Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-07
Lansburgh & Bro. Will Soon
Begin RemodeIing and
EnIarging Structure.
WILL ADD $1,000 SQUARE,
FEET THE FLOOR SPACE
More Departments Will Be Added
and the Best Of Fixtures
Installed.

Every possible continuance and util-
ity to give service and comfort to
patrons and employees alike is to be
included in the elaborate rebuilding
and remodeling operations which are
to be undertaken at an early date by
the corporation of Lansburgh & Bro. and
which, when completed, are to result in
a modern six-story. steel-constructed,
f,reproof plant, with an addition of ap-
proxfmately $4,000 square feet to the
present floor space.
A firm Of Washington architects has
been engaged with these plans for
some time, associated in an advisory
capacity with a firm of interior store
architects, who have, it is stated, en-
gased in store planning for some of
the largest and most progressive mer-
chandising concerns in the country.
The rear portion of the store. with en-
trance on sth street, is to be entirely
remodeIed and its height raised to six
stories. with a consequent great in
crease in floor space. The front portion
on eth street is also to undergo ex-
tensive alterations. Interior dividing
walls are to be eliminated and the
floor levels of the two parts made iden-
tical so that from the 9Th street door
the visitor will be enabled to obtain
clear view through to Sth street. with
its entrance specially convenient for
carriage and motor car trade.
To Install Six Elevators.
Six modern passenger elevators of
the latest type and equipped with every
possible safety device will be installed
to furnish quick service for shoppers
who may wish to go above the first
floor This will practically triple the
present lift capacity Of the plant.
Prominent among other new features
planned is an electrically run parcel
conveyor. which, almost immediately
after a purchase, by means of an end
less chain of moving belts, places the
article in the shipping department.
Purchases made on the first floor are
placed in a chute which safely carries
the most fragile articles to the belt.
Those made on the upper floors are
transported to the same belt by grav
ity spiral conveyor, consisting of a
fixed blade within a circular shaft.
These pieces of equipment are being
specially designed for the purpose and
Will permit of all purchases being de-
lfvered within a time heretofore con-
sidered impossible.
Another innovation consists of cleo
tric dumb walters with stations on each
floor to dispatch stock from the receiv-
ing room without delay to the various
rfr Tho 2nnaYafyIa fg
matfcally arranged so that when car
IL in use its progress cannot be inter-
fered with, and when any door on its
shaft IL open a car cannot be started.
A vacuum system is to provide for the
entire cleaning of the plant in the most
sanitary manner.
New Fixtures For Departments.
Some of the departments now on the
ground floor are to be enlarged and
equipped with new fixtures, and num-
Der of entirely new ones added. The
ready-to-wear department on the sec
ond floor IL to be rearranged into sep
arate displays of coats, suits. dresses.
etc, each of which will partake of the
nature of speciality shop. The waist
department. is to be greatly enlarged and
cramped, will have entirely new and
adequate quarters. The management also
intends to open a shoe department, cater
ing to women and children. made possible
by increased space, which is also being
planned as store within store"
Features of the third floor are to
include comfortably appointed rest
f foean: public seepaGne booths lava
trained attendants. and q complete
manicurfng and hairdressinE parlor.
The selling space of this floor will in
clude the art department. within which
w q d.
struction in az: embroidery under a
competent teacher. All children.s
apparel. from infants to juniors, will
be located here also. together with an
enlarged boys department. This move
will facilitate the shopping of mothers
who must outfit the whole family The
departments devoted to undermuslins.
corsets and house dresses, also to be
located on floor three, will be enlarged
and rearranged.
More Lines Are to Be Added.
New lines. such as art furniture, beds
and mattresses. trunks and bags. baby
carriages and go-carts. will be added
to the enlarged upholstery department,
with quarters on the fourth floor, In
which space has also been set aside for
all the executive and accounting offices
Tne NTH moor is TO be devoted to the
receiving Of merchandise and the re-
SpoShIoOrls OF tne inherent de-
partments- Every shipment from the
market will be received on a platform
on the street level, whence II will he
dispatched in it's original case to a
modern freight elevator and sent ~
the. NTH floor. There il will be nm
packed by natural light and under the
most sanitary conditions and. after
checking. forwarded to the different
departments by the electric dumb.
waiter.
The sixth floor Is to be devoted 70
the convenience of both patrons and
employees. Adjacent 20 an appronriate-
Iy appointed lobby will be a series NJ
rooms. where garments sold in the
ready-to- wear branches will be fitted
recreation rooms for both men and
women employees will also he 10
Gated on this floor. together with !.
hltchen equipped along modern lines
10 serve an employees Iunchroon,
where wholesome and nourishinr TODD
may be obtained at practicaliv cost
prices. "H'
The Store Hospital.
The store hospital, for the use bo,h
OF patrons and employees, with all
needfui appliances. in charge OF a
trained nurse, and with a pbys,cian
"on call" will also be located on the