The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-01-18
ARE THROWING DIRT
Excavation Begun for Lehman
Higginson Building.
WILL BE A BEAUTY
Building to be l35x140 Feet
and Handsome Design.

A force Of workmen began yesterday
to ex 2asvate for the large wholesale build
ing the Lehman-Higginson Grocery
ccmpa ny, which is to be erected on Will
Rock Island railroads. The firm will
open biz IS for the erection of the building
right 50 on The contract for the iron
work "a already been given to Moore
Bros. OF this city, and it is thought all
the rest Of the contracts will be secured
bv Wictls a firms. The plans and speci-
fcations D the building have been made
and are in the hands of Architect Du-
mont. The show that the proposed
building VII l be one of the largest and
handsomest in the state of Kansas and
one Of great conveniences and substanti-
slitv. The 1 building will be 135x140 feet,
two stories Ugh, with basement. There
win be 5000 quare feet Of floor room. It
will front on three sides the main en-
trance being at the corner facing on
william and Sc .nta Fe streets. The design
of the building is very beautiful, espe-
cially that Of Z he entrance, which is to
be built of stone on either side Of which
will be large man bic columns, and beau
tifully arched de 'orway, beneath which
viii be heavy plat glass doors and plate
glass panes at eli her side of the door
proper. Large sto ne steps will lead up
to this entrance " ay. The larger win
dows in each front will be arched and
handsomely designe d, while the entire
building will be of brick trimmed with
carved stonework-
The office of the company will be in the
southwest corner, and is to be 40 feet
square, handsomely and conveniently ar
ranged. Directly off from the office will
be a ladies' toilet, gents toilet, a large
safety vault and other conveniences.
The chief convenFeBces of this part Of
the building will be in the arrangement
of the billing clerks department which is
to be next 10 the main office room.
The entire building has been designed
with the sole purpose of convenience and
labor saving methods. On the east side
are to be two large drfve-ways through
which teams can enter directly on the
main floor, unload. and drive out through
similar drive-ways on Walliam street. An
elevator is TO be placed as nearly as
possible in the center of the building.
The basement is 10 be a model of ar
rangement and workmanship. 1t will
have concrete floor and the sides will
be Of INN nse stone and concrete work
The stoneNfor the foundation of the build
ing being : feet inches wide. There will
be no projections from the wall to hinder
the easy and proper handling Of goods.
Mr. Lehman said yesterday that they
hoped to have the building ready for oc-
cupancy within four months, and with
the weather conditions favorable they
will probably not miss this very far. It
is estimated that it will take thirty days
TO complete the excavation, thirty days
t. complete the foundation and concrete
work ard allow the latter to dry, and
probably sixty days to complete the brick
and carpenter work.
The firm will not occupy the entire
building as it will have almost double
the capacity for the needs OF any whole
sale grocery house west Of the Missis-
sippi river. Arrangements have already |
been made whereby other responsible |
firms will use part of the building. The
Grant Commission company is said to
have leased the north twenty-five feet |
almost racing the santa re depot, ana II |
will make them an excellent location for |
their rapidly growing business.
Speaking of the rapid development of |
the wholesale interests of Wichita, and |
especially the grocery business, which is |
more marked by the handsome new |
homes lately built for the requirements |
of the different firms. Mr. Lehman said |
yesterday: THE development of our in !
terests has been most marked. especially |
within the past few years. We establish |
ed ourselves here ten years ago, and now |
our business has far outgrown our pres
ent facilities. and we must seek a new /
home. The reason for this has been that |
Wichita has practically shut out all COM |
petition this side of the Missouri line and /
the firms are covering the territory that |
belongs to Wichita with great ease and |
satisfaction. Since we have secured eQuit- |
able freight rates our business has stead |
lily grown, and the people Of this section |
can patronize Wichita instead of sending |
the money out Of the state, as they for
merly did. We now have the facilities |
and the business that rightfully comes to
us is satisfactory in every way. That is
the reason we grow"