The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-08-21
THE DEPARTMENT. STORE.

papers. In the September number of
Everybody's Magazine 1t Is dignlfied
with a place in the reading columns.
The article Is by Hartley Davis, and
is one OF the most entertaining and
Instructive in that issue Of the maya
zine. The writer devotes considerable
space to an elaboration of the prin-
ciple upon which the department. store
Is conducted. but we pass over that
phase Of II to note moro particularly
its accomplishments. Mr.. Davis says
that while he is not able to present
the exact figures, except in one in
stance, he can approximate the amount
of business done in a year In the
largest of these stores. 1t was re-
vealed on the death of the head of
Marshall Field & Company. OF Chi
cago, that during 1906 the retail bust
ness of that concern amounted to s26-
stores. says he, does n volume of busi-
ness approximating s2o,oooo0o a year.
and the third in size does q business
of something like s17000.0o0 a year.
per cent. to Z per cent. OF the total
sales. The amount expended in adver-
Using by the department stores Is
enormous. Last year, says Mr.. Davis.
the daily newspapers in New York
were paid 100000 by one concern.
s4S0,O0O by another. 100000 by an
other, 100000 by another, and so on
to the smallest, which expended $780,
600 In newspaper advertising. Some of
these stores appropriate. $4,000 year
for charities. In addition to many ar
ticles given away.
The number of persons employed in
large department store are enough
to make a town. The largest depart
ment store in Philadelphia employs
1000 people, and Will soon increase
the number to 10000. The store con-
tains forty-two acres OF floor space.
The largest of the New York stores
under one roof has twenty-six acres
OF floor space, and employs 5000 peo-
pie. The number of customers visiting
a large New York store ranges from
a minimum OF 10000 a day to ESQ.,
900 during the holiday season. The
number of packages delivered ranges
from $4,000 a day under ordinary con-
ditions to 10000 during the holiday
season. The number of persons en-
! ployed lin wrapping and delivering
| these packages is about COO and the
average cost Of delivering a package
in Manhattan Is about five cents. Most
of the stores pay their employees ac-
cording to the sales which each en-
ploye is able to make from week to
week. If a clerk is paid $3.50 per week
and the selling expense in the depart
ment is per cent, such clerk is
supposed to be selling $3.50 worth of
average of saoo worth he or she rs
worth 50 a week. and so on.
Most of the department stores have
beneficial association with sick
economy to support literally. simply
| because it practically eliminates
shamming. One of these firms main
| tains a large hotel at Long Branch
| ployed in the store may have two
weeks vacation on full pay and with
/ ont penny of expense. In the store
| there is an emergency hospital will
| in attendance, and medicines free
Every such store pays special atten.
ton to tuberculosis, and whenever ar
employees symptoms Indicate The
tho privilege of going to sanatoriun
to remain until cured.
This store also employs socia
4 secretary, who Is called the "Wel
Christian character, and goes in ant
out among the employees especial,
among the girls, every day, preaching
the gospel OF clean living and cheer
fulness.
Most of the stores maintain a rest
Ing room, writing room and caf
, for the benefit OF the employees, an
!, one of these maintains a music hall
: which seats 1900 people, and gives tw
f concerts each week day during tn
9 year at a total cost to the store o
! $4,000 a year.
, The department stores may hav
. driven some of the smaller concern
: out of business, but they are of grea
s convenience to the general public, an
= give employment, to thousands of me
and women, and it Is tribute to tn
better spirit of the age that they ar
: so considerate OF their employees.
-
= HANDICAPS.
y While Secretary Taft announce
IS that in the main he is in sympath
IS with President Roosevelt's poicie
+ he is not in accord with all of ther
j. For example, he believes In the tr,
y Democratic principle that taXatic
At should be levied for revenue only, al
7 l. 4..l. m.