The morning times., 1896-04-26
It Is Now Possible to Pack and
Store Furniture, Bric-a-brac,
Etc, with But One Hand
ling-united States
Ahead of Europe.

Tic theorem, mine movings are equal
60 a 1iTe," doubtless had its origin in
many Bitter experience, and in those old
proverb-making days, / suppose IL would
have appeared one ofthe crowning wonders
oflhc nineteenth century, If the unfortunate
dwelcrs OF the earth could have looked
forward TO the time when moving would
cease 10 lie a bugbear ana when enormous
houses loaded from top TO bottom. not
only with furniture, but with costly brie-a-
brac, marble pedestals, bronze statues frail
vases, delicately framed pictures, French
clocks, dizzy lamps, Dresden china and
cut glass. could be entirely dismantled
In two days, without u mar or scratch to
furniture, or nick IN dish or vase. This,
100, with no responsibility to the owner,
anu al less expense to him than as though
: he assumed the management of the affair
himself. For just here the question of
skilled labor comes in; and in this age OF
specfaltics, moving has been reduced TO
an exact science, along with geology, ,evolu-
lion and other incomprehensible things.
And this fairy tale is, after all, only
half The miracle; for if tie owner has only
wished 20 store these possessions for an
indefinite period, they may all at a word
from him be put back into place again
exactly as though they had never heen dis
turi'ed. A man OF immense household pos
sessions not long ago told me OF once
having been obliged 10 leave home for a
long period, al very short notice. After
both his wife and himself had lain awake
several nights worrying as TO the disposal
oftbelrrare and costlyeffects, be bethoug
him OF The storage warehouse. He i'm
mesiiatelycalled upon the president, stated
his case. and within two DAYS the contents
OF the entire house, from paintings and
Llmoge vases 10 coal scuttles and kitchen
pans, were moved and stored.
He was so delighted with hfs experience
that lie said most enthusiastically if he
ever went TO Europe again for six months
he should prefer tits method of caring
for his household goods 10 all others
1t relieved him from all responsibility,
insured their perfect safety, and cost less
than >; would 10 keep servants in the
house.
IN cases of this kind, the owner Of the
house simply turns over the keys, dis
MISSES all care from his mind, and a corps
of professional movers take possession.
The heavy pieces of furniture are first
put into enormous vans with plenty OF
padding To keep them from being rubbed
and lighter articles are stored on ton.
All the finer china and brio brac are
carefully wrapped in tissue paper and
packed IN barrels, while the coarser pieces
are put away IN hay and excelsior. Paint
lngS and st3tuary are carefully boxed.
Al the largest warehouse that | visited
van when loaded is driven directly on
TO one OF their enormous elevators ca
pahie % lifting 20, 900 pounds and is sent
up to the floor for which it is destined.
Here II rs unloaded and the goods stored
having had TO undergo but the one handling
This warehouse / found also to be alb
solutely fireproof being constructed en-
urcly of brick, stone, concrete and iron
The floors and ceiling are made with ce-
ment and concrete arches, formed so as
TO entirely envclop the rolled iron floor
beams. Partitions and doors are ali of
Iron 1t contains fireproof rooms espe-
GaHy Tttcd for tie hanging of oil paint
lnes and engravings; for the keeping of
pianos and plate glass mirrors: also rooms
of varying sizes for the contents of dwell
ing h"uses, ranging in price from 81 a
month upward.
house of Ordinary size contains about
two van loads of furniture, and requires
room renting from SO to S12 month.
The entire premises are lighted by cleo
fricity. and ventilating fans are so used
as 10 prevent dampneSs and mildew. Safety
deposit boxes may be rented for So year
and trunk, whatever its value NAV be
stored for 25 cents month. Owners NAV.
or course. have access to their property at
any time.
This company will. if desired. have car
pets taken up cleaned and moth proored:
they will also pack, box and ship furniture
TO any part OF the world.
A pleasant chat with the president of
this warehouse revealed the fact to me
that in the matter of storage houses
America leads the world. Both Paris and
London are especially badly provided for
in this regard, and the president Informed
me that he had been repeatedly irnportuned
60 erect warehouses similar to this one
in both these cities. with the assurance
that he could coin money by so doing; but
the dislike OF eSpatriating himself to the
extent THAT he would be Obliged to do had
thus far deferred him.
When asked what he thought OF the occu
patton for women, he replied that he had
oflen thought that women were exception.
ally well adapted TO certain departments OF
the business, especially a their clientele
Were largely women; but as their introduc
tion into office would be sortof innovation
he had never seriously considered the
matter
From This warehouse, however, | went
Immediately 10 another, where l found a
woman IN charge of the office. She in
forIned me there was one other woman in
New York besides herself who sometimes
takes the entire supervision OF packing,
moving, and storing house hold goods.
That she herself had just that morning
closed up the bous ehold affairs of a
wealthy New York woman, desiring TO
leave the country for period of years
She first went to the house and estimated
the number Of van loads of furniture She
then selected the articles best adapted to
beng disposed OF at auction or private
sale, and estimated their value; ali otfas
estimates and details she took entire
charge OF, and superintended the moving.
thus removing the owner from all response
bility.
Since these interviews l have been won
dering why more enterprising women do
not take up packing and moving furniture