The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-01-12
MODERN BUSINESS
BUILDING SOON TO
REPLACE LANDMARK
B. w. Wilson Paper Com
pany to Build at Cover
' TOR and Franklin
GROWING BUSINESS
DEMANDS THE STEP
Started Only s Years Ago But
Is Monument to City's Pro-
gress-Nil i'll Be I rnament
to Businl IS Section

Workmen started a few days ago
the task of denolishinS the old land
marks on the southwest corner OF
Franklin and Governor streets to
make way for a handsome new four
story modern business structure for
the H. W. Wilson Paper company, and
the local historians jotted down in
their notebooks the title OF a new
chapter ia the march OF progress.
The step is of interest tor several
reasons. chief among which LIS the
fact that It marks the healthy growth
OF an important Richmond enterprise,
and incidentally 1t Is the first real
work in the way of building improve
ment for which ground has been
broken in this good year OF 1919. that
holds out 80 much promise 10 Rich
Efond.
Me Completed October LIST.
The contractors promise that by
October LIST. the new building. which
will De not only one of the most
modern OF its kind in the country.
but from an ornamental standpoint.
a credit TO the Wholesale district. will
have replaced the Anticipated struc~
lures which have adorned" the site!
The buildings which are being 30
ruthiessly demolished to make way
for the march OF progress are among
kiSG OAA&BE1& rG VA
and were erected over a century ago.
Both belonged to the old Baker es-
tate and the one adjoining the cor
ner was. years ago, the home of ths
Merchants and Exchange bank.
EnfcrpFfse Yet Young.
Tho b. w. Wilson Paper company.
incorporated. eight years ago, started
business nj No. IL Governor street.
carrying a stock of goods Intended
expressly for the local trade. The
stock embraced both printing and
wrapping papers, including many new
lines that previously could not be
purchased nearer home than Phila-
deiphia, and New York. 1t was
doubtful at that time whether the
trade In this city would Justify "a
1obhtny house along the lines that the
management proposed.
Regardless OF opinions and views,
che house wsa established and stocked
with ali stndaTd lines OF paper. in
GLIDING the specialtses and htgh-grade
items that had not before been mar
kstsd In Richmond. BY continued ag-
gressiveness. and application to edu-
cate the buyer that Richmond had
the stock and could deliver the
goods at once without the delay
necessary when ordering out OF town.
the little house slowly but surely grew
until IT was forced to lease the ad-
joining warehouse, No. II Governor
street Trade in the South was being
deiuged with the samples OF this en-
terprixing house, and the travelling
statesmen were visiting every town in
the States of Virginia. North and
South Carolina. Georgia. Florida and
Tennessee, telling the Story or the
House that Quality and Price Built.
and Richmond as market Tor the
very goods that were being bought in
the North and West.
Out4rows Itself.
II could be readily seen that ware
house facilities would necessarily
have TO be increased. and the COM
pany proceeded to purchase two
building sites on the corner OF Gov
ernor and Franklin streets Nin the
heart of the printing district. and
will erect thereon a structure TO meet
II, requirements and needs for a long
til ne to come.
rhs plans for the new building
w'Nre drawn by Herbert l. Cain. arch
itect, Of Richmond. who personally
has made q careful investigation OF
all the labcr-sAving devices adapted
10 use In paper warehouses through
out the North and West. and every
appliance to save time and labor will
be installed. and when completed. 1t
VIII, h1 thu frass sr-te-aass building
OF its kind lin tbs city. If mot i'm the
entire South.
The building will be equipped with
a large. gh-speed, electric freight
elevator running through all the
floors. a high speed electric passen-
ger elevator running from nrst floor
to the fourth: large high-speed cleo
trio dumb waiter and an automatic
chute from the first noor to the
fourth, so that packages may be sent
downward from any floor to the de-
sired floor below, or from any moor TO
Il first door without the operation
NesShy elevator or dumb waiter, There
Will also be an overhead track con-
veyor on the first floor running from
the front door to the freight elevator
for handling heavy packages. On the
first f,oor will be the shipping and
receiving department, separate Of
fees for officers. accounting depart
ment, stenographers' ONCE, and a
large sample room to facilitate dlstri-
button OF advertising matter.
Up-to.Date Basement.
The boiler room and coal room
will be located In the basement. Base
ment win have an outside entrance
front the street on the front. and
will be we'll lighted by pavement vault
lights, and will have concrete floors.
The building viii be OF slow burn
ing construction throughout with
foundation and basement walls of
concrete, and brick walls above. Both
street fronts Of the building will be
faced with red pressed brick for the
first story cornice and trimmings and
select common brick for the body.
with bIuestone and Limestone trim
Rings Tho entire building will be
heated by steam and lighted by elec-
trtcity. with emergency gas on .he
f3ret floor. Elevator and stair tow sr
10 be enclosed with brick walls. with
openings fitted with double vertical.
overhead slide frs doors. with fusible
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