Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-05-22
BUFFALO'S MODEL LIVERY STABLE
Tourists to Niagara Falls Supplied the
Funds to Build II.

Many persons who have come away
from Niagara Falls with feelings of re-
sentiment for the hackmen, or. rather. the
chef hackman. for the business has been
controlled there by one firm for nearly
twenty-five years. viii be interested in
knowing what has become OF their money.
Some of it, says an exchange, has gone
into large stable. proba bly, the most
complete OF it, kind in the country. in
the heart Of the city Of Buffalo. 1t is
plain, rectangular building Of brick and
sandstone. six stories high. but the chief
element Of public interest in it is that
it has cost the round sum OF $4,000.
The big stable Is built on a system en-
tircly novel. The five uppermOst floors
hang from the roof. suspended from iif-
teen large cantilevcr trusses supported on
steel pillars that run up through the side
walls. This leaves the ground floor with
out pillar, and makes it possible 70 hold
even "A coaching parade within doors. 1t
Is as big as a regimental armOry on the
ground floor, the dimensions being 2}O by
% feet The same care that has marked
the attention of the hackmen in reducing
the size of the pOckct-bOOks Of Niagara
visitors has marked the system Of details
in erecting the stable. In the cellar, for
example, there are two hfty-hors-- power
boilers. which supply the stationary en-
enes, pumps, and dynamos with steam.
The exhaust steam heats the building
from top to bottom. Hot and cold water
are found on every floor. The five big
pumps supply water for the 1,j00 auto
matte sprinklers In the building and
operate Il new sanitary system for sta
bes. The front Of the basement Is de-
voted to blacksmith and hOrseshOeing-
shops. and the rear has storage accommO-
dations for big vans ana other unwieldly
vehicles.
The first floor has sumptuous offices.
and the plan is To have dozen or more rigs
hitched up all the time to answer calls
of any KIND on the jump. In the rear
Of the main floor IS 4 hot-room. with
asphalt hoor and there the washing OF
carriages is done The heat softens the
mud (and Ice if ii is winter time). AMI
the men who do this work can accomplish
double the work they did in the Old way.
The second and third floors are fitted
with stalls for 2S0 horses There is an
elaborate system for food distribution
and ventilation. Baths are provided, anu
even an elevator for the use OF SICK
horses The fourth floor Is used for the
storage of coaches. and the fifth has sepa-
rate places for paint-shops, harness
rooms, trimming-rOOm blankct-roOm, AMI
even a tailor-shOp for mendinS the livery
of the drivers. There are drying rooms
for harness and mems. clothing. The
sixth floor is a storage place for feed
and sleighs. Every floor has a day and
night foreman, and the entire stan Of
men employed numbers more than 2OO.
IL is "A palace for horses. and even for
men. The equipment, besides horses. CON
sists Of ffty-twO coaches. thirty-hVe
coupes, twenty victorias. a dozen hansoms,
twelve busses. thirty baggage wagons,
seven hearses, five moving vans. and
several band wagons besides forty sleighs.
When Il certain rig Is wanted, Il whistle
from the Office TO one floor causes the
horse To be brought down, one to another
floor brings down the harness. ana one
to still another brings down the carriage.
a system akin TO military discipline per-
vades the establishment. Alr. Miller, who
has charge Of the Buffalo end of the busi-
ness. has been dreaming Of this for thirty
years, he says, and now that he has the
most elaborate stable of the kind In the
country. his neighbors say he IS inclined
to think that Niagara Falls Is small
affair in comparison.