The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-07-28
Politics in an Exciting
Year Has No Ef'ecto on
Richmond Business.
RECORD-BREAKING
BUILDING DOINGS
Twentieth Century Department.
Store Being Erected on East
Broad Street-Schmidt's Big
Idea-New Apartment
House to Be Known
as The Lee.

From all over the country there
come cheering reports Of business con-
dltions The gratifying news from all
quarters is that for the first time. per-
maps. In the history of the country
business is proving to be superior to
roiitics 1t is part OF the history
ri the land that a presidential cleo
ton year is a bad business year In
fact. there have been times when a ma
tional election year has been also q
Kind OF panic year There ne-er was
Ia time In tho history OF the country.
with the possible exception of 1850.
when the political situation was moro
mixed or more uncertain than 1t is
this year. and yet business looms up
superior to all OF this three and four
party uncertainty.
There IS no city in the land in which
there is better and more substantial
proof OF this gratifying condition than
In Richmond. Politics may come ana
politics may go. politics may get eN-
citing or politics may get lnthargic.
presidential talk may become Wild
and congressional campaisnins may
become excited local co-'srTions as
TO who shall be chosen TO run the
kind OF city government we are go
ins to have. and there may be not
little excitement az TO what kind or
pavement shall be laid on Broad
street (and that's politics. too. it is
painful to relate). and all these things
are present with US. but nil the same
Richmond building boom goes right
straight along with no indication
whatever OF abatement.
Inspector Bcck's Books.
adrarro ,v1a 10 hooks n
Building Inspector Beck indicates, TO
my mind that this good month OF
july will show the best building nE-
ares In the history OF the Guy. The
! Inspectors report for the month VIII
show permits granted for the building
and rebuilding and repairing Of more
houses than In any previous month.
that S. II we estimate b. the cost of
the same or course. exact ngures
cannot be given three DAYS before tho
close OF the month. but when tho
report does come on the first day OF
/ August. 1t will show that tho cost
! ~ buildings TO be erected, rebuilt
/ and repaired for which pafnilts Wee
( granted in the month o, July. VIII be
I IN the neighSorhood OF 5 5oA.uo9 mi
;his will be about 100000 more thal
/ for the corresponding month % last
year. ana these figures, nlnd yru ars
( confined strictly u tho c!ty, Tor
Building Inspector Beck has no au-
thority In Barton Heights. Or Wood
/ land Heights or Forest .l!l cog Ginter
Park or Nesthampton OF Highland
lam or Batter. Court or colon.al Ad-
dticu or Westnam OF a IS OF the Jii.-
- growing and rushing sao4res- A1i
TO the city figures the outings mat
are teing started N ~ Is, suhurb.,
which ale iractically Ricamon!, ana
ere lons Will be. IN tact, ana tncrs
ould DE a footing up or more than
81 100000 OF permits Tor one month.
New Department store.
But coming down TO lew parti-
cuars. one OF the gratifying sights
/ IS up on Broad Street. wnere TWEEN
tieth century department store IS be-
ing erected and is nearing completion.
It is on what some people nave oeen
In the habit or calling the wrong
side OF Broad. Nos. 81 3li, SIG. SIS
and 800 East Broad. but the north sii-f
is getting TO be very much the right
side This Immense building is be-
ms erected b. W. c. scnmi1t. ina
! lichltect is ". -. Lee ana the builder
I is John II Nuokols.
On account OF the stee. consiruc-
Z lion ana application OF every late iu-
p:oyeu!ent IN store buiiGingl ,uls w.ii
represent the last Word ~ store plan-
n!ng. 40 expense has been spared To
make the hulling aosolltely sale
from nre risk amd the tenants VIII
save fuzzy $4,000 to $4.VOO yeagly iu
Are insurance premiums alone
The store is a fo4< story building.
with frontage eighty mine feet ana
with the basement saiesgooms. VIII
have available hoorspace OF $1,000
square feet.
something New In w.naows.
new idea IS the p,-u oI nlvLis
the huiidlus set back isom The street
line, SO As TO secu.e 4A unobstructed.
continuous w!n4ow display ,no cnure
length OF the store front Ihe show
windows seem to project ike one
great showcase. giving the best pos
sibe display 10 the merchandise which
may be arranged in them.
The base is OF polished VERGE an
tique marble which material $50
frames the two doors 1Ae canopy OK
ornamental copper caps the windows
and above this there agc prismaic
transom lights. assuring plenty Of
light for the drst moor salcsrooms
The main cornice and p!llsters OF the
/ first floor are of glazed terra Gotta.
Tho upper stories are OF artistic
buzz -colored Devonsh!re standard ana
Norman shape brick, set OF with ter
ra Gotta The upper story windows
eNtend tho entire height of eAch Sec
tion. from floor to ceiling wi'a pris-
matte transom lights Vne cnuYA
building VIII havoran abundance OF
illght
Between tho stories there are orna-
mental copper panels. Near tho top
these are set OF with embellishments
of terra Gotta and fancy BRICK work,