Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1879-11-04
WILMINGTON, DEL, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER f. l879

like clerks, made customers feel at
home and hundreds Of Office and cash
boys and girls flew lers aud there at
the touch Of the electric wire which in
dicated the counter at which they were
wanted. Every boy and girl is number
ed and each with basket in hand knows
his or her place at the touch of the
magnetic needle. A we'll trained regi
ment of soldiers are not more regular
and exact in their movements than
were these cheerful happy cash boys
and girls.
Following our polite guide a few steps
higher, We we're ushered into the lace
manufacturing department where some
80 ladies were engaged in running quite
a number o. machines, from which the
rich heavy folds of lace came in light,
airy, gauzy, loupes. We have no room
70 describe the process of its manufac-
ture more fully, bat such sight is
worth travelling miles to see. In the
upholstering department a number OF
men were cushioniug sofas and chairs,
and few steps up in another depart
ment were number of cobblers mend
ing shoes. On gallery extending halt
the length of the building, were desks
for 65 clerks and book keepers, also;
20 cashiers, whose sole business was to
receive and exchange money.
Passing from this floor we stepped
down light of steps and came into
the folding department. All the pack
ages purchased above have been de-
posted here by the waiter boys, and
here they are bound up and directed to
the address Of the purchaser. Outside
of this apartment stands II wagons
continually employed in conveying the
packages to their respective destina.
tions throughout the city. Farther on
in this apparently subterraneous re-
gion we come to the receiving depart.
ments of the various KINDS Of merchan.
dize received, where the goo&s are un.
packed, and examined carefully that nj
faulty goods shall be exposed for sale
In corner of the building number
of workmen were busy excaVating FOL
the purpose of introducing machinery
for lighting the whole mammoth build
ing with electric lights. Pursuing oul
course in this underground conserva
tory we came to numerous ricks or rows
of shelves containing duplicates OF al
the goods that could be found up stairs
This was called the reserve stock, ant
was only used when the same Kind o
goods up stairs became exhausted. Mr.
Forepaugh, our cicerone, informed III
that there was nothing up stairs tina
if exhausted could not be supplied will
the same kind from the basement
Having taken but a casual glance a
all the departments, in answer to ou
question We are informed that the es
tablishment employs about l2OO hands
230 of them being cash boys and girls
The male employees Of the place arr
expected to be al their posts OF duty
every morning at 7.30 o'clock, but II
minutes grace are allowed. The stor'
Op6NS loT tI6 udy ae ~ uAnus0' v
eight o'clock, but cash boys and lady
employees are not expected to repor
until eight o'clock.
Tins have we given an imperfec
sketch of this wonderful place which
we're we to be minute and exact il
giving, would require columns in
which to record our thoughts.
This is a monument of the indomit.
able perseverance and the integrity oI
John Wanamaker, the most noted and
amongst the most successful business
men of Philadelphia. Aside from this
great model enterprise, Mr.. Wanamak-
er still carries on the large store al
Sixth an, Market streets, and also one