The Portland daily press., 1897-02-26
A SUPERB STORE.
The Owen, Moore Company Remod-
elled Establishment

Opened to the Public Yesterday-A Con-
slant ThroDg in Attendance-one Oh
the Most Attractive Magazines IN Ne"
England-A Full Description of the
Store.
"What a beautiful storel" "The air.
last and most agreeable / have ever been
imp "What wonderful chahge
these are some of the remarks that
oreefed a PRESS reporter as he entered
the store of Owen, Moore Co. yesterday
morning. And it is beautiful store.
TT cannot be surpassed in point of attrac-
tiveness by any store of the same char
Rctar in New York or Boston. They may
occupy more space, but that is all.
1t was noticeable fact as the report
sr stood near the great handsome plate
glass swinging entrance doors, framed
In ouartered oak, that the constant
stream of visitors who were taking adj
vantage of opening day to see the trans
formed establishment, included the best
known people of the city, as well as the
general throng of the curious. 1t seemed
rs if the face of every second or third
person that passed the doors was that of
one with whom all Portland is ia miliar
And one after the other they stepped up
TO the partners and congratulated them
heartily. The ladies were particularly
delighted. The arrangements for their
convenience and comfort are SO many
that it was natural that they should be-
Let us take birds-eye glimpse Of this
treat establishment. The first improve
ment to greet the eye is the magnificent
new panelled steel ceiling in ivory white.
The store is finished in oak, and this
hpisb. taken in connection with the
light ceiling, and the fact that the store
shelving has been lowered eighteen in
ches. not only makes the store as light.as
day, but affords excellent ventilation,
and free vision from one end of the vast
apartment to the other. This "a great
feature in store that is 200 feet deep,
with width of 70 feet in the lower half,
and of 81 feet in the half nearest Con-
gress ST. Besides the abundance of day
light the store is wired for 210 incandes-
cent frosted lights, and these lights are
SO placed that while they thorou ehly
illuminate the store they do not confuse
NOR tire the eye. New hard wood floors
have been laid both on the ground floor
and In the basement By the shortening
and widening Of the off ces good deal
of room has been thrown into the store
proper, and another feature of great con-
sequences Is that the different depart
mcnts have bean changed round SO az to
give mora space to those requiring it and
less to those not Needing it.
We have mentioned the offices. They
are probably not surpassed by any for
their advantages in the way of light and
ventilation. They are prettily carpeted,
and in the rear is the large office devoted
to the bookkeepers, who are afforded ev-
cry facility. Theirs is also dumb waiter
with the cashiers room in the
BASEMENT where the Lamson low line
cable lis located for the cash system.
This cable is the must modern and per-
feet cash system in use. 1t is entirely
out OF sight, and passes up from the
basement into the counters. 1t only
takes sixteen seconds to send cash to the
cashiers by means of it and get the re-
turn change. It is noiseless and easily
operated, and the cashiers like 1t very
much.
On the southerly side of the store just
beyond the offices, the firm has estab-
lished an innovation, or will have done
SO in a day or two. A flight of stairs
leads up to balcony, the walls hung
with engravirgs of the best school, md
here little bamhoo tables will be placed,
and ladies can rest and view the animat-
ed soene around them, while young
girl in cap and apron serves light refresh
ments in the way of ten, coffee and
cocoa. Under the balcony is The art
needlework department, and the front,
running from the floor of the store to the
floor of the balcony, is a series OF cabin-
cts for the display of tie goods, the front
Of each section superb plate glass win.
cow. Speaking of these plate glass
FONTS, they are model feature of the
store, for every oak counter is of the most
modern style, known SIS tie "Silent
Salesman" because its front is glass
and every piece of goods in the depart
ment is in full view. They are very
high and broad Mt the top, narrowing
towards the bottom. The snleslnen are
most enthusiastic over them. They say
they do not have to lean over them
SO much.
The rear of the store. rs feet by 40, has
tean shut in, with two entrances, one
from the front and one from the side
This room will be devoted entirely to the
la lies for che sale Of infants outfits and