Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-06-18
prrr1nos NEW purLp,No.

Biting Bros-' well known Keystone cloth
ing house, situated on the c,rner Of Douglas
avenue and Market street, has long been
known ~ the handsomest As well - the
most commodious clothing house in the
state and the firm Is one of the most success
full in the west. In addition to their i'm
mense retail trade this house has for two
years past done fine jobbing trade The
unprecedented forward march Of the city
and its tributary towns from which the
house drew large trade, sweIled the volume
Of their business 70 such IN extent that ad-
ditionai room became necessity. Realiz.
ing this fact, with their accustomed
energy these young men last fall be-
gan laying their plans for .
house that would eclipse any similar estab-
lishment in the west They bought the
property adjoining their store on the west,
thus securing the necessary ground on which
to erect their mammoth establishment. Our
reporters obtained q glimpse of the plans
two months ago, but at that time the firm
was not ready to give the matter 10 the pub
lie. Mention was made of the building .
few days ago, but not until yesterday had
we permission to view al the plans and
specifications, which can now DO seen at the
office of the architects, Terry & Dumont,
over the Bank of Wichita
The dimensions Of this mammoth estab-
lishment are 43 # front by 100 # in length
and four stories high, with . basement 50
feet long and the full width of the building
at the back end for the accommodation Of
heating apparatus and machinery for run
ming passenger and freight elevator. The
building will have q total foorage of 2l.s6O
feet, floor area larger than any other cloth
ing house west of the Mississippi. The en-
tire building will be heated BY steam and
supplied throughout with water and cleo
trio light. Tine front elevation, which will
be built of St. Louis pressed brick with
genuine terra Gotta finish, makes q splendid
showing on paper and will look still better
in the building. The trimmings and cornice
will be artistic and beautiful.
A handsome tower with . clock and sur
mounted by flag pole crowns the whole,
thus presenting the most elegant business
front to be seen in the west and unsurpassed
anywhere. The whole building will be
covered with Mansard roof. Besides the
plate glass front, the building will have l0l
windows. The Market street side presents
fine, massive appearance, and will be built
of the same material as the front, with SINH
lar trimming. The store can be entered
from four different points, viz: the main en-
trance on Douglas avenue. another store
front on Market street, near the rear of tho
building; by an elevator entrance
on Msrke. street near the front and by the
stairs joining Zimmerly's building. The
main entrance will have a recess doorway
and the show windows will be of similar
form with their present windows. just in
side the door will be an Office elevated 30 as
to command complete view of the whole
floor. The whole space at the front en-
trance, it should be observed, will have q
tile floor. On the east side of the first floor
about ten feet from the front is the passen-
ger elevator and at the rear is the freight
elevator. At the back end of this floor will
be monster French plate mirror twelve
feet square with a cherry frame. a row of
eight columns ranged along the center of
this floor supports the second floor. Each
story is twelve feet between floors. The
heating apparatus will be arranged for both
direct and indirect radiation. The firm will
use the west half OF tie three upper floors
for their business and the east side, which is
separated from the west by 3 Elk feet vide
hall, is divided into large, well arranged
Office rooms.
The reporter could ngt ascertain the cost
of this noble structure, bu. .Fon ou- do
scrip.ion, some idea on tina. point may be
hsd.
In conversation with our attache, Mr.. {.
w. Biting said !; WAS their purpose to en-
ter largely into tho iobting trade and that
they would employ travellers in Kansas,
Colorado and New Mexico. Tho immense
floor area Of the new establishment will
afford ample room for An extensive jobbing
stock. These gentlemen are examples Of
what business ability and square dealing
can accomplish in Wichita.