years the old sheds at Thirteenth Street
were closed, and the rats and cats held undis-
turbed possession. Then came the transfer
nation, and huge towers grew, as it were, In
a single night, on the corners and centres of
the old Depot, and where the drays used to
enter the building the great door-ways sui
denly became plate glass show-windows.
In trice, almost, q new structure appeared,
aud crowds Of people wondered at the sign
being painted on the walls
John Wanamaker-Grand Depot,
Mems and Boys Goods.
General Dry Goods House.
II was great innovation to organize such
store no such store had ever existed IN
Philadelphia, never could exist, and some said
:. nsDer should erist" Unm;ndful of all the
hub bub, the Grand Depot settled down to its
mission, and though but child in years has
done wonders for the shoppers in Pbiladel-
phia. Thirty one stores live ia peace on ono
floor and under one roof, sharing one rent and
one expense. II Dry Goods business could
alone afford the rent of large store building
and its ground, then all the other businesses
crowded in are done without expense for
rent II a small business savngly managed
Is good thing, larger business economical
ly managed is u much better thing.
One great reason why the Grand Depot can
sell 81 chearly is because the Grand Depot
has 40 expensive building or fixtures. Every.
thing IL Of the simplest kind-cheap rent,
cheap Insurance no upstairs, required port
ets and stenmhnists, but all on first floor, where
delighted people can wander abou., and with.
out fInclnus iDtt riefence see every description
of Dry Goods, Fancy Goods, Clothing, and
a Thousand others things.
The prices liked at the Grand Depot seem
to fix lower prices throughout The city
The determined stick T.. ativeness of Mr.
Wananakcr is fast improving every psrt Of
his huge enterprise. After the Electric Lights
and Electric Bells we hardly know what TO ga
pect next
The Lunch room for tired customers from
out of town is not the least appreciated Of al
the many convsnierlces and advantages at the
Grand Depot.
The saving af time to shoppers 10 no small
II Ing. Many persons say that now that all
kinds Of goods are to be had under one roof.
they Can come TO town in the morning and get
back at night, where il used TO take them tao
fun dass and wear out lots of patience and
shoe leather beside.
To see a stock of goods costing million of
doIla's in iliese i'm Is III would have cost two
millions less than ten years ago. all spread
out before the eye, ticketed the same price 10
everybody, sold subject to return OF money if
desired. IL just the kind OLA sight that meet
! ladies want 10 see.
/ What with ,hv stock Of goods. the reabons
able prices, and tho obIiginx way Of duin9
+ business, we do not wonder at the constant
activity 0f business at Tie Grand Depot. Tho
street cars that pass Tho doors from every part
Of the city let nat crowds Of cuafomeYs and
tske IN loads Of bundles