The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-25

of the building on Market street is seven
stories and on Jessie street Eve.
The front facade, built entirely of Ore
gon gray sandstone in the modern renais-
sance style of architecture, is beautiful
and imposing. The eighteen massive Cor
inthian columns above the third story;
the grand main entrance, with its Doric
pilasters and archway forty feet high, open
ing into the great Yestlbule with its Won
derful stone carvings; the vast expanse of
plate glass which VIII form the front OF
the main and mezzanine floors; the
beautiful stone baiustrade which incloses
the roof-these and many other architec-
tural features of striking order unite to
form one of the finest edifces in America.
The interior will be in keeping with the
beautiful exterior. The fnishings OF the
greet store will be of marble, bronze. steel
and polished mahogany, the beautiful
grill work inclosing the main elevators
alone costing 5000. The main aisle,
paved with marble, will be veritable
highway. Forty feet in width, it will ex-
tend 125 feet from both ends OF the store
and then to right to left in center of the
store, forming a, rotunda 40 feet in di-
grand dome, 100 feet above the floor at its
apex.
One hundred and twenty five tons of
steel have been used in the construction OF
the dome. The beautiful windows at its
base will be of ornamental art glass in fig
ured designs and the main skyllghts of
crystallized plateglass in decorated design.
Beneath the dome will be located the
cafe and band stand, the handsomest archi-
tectural feature ever introduced into Il
mercantile building. The cafe, elevated
six feet above the main floor, is fiftv-tive
feet in diameter. In the center is coun-
ter fourteen feet in diameter. from which
the patrons will be served, and from which
rises ornamental iron supports for the
band stand to accommodate the fifty mu-
sicians. At intervals of about fifteen feet
around the balustrade of the cafe are costly
eiectroliers of beautiful design, between
which are urns OF rarest ferns and choice
exotics.
The peculiar construction of the cafe
enables its patrons to see moving throngs
in the great store, and allows of an unob-
structed view of the magnificent dome.
The superb stairways leading from the
main aisles on the east and west sides Of
the rotunda are of white marble, with
ratings, balustrades and newell posts of
ornamental bronze. Fifteen elevators, run
by electricity, will be in operation for
freight and passengers.
The front of the five upper stories will
be rented for Office purposes, confined ex-
clusiyely to professional and other callings
of the highest standing. The United
States Supreme Court occupies the entire
upper floor, and more than forty promi-
nent law firms have already engaged Off
ces in the new building. All the balance
of the building will be occupied by the
great department store to be known as
The Emporium.
The PARROT building messenger service
is unique feature which will be greatly
appreciated by the occupants. Touch the
electric button with which each office is
provided and uniformed messenger ap-
pears; not the understood, proverbiaIly
slow boy with the dime-novel and cigar
cite habits, but young man capable
of transacting ordinary business affairs,
such rs serving legal papers, making col
lections, ETC., or of attending the Office
during the temporary absence of the pro-
prietor. Here is new field Of temporary