The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1904-04-09
BIGGEST DESK EVER MADE.
The Size of a Two-Story House and
Roomy Enough to Hold One
Thousand Persons.

In conversation recently with Mr. Mark
Bennitt, OF the General Press Bureau OF
the Louisiana Purchase exposition, the
writer inquired what he considered would
be the most remarkable exhibit In the en-
tire fair. The genial press agent replied
that 1t would be very difficult to an.
swer such a question, reports the Lon.
don TltBlts, though he believed he
would not be incorrect II he we're 10
say that one Of the most startling ex.
hibits, from a commercial point OF
view, would undoubtedly be a certain
desk which an enterprislng American
furnishing Arm intends to put on show
as one of the big things" of the
country.
This desk" said Mr.. BennItt, will
certainly be a mammoth affair 50
large. in fact. that the manufacturers
will use It as a booth In which to dis
play all the products OF the factory.
The desk Will have the proportions Of
a smallsized two.story house, being
% feet high. IS feet wide, and 20
feet in depth,
1T will be OF the 'roler.top' varle-
ty and cover no less than 700 square
feet Of space The exterior front will
have the appearance Of a desk with all
the drawers closed and the roller.top
down. The distance from the lower
floor to the writing bed will be is
feet and from the writing bed to the
top % feet Behind each pile Of appar-
emily closed drawers the interior will
be a model Office. feet wide, 20 feet
deep and IS feet to the ceiling. Tie
arch between the piles Of drawers will
be II feet wide and Is feet high. These
two Office rooms, separated by the arch,
compose the lower floor, and yentila
ton. means Of ingress and egress, etc.
will be provided by doors and windows
Of the ordinary size.
I'm the rear beautiful balustraded
stairway will lead to the writing
bed or second floor OF this remarkable
desk house This floor Will be 20
feet wide by 80 feet In length. Along
the rear wall will be row Of pigeon
holes, but each pgeon.hole will be
model office fitted up with swivel
chairs and ONCE desk OF ordinary size.
All these rooms In this entire struc-
turc are to be completely furnished
with all the latest modern Office fix.
lures while stenographers, typlsts and
clerks will be seen busily engaged at
work.
"a comparative statement in fig
urcs," continued Mr. Bennlu, will
perhaps give better idea Of the com
paratiye size OF this wonderful con
struction Allowing one square foot
OF space for a human being TO stand
upon by a simple mathematical cal
culation we find that $50 persons can
stand In each OF the lower rooms, and
700 persons on the upper floor, making
total standlngroom capacity for
I 0GO persons in this remarkable desk
house
1.-THE entire population Of many a
country town, therefore, could hide ~
self within this colossal rolltop desk.
Four men riding abreast or seventeen
men walking abreast. could with ease
pass through the open space between
the two legs or piles Of drawers Of this
piece OF Office furniture,
Lumber enough TO construct a two
story house viii be required In the
manufacture Of such desk, which viii
be made Of oak, highly polished and
nnlshed. and Doth Interior and exterior
will be appropriately ornamented.'