The Evening critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1881-1885, 1882-09-14
A DRY GOODS PALACE.

ADRY GOODS PALACE.
The Enterprise of the Lansburah
BrOthers-A Description Of Their
New BuiIding-An Important FeR-
ture I'm Architecture-A Building
Complete and Convenient in Every
Particular.
quito an important feature In architecture
Of the commercial buildings In this city has
been developed by the Messrs. Lansburgh &
Bro, the famous Seventh.street dry-goods
merchants. Their new store, several doors
above their present place OF business, is about
completed. The handsome building front OF
the new structure has attracted notice for
some weeks past, not only for Its original style,
but for Its immensely. We furnish our road
ers to-day with n flnely-executed cut, repro.
senting the full front OF this mammoth pile.
External AppenranceO of the Building
In few days this splendid new double store
Will be formally opened. A new impetus Will
thereby be given to the prosperous ana rising
business OF that retail emporium-Seventh
street northwest. The external architecture
OF the building bears an appropriate aud close
and does not fail to attract the attention of
citizen and stranger. Grand, plain, massive,
by ingenious combinations OF undisguised,
solid materials in chastc, yet bold con.
trast OF colors, It satisfies the practiced
eye. From the store front proper, formed by
glass; set within artistlcally worked and deco
rated bases, carved columns and cornices,w
wide pair OF sliding front doors In the CEN
tire, to the broad pilasterS which roach through
two stories to and above the main cornice, and
through tho tasteful and we'll diversified
double mansard roof the spectator dwells with
pleasure on every detail The front of the
two upper stories Is parted by the above do
scribed pilasters into three bays; each OF these
Of Similar deslsD TRese
windows are crowned and bordered by orna.
mental brickwork-the material being all
manufactured and burned in Washington
yards. They rest on belt courses of wrought
gray stone, and the irregular blank spaces be.
tween the windows and belts are solidly filled
encaustic tiles enriched by large rosettes of
Majolica ware. Tho firm name Is cut out OF
the solid stone IN raised and gilded letters.
All the openings up to the crest OF the roof are
glazed with polished plate fully equal to that
In the store front, and the effect is heightened
by gliding wherever @sthetical reasons sug.
gest 1t.
Dimensions of the Stru cture.
Tho building occupies a lot OF 90 feet front
by 100 feet in depth. The whole OF this area,
as well as the sidewalk In front OF tho build
ing, is excavated for n basement of 10 feet In
height, the floors and side walls OF which are
laid and finished IN Portland cement. Under
two Of the largest sized steam-boilers, with all
| the latest, useful and safety appliances. These
| boilers furnish the steam for the heating APP
paratus OF the whole establishment, aud also
| the power for raising or changing the water,
| which by gravity drives an Otis hydraulic
| elevator from Yoluminous iron tank In tho
principal part OF this weii.lit and ventilated
| basement will be appropriated for tho storage
| OF linen and linen goods. comparatively
small space in the rear Is occupied by mechan-
| ical appliances in connection with the pas.
| senger.elevator and by accommodations for
employees OF the establishment.
The Store Proper.
The store extends through the whole first
| TVCn W
Of columns, which support the floors above, ex.
tend longitudinaliy through 1t along the side
| walls and these columns. The shelving, wi tn
counters In front, is arranged singly along
the walls and double along the columns. By
this arrangement three wide aisles with
| counters to both sides are formed. The seats
are hinged to the sides of the counters, and
may be turned under the wide tops OF the count.
ers, so as to keep the passages clear when the
| seats are not In use. In the rear OF the store
the Offices Of the heads of the firm, book.
keeper and cashier, as we'll as the bundle
counter, are located TO the left, while the
| luxurious elevator stands to the right. The
store Is decorated throughout In noble sim.
plicity-in white and gold.
A Wide Flight of Stairs
with Intermediate landing, and double upper
flights lead from the centre aisle OF the store
to the second story. These stairs with their
heavy baluster ratings are finished In walnut
and ash, tho heavy novels being surmountod
6y rich candelabras with globes over gas
dazzled by the mellow light OF colored cathe
dral glass I'm tho lead-sash OF grand semi.
brought out IN white glass on colored ground
The Second story.
The second story, Ii feet In height, is al.
lotted to the exhibition and sale OF read -madt
garments, of all descriptions, which VIII bC
arranged In splendid glass cases. The spare
room Is occupied by smaller shelving aut
counters for the sale OF fancy articles. All the
ness houses-huge mirrors, dressing and rs
firing rooms for the ladies, etc, are ampl!
provided.
The Third Story,
twelve feet In height, Is TO BIO merely occupied
for storing goods, and the fourth story will b
occupied for workrooms. There Is an abund
ance OF light and ventilation IN all these sto
ries from front and rear, as well as from light
wells under huge skylight In the centre o
the store. The workrooms In tho fourth story
which are above all the adjoining buildings
ventilation from north and south. There ar
ample provisions made for
Security in Case of Fire
within or In adjoining property. The shutter
| have all been nre-proofed at heavy eXpense
and the heavy front wall over the open stor,
front ID supported by fre-proofed wrough,
Iron Orders and columns, riyetted together II
sections. The old party-walls have all bee
strengthened wherever advisable and the ne,
| walls have extra strength.
The Great Elevator.
The elevator combines all the latest safet
appliances, and Its car is a marvel OF clegan
workmanship; It is, with Its inlaid woods, no
equaled by anything similar this side of NeN
YORK, The water and gas supply, the sowei
age and plumbing arrangements, are wei
nigh perfect.
Those Who Performed the Work.
! The architects OF this building, who hay
supervised it throughout, are Messrs. Uluss
SchulZe. The contractor for brickwork 10 /
II. Cissel; for cutstone.work, Messrs. Aclker
Co.. for cast and wroughtiron work, Mr.. ], L
, McGilli for the metal.rooing, Messrs Hay
ward 4 Hutchinson; for MI tho rest OF Iii
work, including woodwork, plastorng, pain
Ing and glazing, O. q, Martin. The plumbin
was done by = sumani steam.heatlng
Baker, Smith & Co, and the elevators by Otis
Bro, OF New York. All OF these firms al
| pleased with tho prompt cooperation OF a
parties, which has made easy their task
completing well-nigh perfect establlshmeI
within quito short space OF time. But aboy
all, the city should DO Justly proud OF the o.