The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-03-29
A COMPLETE ESTABLISHMENT.
\ Walk through One of the Leading Houses
OF this Counuy.--What we saw.---The Trip
one of Peculiar Interest to Houseksepers ana
Dry Goods Buyers OF all Glasses ana Ages

As IA monument to the industry of one man. rs
an evidence Of the importance Of Ottawa as n
business point, as an index to the demand OF the
trade of Ottawa and her wealth, no more httlhS
illustration can be made than mention OF the
really mammoth house Of W. II. HULL, a. -
and 20 La Sale street When Mr. HULL began
his business career lie had the extensive capital
of so in gold, About - years ago he came 10
Ottawa and in company with q. Goit and :. lhor-
son opened dry goods house at 80 Madison ST.,
| in Woods old block, the firm being styled ton,
| Huh * Thorson. Some time aitcrward the firm
became Hull Il Thor,on, in the same old quar-
tcrs In 1866 this trm was dissolved and the two
gentlemen opened rival houses at - and % La
Sale st. Thorson afterwards failing, Mr. HULL
occupied No -, and with that rs Il nucleus he
has increased his business to its present proper
tions. To present in figures the magnitude OF
the business we may say, the premises occupied
comprisc five rooms-threc below and two in the
second story The main rooms below are each
2OySO feet the third 2OX35 feet, the upper rooms
are 2Ox4O and 2OXsO respectively, making total
area of floor nearly 800 square feet. This is
large area, but all is so well lighted that there is
mot foot of it but i. utilized the light being OBJ
laCu ny flV - Iut!t iccl VI pl''o S''' ''''N WV
$50 square feet of common windows
Having On yesterday morning to escape the
rain, we dropped into the house, and while there
were induced to take hasty walk through the
establishment We were taken first to the car
pet hall in the second story and shown through
The Carpet Department.
. This department occupies tworoons, 400 square
feet of floor 1t is one of the largest in the state
, outside of Chicago, and is handsomely fitted up
(, for the purpose II is lighted by three large
windows in front, six in the rear, aud shy-light
which throws rich, mellow light on the goods
aud dcvclopcs the coors perfectly. II can it de
sired be darkcned and carpets shown by %aSlight
so that the effects of all light are had. During
the past seasons this department has been re-
cciycd by the people with great favor and has
been Il great success. The stocks have always
been large and strictly first class mcritn@ the
success showcrcd upon the department; but in
preparing for the present season Mr. Hull has
/ greatly augmented its attractions. The first in
voice was one of over five tons, since which there
have been almost daily arrivals, so that they have
I about double the largest stock they ever before
carried, and present an assortment that cannot
be met in this district at the very least. 1t is
. complete, including hcmps, cottage carpets, in
grains, tapestry ngrains, 3.plys, Persian damaskS
for halls and stairs, tapestry and body Brussels
: Persian damask borders for ingrains from to Is
i, inches in width, &c, Nc. Prices range through
the stock from II cents per yard to $50 for the
best 5-framc body Brussels. They show a rich
20 line of tapestry Brussels, o,gu, rrN fine, for -
cents Il yard. The Brussels stock is simply SUI
pcrb; the designs are of the modern art style, so
. very bcautifua rs well rs fashionable, and abound
lng in new coors with borders to match any pat
tern Some novel designs were shown Us, like the
panel style 50 fashionable in household decora
ID ton; new color,-thc rohiH's-c@g blue being quite
is afayoritc; one piece, bron2c-hrown with dash
.of thi, new blue and gold, forming remarkably
rich and beautiful combination. But it is useless
to attempt to particulari2c. In In@rsns we saw
s. practically mtlcs7 array Of styles, as well de-
t yclopcd as in the Brussels, in prices ranging
n from 30 to 90 cents, in pure wool goods OF
such famous factories Il, the Lowell and Hart
- ford works In addition they showed us a heavy
line OF crlrmb-cloths Brussels rugs; also mating
in all style. ana width, from = yrd up; oil
cloths all widths and styles matching the reign
! ing styles OF carpets Nor do they stop when
/ thcy have suited the buyer with pattern; but
offer every facility for putting him to the least
possible trouble in getting ii upon the floor. In
the first place they measure the room; make :
diagram Of ts shape and dimensions, by which
they are able to tit pcrticHy any room in exist
encc; they cut the carpet, sew ii, put on the Dor
der and it is ready to be put down. TC preserve
" the carpet on the floor they have the patent ccda
felt at ) cents yard, which not only preserve
the carpet from wear by cqualzing all tmpcNcc
, tions of the floor. but also is n,ob proot. tn,
~ carpet and floor ready FOR the laying their mal
is on hand to deliver it, and another to put
Gown. This latter man has had training q
h many years in Chicago carpet house and i per
j. feet and with the aid of his patent stretchcr vii
e. lay carpet to wear to the best possible adyan
tage--a thing few carpet layers are equal 10, b.
the way. On yesterday We saw a carpet under
o. going this process, It was cut and made up t.
IL tit am odd shaped room with hay-window AM
gratc the diagram of the room Uiuli size ha
been drawn or the floor Of the hall; the good
\. laid upon it and cut; it rgouai J.H 4, IL. An
~, this is their plan Of fttin" all carpets
r That all these advantages are observed by ia
H., people, we may say that during the storm tn
room contained customers and dozen or NOR
made up carpet, lay in one corner waiting 70
fair weather to hr shipped out And, by the by
er almost every express train leaving the city cal
A. rie, cousignmcnts Of these goods to ncighborin
Ella towns; a sample Of the quantity being one hi
nd Of over $50 worth to a Sheridan gentleman
shipped on Thursdav-Going down stairs "
wo-. taken into the department e
lphoIsteIing and Furnishing Goods.
The space occgpied i 20y3j feet-thc south roor
of the series. Here we found a magnificent lin
,r Of lace curtains Nottingham and real lace sets
Nh curtains. also lace lambrcquins handsome lac
shade, made 10 work on a roller like commo
shade but lace and transparency; then there WEI
nd oil shades figured; plain oil shades 10y the yar'
cs hollands. ,vc. &c kinds Of curtain fixture
spring and cord Passing into the main sout
=, rnn,n Nv. fnunl continuation OF mi. dcpartmeI