Middletown transcript., 1881-06-03

accommodated fOrty-tiVe different tell
ants engaged in as many different kinds
of business. In place of the two cut
ters there are now from sixty to seventy
in the stock and custom departments
together. Oak Hall to-day gives EN-
ployment to 2,300 people, being one of
the great centres Of industry which con-
tribute most largely to. the support of
the working population Of Philadelphia.
The stock carried by the house in cloths
and clothing approaches a million of
dollars and the sales during busy time
will often reach from S25, ,000to $50, 700
daily.
A large amount of manufacturing is
done on the premises, the upper floors
being devoted to these purposes. On
the sixth floor, for example, is the shirt
| factory, which, taken by itself, would
be considered a very large establish
ment, turning out, as it does, hundred
dozen shirts daily and giving work to
seven hundred hands. Another branch
of manufactures, located on the fifth
floor, is that of neckties and scarfs,
with an output of a hundred thousand
dollars per annum. The cutting-rOomS
are also located on these upper floors,
and some idea may be formed of the
extent of the work done by the state
ment that of the goods used for trou-
sers' pockets seven bales of thirty
pieces each are cut up in one day.
What will strike a stranger, however,
as the most remarkable cutting up OF
cloths is done in the Mail Order De-
partment, where six thousand yards OF
goods are annually cut into samples and
sent out through all the land. This in
teresting department extends the trade
of Oak Hall into every State and Ter
ritory in the Union, and the business
done through its agency is rapidly APP
preaching a million dollars per annum.
On the third floor is the salesroom for
fine clothing, the stock of gentlemen's S
dress suits here being larger than all
the other stocks of similar goods i'll
Philadelphia together. This floor also
accommodates the immense lines OF
spring OvercOats and the wide variety
of suits that come under the denomina-
tion Of flannels.
The Customs Department is on the
j second floor back, a very spacious, we'll
lighted ant pleasant pleasant fteella where the
stock of cloths and the amount of busi-
ness done is OH the same extensive scale
that measures the trade of Oak Hall
throughout.
The first floor is the main SaleSrOom
for general stock, for furnishing goods,
and for youths suits. This is the great
popular resort for buyers, and more
people have been and continue to be
suitably, economically and satisfactor-
lily supplied with becoming apparel
here than in dozen ordinary clothing
houses.
The Chestnut-Street Store.
Chestnut street is famous for its hand
some stores, and the store of John
Wanamaker & Co., located next below
the Continental Hotel, is one of the
handsomest OH the street. Its magnifi-
cent show windows, with medieval
stained glass upper sections, and artis-
tic displays of choice fabrics and fine
habiliments, constitute one of the most
attractive features of this metropolitan
thoroughfare. The interior of the
buildings maintain the same elegant
character as the frOnt-the lofty apart
ments, grand stairway, frescOed walls,
luxurious fittings, artistic decorations,
costly pictures, and general air of re-
4 finement and good taste conveying an
impression of solid wealth and mstint-
ed liberality. The proportions of the
premises are 45 feet front by 23S feet
deep, the same depth as the Continental
Hotel, the buildings being four stories
high.
The salesrooms on the ground floor
are the finest in Philadelphia and are
devoted mainly to the display of the
general stock, to gentlemen's furnish
goods, and to youths and boys cloth
| ing. The latter department occupies
the ground floor and galleries of the
store adjoining the hotel, originally
constructed as a jewel b0X-a superb
casket on large scale-and, in adapt
\ ing it to the accommodation of ladies
and children, the only changes made
are such as to afford the best facilities
for serving them satisfactorily.
The custom SalesroOm on the second
floor is by far the largest and finest
apartment devoted to gentlemen's
! drapering in the world. 1t is 126 feet
in length by AZ feet wide, with high,
vaulted ceilings, floors covered with
deep-piled carpets, walls adorned with
fine works of art and with fittings of
the most elegant descriptions. Here
are displayed line of fabrics for gentle
mems wear, comprising everything rich
and fine and everything serviceable and
substantial that the textile industries
of the world can produce.
It should be especially noted that of
the choice goods above mentioned ex-
amples Of the best and most costly are
to be found made up into garments on
the counters downstairs. The cutting,
trimming and making Of these gar
ments are in every way worthy of the
cloths, the best skill and the best work.
manship and the best taste, so that a
gentleman in want of a spring over
coat, for instance, can obtain one that
shall represent in every respect the very
acme of the tailoring art from the stock
in the salesroom, This high grade of
excellence, however, is not attained by
neglect of more popular grades, as the
stock, amounting in value to about
$500, 600, also includes goods that will
compare in prices with any offered else
where mems suits, for instance, as
low as $50, and boys suits at 1925.
This business was established by Mr..
Wanamaker in April, 1869, and during
the thirteen years uf its existence it has
gradually extended until it now re-
quires over 200 employees on the