The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1895-12-05
A MAMMOTH BUSINESS.
And Still Gro wing

THE DEMOCRAT i ALWAYS pleased a
business derelopnentin the -ou;h and
especially ~ southern men The
mammoth dr. goods business q Mes.
Watt, Rettew 4 Clay. Of Norfolk. Is an
illustration d what Southern pluck,
push and enterprise viii 60.
Nine years ago these gentlemen be-
gan business in Norfolk III q single
store. and by their fair dealing, persist
ent advertising, untirlne energy and
ceaseless effort. they have succeeded n
building up the largest general dry
goods trade in that busy city. They
have found 1t necessary 10 enarlCe their
facilities for business several times. the
last change being the purchasing and
reftting Of large and handsome build
ing on the corner Of Main and CRANKY
streets just opposite the Atlantic hotel
MAGNIFICENT PROPORTIONS.
The building is beautiful in design
and artistic in finish. The inside work
Is all Of the most finely polished oak
and is almost dazzling in It's beauty
At night the artistic arrangements Of
the electric lights beneath the front win
dows is indescribably beautiful. These
lights are arrang ed after the manner
of toot-lights in theatre and so as to
show the most beautiful display of
pretty goods. The building is 13ox50
feet and the space occupied for the bus
feet.
The first and second floors are occu-
pied exclusively for retail sales, the
third floor for Wholesale, and the fourth
for storage of stock. The whole build
ing is perfectly heated by an immense
furnace, with Is horsepower electric
motor to run the elevator Also a beau
tlful little 3-horse power motor furnish
es the electric lights and runs the cable
lines for the cash boxes. There are
seven of those little cables running all
day long. Two cashiers sit at their
desks in the offices in the rear of the
building where the change is given tor
every sale made in the entire store.
The cash boxes are flying all through
the building like things of life and ney-
er make mistake as to their destina-
ton.
The Office is beautifully fitted with
handsome furniture and the most per-
feet business principles are maintained
in all its work. There are fifty five
clerks and employees in the establish
ment, and it would appear lively even
without customers. Beautiful young
ladies and handsome young gentlemen
are all busy with their own departments,
and many of them scarcely know each
others names.
Crowds OF people are all day stream
ing into the building to purchase and
to behold the magnificent display of
goods, and crowds are also streaming
out after having looked and purchased.
Carriages are constantly in waiting at
the side walk for those who linger long,
just as they wait at the theatre at the
closing hour OF play.
1t is the largest business in Norfolk,
and taken all in ALL there are in all the
country few establishments of the kind
so complete in all its appointments,
and attractions.
1t was our privilege and pleasure to
look through this immense establish
ment day or two after they had NOV
ed into their new quarters. The goods
we're all moved in one night. A large
force of hands was employed and the
police put strong guard on the out
side of both buildings; and so when
the morning daWned the clerks were
ready to sell goods across the new coun-
tiers and but for the new look on every
thing inside a casual observer would
scarcely have known that the change
had been made from the Old building
to the new.
Besides this great business in Norfolk
these gentlemen have large store in
Va, from which they get
daily report of sales.