New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-27
eFF41ND TF5F SCENES in A BIG DEPARTMENT $40
treat Hopper Through
CHI Store Is Fed Di-
les Into Labyrinths
of Chutes.

THIN the writer was conducted into the SUB.
basement. The hour was between and
e clock. one of the busiest of the day. The
place was great labyrinth OF chutes, ike tn.
Itways OF an icehouse in shape and size, bu,
as polished and shining as ballroom floor.
Thsie were belt paczage carriers and bins ci
the size OF small drygoods boxes. The Pack.
axe. wsre coming down through the spiral
chu.es iron every story in the building NTH
the speed and volume It log Jam.
There may be poverty and hard times else
where, but apparently not in the department
stores Long packages containing umbrellas,
bsndboxes evidently sheltering miladys hnery
hat boxes covering silken tiles for the sock Of
mater fanilias or the son of the family at COL
Iege small parcels of jewelry, perhaps ring
or bracelet or lavalliere for mother or Sis
ter; or-and packages labelled Glass" or
Fragile" or Book" Yes, there were pack
ages of glass and books, and they seemed to
travel in the jam with no more danger than ii
thew had been boxes of blocks. 1t was YER
table horn of plenty pouring out its treasures
every second upon the shining tables.
ulate regarding the contents or even look az
the value Each package must be hurried on
its way or it would block the chute. A glance
al the address and the color OF the slip and
hastily written number and it passed on to its
appropriate belt or slide. There can be no
hesitation. The men who switch the packages
must know instantly on which route ITS Cen
trail Park West for instance, chances TO be.
There are nearly hundred routes, each being
numbered, radiating through Manhati.
BROOKLYN, Staten Island, The Bronx and all ne
suburban communities on Long Island, Wc-t-
chester County and Northern New Jersey, md
a thousand packages an hour have to be C's-
tributed to them. Ceaselessly the men wok,
seeking to stem the tide Of packages as it pour
in upon them from the floors above. depart
ment store is like London. II brings the
wealth of the world to its door and takes its
1.-THE for the trouble of breaking up the bulk
and distributing it to the consumer.
No pianos or furniture, or bulk articles such
as washboards, baskets, rocking horses and
kitchen ware. come down the chute They
each reach their places Of packing on elevators,
and are boxed or wrapped as may be de-
manded. What a store of wrapping paper, ex-
celsior, boxes, barrels and lumber goes into the
packing rooms of great department storel
The hands of the clock mark the time as
o'clock. The "contingents" drift toward the
cloak rooms under the sidewalk, for there IS
supper to get at home, and perhaps clamor-
ing youngster. The throng of prospective pur-
chasers grows thinner, remembering home,
hubby and dinner The packers and package
men in the sub-cellar, on the other hand, speed
up, for the stream of parcels, barometer OF the
days business, grows in volume. In the tube
room the popping Of the tubes marks the IN
crease in the volume of business
The last hour of business is slackening
period for some of the workers, a speeding
period for others. AS soon as the store closes
certain stocks must give way to others. Sup
plies OF goods must be brought from the stock
to fill up the vacant tables. Certain windows
are to be dressed.
A bell sounds. A bugle blows. 1t is
o'clock. Somehow the store seems vacant
Continued on seventh page.