The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-03
NEW APPRAISERS 0 R
THEY IRH SAID TO BE THE FINEST
IN THE World

Nave Cost tire Government %, DOE. 600 20
Butid. ard Contain Every Appliance Ar
fordipE oneed and Accuracy In the Trans-
action or the work 20 No Done There.
United States Appraiser wakeman and his
assistants will move on April % from the stores
they now occupy at Washington and Laight
streets into the new S3.o 600, 900 building at the
junction Of Greenwich street and Ninth ave-
nuo. The now stores, work on which has been
going on since 1890. are practically complete,
and the contractors are now putting in the office
furniture and fixtures, so that the whole build
ing win be ready for occupancy as soon as the
walls arc dry. Appraiser wakeman has already
made a contract for the transfer OF such articles
as will DO moved from the old to the new stores.
Tho new stores are said to DO the most conven'
lent and the best arranged of their kind in the
world. The building, covering an entire block,
is ten stories high. and Is equipped with every
known device for the easy and speedy handling
OF goods. In the centre of the structure
are ten freight elevators. capable of lifting
$4,000 pounds to the top floor In some-
thing less than two minutes. These are
reached by q driveway with an entrance and
exit. so that trucks can load. unload. and leave
the building without turning around and with
out getting in each others way. All goods will
be received on the ground floor. which is
equipped with ~trolleys. cranes, and hosting
blocks for handling hoavy packages.
On the frat floor above the ground are the
Appraisers offices, tho invoice bureau, the sam
pie rooms. where samples Of all goods on which
the duty is charged will be kept; the department
for the examination OF goods imported as sam
pies, the division devoted to aides, and the
rooms for the storage and examination OF per-
eonal baggage. There are eight supports of on
try In the district covered by Mr.. Wakeneld's
~~-- n-l Anah ~ than, vtl hn rnnnaptRA
by private telephone wires running to his office.
Placed in the various departments through the
building are 100 telephones, one on the desk Of
phones 1t will be possible for any appraiser In
any part Of the district to {, converse With the
pedite the transaction of business. The invoice
bureau receives each week. about 5000 in.
voices. Some Of them consist Of only a few
times making 10 all a book of 200 or more pages.
Each of these Items must be sent TO the proper
to 1t has been necessary TO send them around
by messenger, and as there are three miles
conveying them was decided to be too slow. In
order to provide for the prompt delivery OF each
Item Il; nns at It's pr Ppr9 fSS,s d ssa Sssn nu 4 ff S phe saii Ennnt
Mr.. Wskeman expects that about 10000 doou,.
ments will DO blown through the tubes each
In the department for personal effects all bag
gage suspected Of containing ontraoand articles
into effect 1904, 900 has been collected at this
port ON personal effects; During Tho I'm time inc
realized from this source.
The second floor OF the building Is given up
~facturcs OF metal will be attended to there. The
floor above Is divided into rooms for the ap;;
ihioWers, silk, and iaces. The division ombrac.
ing china and art goods. such as paintings
s she j S.SsSi"f3y :pa rs Se the Tho fourth iatss ao"Fll e I' I
ment IL as nearly freproof as 1t is
possible to make of brick, stool. and stone; with
vaults and safes of the latest pattern. In the
present stores there is no adequate provision to
guard against thieves and fire. and the Ap'
P pr srs S 6Sfs p9s ts 6sep PyeF nish S,0n In i }Sews ne%
building he will be able to lock the goods up
and go homo with no fear of their being gone in
The woollen. Einen and cotton goods divisions
occupy the fifth floor: The sixth floor is devoted
The first three are handled In one division. DO,
cause most OF the examinations are made by
SaooS .a sapsn at ar. the ies docks each or Sasi.
Nearly everything in tho line Of toile,
are passed upon on this floor. The division fol
the examination Of ales, wines; liquors. cigars
OF the seventh floor. A new feature Of this divi
sion is a cold storage room. covering 5000
for an adjustment OF duty. Importer,
have complained that tobacco was, greatly
injured because it was unm6 HeI int WIN W tbis ,T r}nd !,
| 'tC ~ u SAh 49,
will be kept at a temperature, of 30 degrees, and
will improve the longer 1T is SO kept. There
will be guaging and testing rooIns in connection
with this division. The Offices OF the General
Board OF Appraisers and the department sample
rooms will BIO on tho next floor.
The laboratory will occupy two sides OF The
top floor. and In it all chemical tests will bt
made. Mr.. Wakemon thinks that this will b,
the largest commercial laboratory In the coun
try. and possibly in the world. He hopes to
mako 1t the best. On this floor there will also
be the Collectors seizure room. storage room
and the auction room. in which all goods seized
or forfeited will be sold. There are two express
passenger elevators to 1t, and it receives ligh'
from ali sides, SO that the closest inspection o
goods may be made.
The various improvements in tho new storei
will decrease the expenses OF the appraiser ma
terially. but, what Mr., Wakeman consider
more important. they will also aid in the rapid
handling OF goods. thus directly benefting tn
merchants who have goods to enter. Mr.
WRkeman has been able to cut down the yearl!
expenses Of his office by 10000 and to increas'
its efficiency at the same time, and he expect
to DO able to do still moro as soon as he gets int
the new building.