Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-10-05
B. Altman & Co.'s New
Building Addition Open

The new twelve-story addition to
B. Altman & Company's store, New
York, was opened to the public this
morning. With the erection of this
addition, the frontage of which is on
Madison avenue, the store becomes
one of the largest in the world, &C.
cupying an entire square block and
having a floor area of nearly one mil
lion square feet.
The Altman store is easily one of
the handsomest edifices in New York,
following in detail throughout the
dignified style of architecture distinc-
tive of the Italian Renaissance.
The president of B. Altman & Com
pany, Michael Friedsam, desires to
impress upon the public the fact that
the policies of the house remain UNI
changed. To contribute in every pos
sible way to the comfort and con-
venience of its patrons, to assure
them of courteous attention, and to
offer them reliable merchandise at
moderate prices is still, as it has al
ways been, the chief aim of this old
established firm.
Having increased its original floor
area by considerably more than fifty
per cent, the Altman store is now
one of the largest and most commodi-
Gus, as it is also one of the most
perfectly equipped, mercantile houses
in the world.
A handsome suite of retiring rooms
for women patrons is situated on the
fifth floor in the Madison avenue adj
dition. The writing and rest room is
sumptuously furnished, the uphol-
of I1tto ualxynt hp
izing with a carpet of the same rich
tone. The panelings and furniture
are all of mahogany. Within easy
reach of this room are the general
offices, the information bureau and
the public telephone booths.
The executive offices, consisting of
the presidents room, the board room
and an ante-room, which are also To-
Gated on the fifth floor, comprise what
may well be termed one of the most
remarkable office suites in the world,
for the walls of these rooms are COW
cred with the same French carved
woodwork that adorned the interiors
of three of the most beautiful rooms
in the late Mr.. Altman's residence on
Fifth ,avenue-the library, the dining
room and the famous Renaissance
room.
The entire twelfth floor of the new
addition has been given over to the
use of B. Altman G. Co.'s employees.
1t is finished throughout in white,
with tiled walls and flooring. Large,
airy luncheon rooms are provided for
men and women employees, the two
sections being separated by cafe
terra. Adjoining the luncheon rooms
is a spacious modern kitchen, where
wholesome food is palatably prepared,
to be served at minimum prices.
On this floor, too, are the medical Of
fees, a large, specially constructed
suite consisting of patients waiting
room, physicians consulting room,
surgery, and two hospital wards for
men and women, with total of seven
beds A physician, assisted by two
graduate nurses, is in charge of this
department, the expense of which is
borne wholly by the firm.
The welfare work among the en-
ployes of B. Altman G. Co. is of the
broadcast and most humanitarian type,
following out the plans outlined by
the late Benjamin Altman and car
ried out, on an even larger SCALE by
the present president Of the firm,
Michael Friedsam.
In the sub-basement is the compli-
Gated machinery which supplies the
Altman building with light, heat, ven
tilation and motor power. and which
controls the immense refrigerating
plant. The great engines have an ag-
gregate capacity of 5000 horsepower;
the ten boilers a capacity of 5000
horsepower, with a steam pressure of
100 pounds to the square inch. The
coal bunkers are capable of contain
ing 1000 tons.
One important result of the en-
Ia rpement of the building ia the in
creased efficiency of the elevator SER
vice. There are now twenty-five ele-
vators for the use of patrons of the
store, in addition to five small private
elevators. ten elevators for employees
use, and two truck elevators of i'm
mense size and capacity, making a
total of thirty nine, all of modern
type.
Among other noticeable improve
ments contributing to the greater eff
fciency of service which has always
been one of the specific aims of b.
Altman & Co., is the extension of the
pneumatic tube service. In the tube
service, for the transmission of the
cash carriers, there are no fewer than
sixteen miles of brass tubing. In the
delivery conveyor system there are
2.767 feet of canvas betting, moving
at the rate of four miles per hour
along the travelling platform or con-
veyors, which are attached to the
basement ceiling, and connect with
spiral chutes, these having openings
on every floor, within easy access of
all departments.
The fire-preventing and fire-fghting
equipments are among the most COM
piete in existence, including the new
automatic sprinkler and signal sys-