The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-29

a VI
lEA "A Nj completed - magnificent In
- size, having acres Of floor
space; magnificent in EQUIP
ment, having everything that can con-
tribute to the comfort and convenience
of shoppers, management and employees;
magnificent in its immense corps OF
courteous and intelligent employees, hav-
ing enough OF them to people a city;
magnificent in its stocks Of goods, hav-
ing almost everything that money can
buy; magnificent In the unifcation of
all Its departments, being one great
store; magnificent in the history of Its
rapid growth, having reached Its present
vast proportion in twenty-one years;
magnificent also in the history Of It's
management, having been directed from
the beginning by men of high executive
ability, business sagacity and dynami-
cal efficiency; magnificent as a monu-
ment to Its founder, William Donaldson,
and to those who have succeeded him IN
the direction of it's affairs; magnificent
In all these and in a thousand other
ways is the Greater Glass Block, as
1t stands today in gala dress ready for
the brilliant opening-the program Of
which is given elsewhere--promised for
next Monday
Store Compels Admiration.
Great achievements always command
admiration. It is a part of the make
UP Of every healthy minded man to adj
nire the truly great. For this reason
the Glass Block will appeal in the
strongest manner possible to the people
Of the twin cities and the northwest
accustomed as they are to great things.
The Glass Block is great achievement.
How great few really know or realize,
for It takes careful inspection, and
time to think over what one has seen
in such an inspection, to grasp even
partially what 1t means to build up
such an establishment and keep 1t go
ing; and not only that, but to keep 1t
going like a finely adjusted watch. The
men who do such things are geniuses,
and the story Of their deeds and their
results reads like an Arabian Nights
tale.
A Glimpse at It's History.
Twenty-one years ago William Dom
aldson had charge of the haberdashery
in store then considered large for
Minneapolis, on the present site of the
Glass Block. But Mr.. Donaldson's ideas
were larger than his department. One
day he bought the establishment. 1t
throve from the outset under his man
agement It was only a short time I'M
til the building then occupied became
too small for the business. The site
was Of the very best, and SO the old
building was removed, and in its place
was erected a portion Of the present
building-that which stands on the COR
ner. It was well planned and substan-
TALLY built; it was built for the future
as well as for the present; 1t was built
with view to making additions, with
a view to meeting the growth of the
city with expansion in facilities. That
purpose In the mind Of the founder has
been brilliantly carried out by those
upon whom his mantle fell.
Success Achieved Quickly.
Success has been achieved and
achieved so rapidly because the Glass
Block management in carrying out it's
policy of expansion has always kept in
advance of the demands of the people.
If one has wanted an article and has
had doubts about being able to find 1t,
the question has always been: Have
you tried the Glass Block?" Until one
had tried that it was useless to look
elsewhere, was the implication In the
question.
Not only has this great store sought
to be able to meet any reasonable de-
mand and many that were not reason
ab1e-in order to be able to satisfy all
tastes--but 1t has sought to offer the
acme of ease and comfort in shopping
to Its patrons. To this end it has been
the endeavor to make the store a unit,
one great store without partitions. This
plan has been followed In the construc-
ton Of the latest and largest addition.
One entering the main floor today,
therefore, sees a room nearly double the
size Of that which circumscribed his
view only few weeks ago. Standing
on the expansive balcony at the rear
of the main floor, one can we'll imagine
he is in some great exposition hall
looking down over the exhibits and the
crowds. This feature Of the enlarged
store is in itself sure to attract great
crowds. The balcony is admirably placed
and is furnished in luxurious man.
ner, Offering visitors the best Of oppor-
tunities for viewing the always brilliant
scenes of the main floor. Each floor
gives one great room, therefore. saves
a vast amount Of space and permits
OF the most economical arrangement OF
the various departments, and, by giving
ready access from one department to
another without the climbing of stairs
or even few steps here and there,
makes its possible for the stores patrons
to shop with minimum expenditure Of
energy.
In short, what one wants to find Is
found with the least possible expendi-
ture Of time and energy both on the
part of the shopper and on the part Of
the clerks.
That is the perfection Of merchan-
dizing.
Focus For Worlds Wares.
A focus thru which the wares of the
world may reach the people Of Mime
apolis and st. Paul,-that is the Glass