The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-10-27
WILL TAKE A YEAR
New Mills Building VIII Be
Opened Oct. 1, 1910.
Foundation i'm and Contract Just
Let for Steel Work.
INTERIOR FINISHINGS.
Maple Floors, Plate Glass and
Marble i'm the Scheme.
Many Modern Ideas Be IncOr-
pOrated i'm New Store.

douglas and Evans have secured the
contract for the erection of the super
structure of the new Mills building at
Ninth and Kansas avenue, and it is ex-
pected that the structure will be ready
Tor occupancy by October 1 of next year.
The contract for steel was let to the
topeka Steel and Iron company, with
May L set as the date for the completion
of the work. Mr.. Mills was very much
eratified that the lowest bids were made
by Topeka firms
The structure will cover 100 by $50
feet of ground space, will be seven
three acres of floor space. The total
cost, including the fixtures will be about
YOU The basement and the first five
floors will be occupied by the Mills Dry
Goods company, while the upper floors
will be properly partitioned so that they
may be rented for office purposes
one of the features of the building
Will be the unusual amount of space
given over to windows. The steel Skele-
ton of the structure will be enclosed in
concrete and the floors will be, of the
same material. SO that the building will
be as nearly fireproof as possible. The
exterior will be of light gray brick
mottled with terra Gotta, which will give
a harmonious effect. The entire first
! floor will be fitted with heavy plate
glass.
Splendid Interior Decorations.
There will be nothing about the build
ing which will suggest cheapness. The
floors will be of hard maple, and birch
mahogany will be the nature of the
wood work. There will be mosaic tiled
floors and enameled wainscoting in the
vestibules and lobbles. The main stair
way will be constructed of ornamental
steel and Georgia marble. There will
be- twenty-four exposed columns sup
porting the floor and there will be no
partitions on the first floor.
The building will have three entrances,
one on the east and one on the north,
and one on the northwest corner for the
offices on the sixth and seventh floors.
There will be two elevators for the ac-
commodation of the office renters on
these floors, but there will also be a
winding stairway from the first to the
seventh floor.
The north and east entrances will be
covered steel and glass canopies. I'm
mediately opposite the north entrance,
the main stairway, twelve feet in width.
will lead to landing, where the freight
and passenger traffic for the Mills store
proper will be handled by one freight
ard two passenger elevators. A balcony
will lead from this platform to the rear
of the building to a rest room. This
will be attractively furnished and from
here good view may be obtained of al
most the entire first floor.
New Departments.
1t is probable, that the building will
be completed by the fifteenth of August,
but it is not likely that 1t will be pos
sible to have the formal opening of the
store until October 1. According to Mr.
Mills several new departments will be
added to the store. including a shoe
department, mems furnishing depart
r1ent, and a furniture department.
Fancy goods will be on the first floor.
such as cnlbroideries, ribbons, gloves,
ect.; the second floor will be occupied
by dress goods. linens and other goods
of similar nature; suits. coats, mil
hnery and underwear will be assigned
to the third floor; the drapery and car
pet department will be on the fourth
floor; and on the fifth will be the 1urni-
ture and POSSIBLY the dress making de-
partment.