Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-12-04

ices. and these will be the larges,
best lighted. best heated and eauippe,
In the city. having an Eighth stree
entrance.
The buildings which we are tryip,
to describe In brief detail are lighte,
and heated by the Graden Mercantil,
company's own lighting and heatin,
plants. For lighting steam is employ
ed ms initial power for electricity. In
the company's own -four milling plan,
near the Aniinas river. where a wheai
elevator and modern -four mill are EN-
p'oyed to make the flour sold by these
big stores.
| The heating furnace. in the base
mcnt next to the Eighth street line ia
modern In Its detail, employing one
of the International boilers and ap-
paratus. having eonduits or pipes ex.
tending into every part OF the several
departments, The warehouse ls as
wen provided for the distribution of
heht that a proper temperature may
be kept at all times for perishable, or
rreezabie goods. The boiler having
an automatic adjustment. regulates
itself Tor safety, and only needs some
one to feed the fuel as IL Is required
to run Its own business.
To Durango people at this time the
most modern and appreciabIe feature
at The Gradens appears to be the ele.
Vator connecting the lower and up
per hoors OF the main building. II Is
the first passenger elevator In the city
and since II WAS installed a week or
30 ago 1t has been kept In commission
steadily every day, It being the first
time many OF the patrons ever partlci.
pated In the pleasure. The elevator
Is operated by electric motor. The
machinery is modern and the car one
OF the finest employed In any city.
Both the freight elevator In the
warehouse and the passenger car In
the main building. AZ well as other mt
chimes employed. including all sewing
machines operated In the dressmal..
ing department. are operated by elec.
tricity; and there are two lighting CIR.
rents, one furnished by the Durango
company. to duplicate the individns
plant at any timc the latter ia dig
turbed or disabled by electrical
storms.
The ceilings and all wood work in
the buildings are OF lumber manufac.
tured by the Graden saw mills-na.
tive pine Of the best quality. Every
ceiling above and below Is painted as
white as white paint will make them,
and this assists In production OF
perfect light effect throughout. The
Wilderness Of the wood work glistens
and blinks at the brilliant lights.
: The office. which had formerly
been crowded back to make room for
expediting business, and not SO well
lighted Is now as brilliant as any 9th.
or part OF the building
The salesrooms are provided Wits
the Barr aerial wire tram system OF
carrying cash and checks and re.
turns between the office and wrapping
counter and the different sales coun.
ters, saving the labor OF many cash
boys and avoiding much annoyance
and error.
The number OF employees at the
main building and warehouse aver
ages over thirty. and the number of
employees annually on the pay rolls
for the stores and mills aggregates 75.
All OF this business. done under one
roof, is conducted expeditiously and
precisely. Perhaps few Of the patrons
OF the Gradens will nave much idea
Of the magnitude of the business done
there until they visit the place and
give 1t some study.
Messrs. T. C. Graden and r. f.
Sloan, the co-spirits and architects OF
this splendid commercial enterprise,
agree that 1t indicates the progress
OF the industries Of the Southwest,
as 1t has been coexistent with them
and depending upon them for growth.
They find that while coal mining.
smelling and agriculture, with the
kindred stock growing. have been the
chief factors In support OF commerce.
there are many other industries keep
Ing close touch. Manufacturing is In.
creasing It's products and building
larger payrolls. The country Is set
are starting every year: the city is
growing and building more than man;
are aware.
In a word, II has been the general
progress on all industrial lines which
necessitated doubling the capacity OF
the salesrooms to meet the public de
mands.