Smyrna times., 1888-08-15
STORAGE WAREHOUSE.
A MANAGER CHATS A LlTTLEABOUT
THE BUSINESS.

a NAlNA0Eh Ct1R . a LII LIZ AbOU
THE BUSINESS.
A Hundred and Fifty Millions Worth of
Property Stored in New York City Ware
hOuses-Summer CustOmers--Removing
Furniture-Systematic Work.
The storage warehouse for the safe
keeping of household furniture and arti-
cles of value of every description has be-
come one of the permanent institutions of
this city. 1t is said that the amount of
property now in the custody of these
storage warehouses will foot up into the
neighbOrhOOd of $150,OOO, 600 These
warehouses are almost numberless, and
are situated in nearly every section of
Manhattan Island, especially where the
population is of such class that makes
their presence practically necessity, and
they are OF nearly every kind and quality
to suit the surroundings. Some of them
are absolutely freprOof; others claim to
be tireprOof but have collapsed in a
greater or less degree when put to the
crucial test, while the third class makes
little pretension in that direction, trust
ing to chance and certain amount of
careful watching to prevent their destruc-
tion by the flames.
1t is at this season of the year that the
capacity of the storage warehouse is
tested to the utmost, for it is during the
months of summer that so many CITY
houses are closed while the occuDants are
away, and in vast number of Instances
the owners prefer that their furniture
and all their belongings should be cared
for IN the safest possible place. So to
speak the storage warehouse has become
the fashionable summer resort for the
finest household goods of the city.
Through the courtesy of its manager. a
reporter was permitted to examine one of
the representative storage warehouses of
this city The building was, apparently,
as indestructible as human ingenuity
could devise. There was nothing in sight
for the flames to feed upon, even if in
some miraculous way they should chance
to gain admission, for there were visible
only stone, cement, iron and steel on
walls, floor and ceiling. The various
compartments in which were kept the
thousands of dollars worth of goods en-
trusted to the care Of the proprietors
were all separated from the others so
completely that fire in one could not
communicate with it's neighbor.
''What people do you number among
your patronsY' asked the reporter, when,
after tour of the building, the almost
luxurious office of the manager was
reached.
'Do you wish me to give you the names
OF our most prominent customers? Well.
Iregret that it is against our rules to do
So You can sec that it would not be fair
to divulge the names of those who favor
us with their patronage, and, besides, the
legal complications which might result
would be likely to be serious"
why do the rich store their goods
when they have houses OF their own in
which to keep them?"
'Well, for various reasons. MANY pre-
fer to leave their goods with us whenever
they go to the country or seashore, know
ing that they will be safer than in their
own houses, while others are almost
forced to do so from the stress of cipcum-
stances. l have in my mind one of the
most prominent brokers on Wall street
who sold his house q week or two ago. II
was sudden transaction on his part. and
he had made no provision for the disposal
OF his furniture, so he Immediately sent
1t to us Another similar case was that
OF the wife of one of the officers of the
Chemical bank
The number of people who have gone
to the seashore, to the mountains or to
Europe this summer has been something
wonderful, and within my experience I
have seen nothing like it, and, fancy,
but small proportion of the pleasure
seekers have already gone. There are
many of our patrons who do not store all
their household effects during their three
or four months of absence from town. but
send fbpip ci1rro,.vrro,,o
paintings, brOnZes, etc, for which we have
especially prepared compartments.
The age has advanced wonderfully with
regard to the facility for removing furni
ture, so that in a measure the ANNOYANCE
and loss Which was Occasioned under the
old order of things is at a minimum now.
Let me illustrate. Suppose that you had
suddenly made up your mind to leave the
city for an extended absence tomorrow
morning, and had no time to attend to
the removal of your goods today You
would have only to leave your order
with US as to the time when Won
would be ready to have your furniture
taken away, and our vans would be at
your house in the morning. You could
eat your breakfast in peace and comfort,
your servants would not have even
to make up the beds and the moment
after you had started on your Journey our
workmen would be taking up your car
pets, removing your pictures from the
walls and carefully packing away your
bric-a-brac. In few hours your house
would be absolutely denuded of every
thing, if you so desired, which would be
safely stored away until your return. A
day or two before your Homecoming you
could telegraph your expected arrival and
the work of taking back your furniture
would be carried forward as speedily as
when it was taken away. Experienced
hands would lay your carpets, while real
artists in their work would hang your
pictures and arrange your bric-a- brac and
| furniture, so that the moment you en-
tered your house you would find it in bet
ter order than when you left it after
breakfast on the day of your departure. "
''What would you estimate as the value
of the property in your custody at the
| present timer"
1T is difficult to make an exact esti-
mate, but 1 should say that it is not less
than $25, 900, 600. New York Mail and
| Express.