Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-10-11
a MAMMOTH ESTABLISHMENT.
An Immense BniIding. Marking a New
Era in the business History of the
City-A Description of the Handsome
New store Of W. B. Moses & SON.

CHy-A Description of the Handsome
New store Of W. Is. Moses & Son.
The completion Of the immense building
which ". B. Moses & Son. the furniture dealers,
have just erected at the southwest corner of
18th and streets, marks an era in the history
of this city. It's vast extent is an evidence Of
the growth of the business Of the city, while
the solid. durable character of the structure
indicates that temporary make-shifts in the way
of buildings is a thing of the past. There has
never been business building equal to this in
extent and character ever erected in this city.
and the Moses firm. in being the pioneers, dis
play another evidence of that enterprise and
quick business perception which has contributed
so much to Their success. The building is
seven stories in height, and towers nearly 100
feet above the ground. Its architectural
features Is great simplicity with strength and
massiveness The foundations are laid broad
and deep, pa feet below the pavement. and the
cellar thus formed is divided into two apart
ments, basement and sub-basement In the
sub-basement, which is far beneath the ground
and has flooring of concrete, are the boilers
which supply the heat for the building and the
power Tor the elevator Here is also stored the
extra stock, and as the basement extends under
poth sidewalks. az well as under the entire build
my, ample Accommodations are secured. The
second story so to speak, of the basement is
iighted 10y the sky lights in the pavements and
by the windows in the areaway along 18th
street, and is used as q show room for chairs.
THE FIRST FLOOR
above the ground is on a level with the street
and there are broad entrance ways from and
18th streets. The street front is nearly taken
up with an immense show window, which is
Respondent with plate glass and all the glories
OF line uphOstering goods and rugs. The cell
ing is panelled in natural wood and every ia
cility is provided for the display of upholstery
goods, fancy furniture. pOrtieres curtains. win
dow shades. &c In the rear of the room are
two elevators, one for passengers and one for
freight, and by this means easy access can be
had TO any OF the six stories or floors which
tower above.
The business has attained such Proportions
that some classification has been found neces-
sary IN the arrangement of the goods. The
simplest arrangement was by floors and when
customer indicates what he would like to look
at-cdrprts. rugs or furniture-hei is at once taken
TO the proper department on the elevator. If
the customer wishes to look at some of the finer
grades OF carpets he Is shown to the second
floor where there is ample space for spreading
out a carpet that would fit the parlOr of a good
sized house. Five hundred rolls of carpet can
be stored on this floor and yet leave space for
exhibiting the goods. There is besides on this
floor as well as on all the Others. plenty of light
from tie fifteen large windows which are eight
feet high
The third floor has been sat apart for ingram
and the cheaper kinds of carpets. imported and
domestic rugs and mirrors the stock of each
being large and freshly selected.
The display on the fourth floor is especially
attractive, consisting as it does OF sets Of par
lOr furniture, with all the wealth Of design and
richness of color. All the styles employed in
modern house decOration-the Louis XVI, ola
English, Chippendale. Eastlake. &c.-are found
here The new ideas that find expression in
ODD pieces OF furniture, which are now 80 fash
lonable lend their aid to enrich this collection.
HANDSOME FURNITURE.
The fifth floor is devoted to the display of
chamber furniture. office furniture, and library
furniture, and the large variety enables selcc-
ton to be made with very great satisfaction.
Sets OF handsomely carved and polished woods.
costing from Il goo to 81 500. stand side 5y side
with those of lesser value. Here. as elsewhere
may be seen all the latest novelties.
On the sixth floor MAY be found the cheaper
grades of all kinds OF furniture and bedding
including sets of ash walnut and stained woods
There is something for every pocketbOok how
ever depicted. and the aim is to meet every
want.
On the seventh and top floor all the cutting.
sewing and making of carpets and draperies is
done.
THE WORKSHOPS.
business so classified and arranged is con-
of this building has not been sufficient to meet
every requirement. and so the building at the
rear. on 18th street is fitted up for cabinet, up
hOsterfng and finishing shops.
This building. which was begun last sprlnr. or
tWenty-siX weeks ago. and pushed forward as
rapidly as possible, represents an expenditure OF
over SlOO,CoO. without including the stock.
which is valued at as much more, and is nearly
all freshly purchased.
-->SS --
Nor-fses!denta ira the Public Schools.
GENEROSITY" REPLIES TO JUSTICE
To the Editor of THE EVENING STAR:
Please have the kindness to permit misera-
bic outcast Of society, who dares, after passing
few hours of the day at school in this city to
board the cars and go over into Virginia to
spend the night, to say few words in reply to
the efrus!on Of Justice in last SATURDAYS
STAR.
In the first place Justice" remarks that 1t is
notorious fact that certain pupils of the pub
lie schools are residents of Washington only dur
ing school hours and that in reality they live i'm
Maryland and Virginia Well, what if they do?
Citizens of the states can invest capital in WASH
ingtOn, patrOniZe its business interests and aid
In every possible way in promoting the prosper
ity of the city without the slightest objection
being offered; but when it comes to partakIng
Of some of the benefits arising from such i'm
provements they are confronted with the state
ment that they must be actual residents of the
city before they can enjoy its advantages. Then,
too, the general government pays half of the
school expenses, as well of the other expenses
OF the District. And do not the great states of
Maryland and Virginia contribute as much to
the support OF the government as the District of
Columbia?
great deal is said about the children of tax
payers being crowded out of the schools What
per cent Of the parents of the public school
pupils in this city are property owners? Let
this be aSceTtained and a surprisingly large
number OF children will be found whose parents
pay no taxes on real estate. and who live in
houses owned by parties outside the District.
1t is true the public schools are crowded; this is
to the credit OF the system, and an evidence of
its prosperity.
But let Us see just how this mighty influx
from the country affects the interests of the tax
paylng pupils in the city. To begin with less
than one-fGurth OF the many thousands Of pupils
which Justice" pictures daily invading
Washington from neghboring states are in
schools lower than the seventh grade tri all
seTenth aud eighth grade schools hat ..ar
sessions, so that really very few If aIt. s..5 81
sessions are shortened by reason OF the y.esg.cc
OF nonresident pupils In the higher grades
and ID the High school it is true that some
pupils have been crowded cut; those standing
lowest III class being the unfortunate ones
just here is where the rub comes in. the chill
dren who cone in from outside the CITY have
many ditncultie5 to contend with and in conse-
quence are mere in earnest in their work When
examination time comes they are cry near the
mead even though thev pay no taxes in the Dis