The Washington times., 1920-07-26
AMERICANS FIRMS
! INVADING LONDON
Nngsway Takes on Yankee
Look As U. S. Business Spreads
In British Capital.

LONDON, July 2o.-hlngsway' Lon
don!
This, in the opinion OF an expert,
is the address which Is attracting so
many leading American firms TO
what will undoubtedly be one OF the
finest business thoroughfares OF the
world.
Already there are many American
firms i'm occupation; others are only
awaiting the completion OF premises
which will be the last word in arch
itecture designed for business eff
cheney.
1t is a curious fact that one part OF
this famous causeway lies in the
city of Westminster. the other in the
borough OF Holborn.
Except for the small Kingsway
Mission Hall the kingsway practical
ly holds the freehold OF this impor-
tant center of commercial life which,
despite the absence of skyscrapers,
represents a colossal amount of floor
space.
Twenty years ago there were mar
row streets which comprised a none
too reputable neighborhood through
which one made a tour of adventure
10 discover the old curiosity shop or
fingered in Holywell street. the street
for secondhand booksellers,
Now the booksellers have all mi
grated to Charing Crossroad. and dur
Ing the years of war the great site
was a fitting subject for Joseph Pen
nell, with it's gigantic cranes and
high outlines OF openwork steel lac
cry silhouetted against the sky.
At present there are but two or
three vacant sites where building or
foundation work has barely started.
Crown House, at the corner or
Drury lane. opposite the Aldwych
Theater, will be an imposing building
occupied by the British Thompson
Houston Company; in the next block
the Shelf" Marketing Company, Ltd,
will have their premises.
Further on is the nine-storied block
which has been taken over by the IN
gersoll Watch Company.
Already rich in government offices
on the west side of kingsway,
yet another huge building Is being
completed for the office of works, and
the General Electric Company Will
enter into possession of another I'M
portant block of buildings.
Victory House, one of the most
beautiful of the newer buildings. Is
eventually destined to be inhabited
by the Office of Works, although the
Shell Motor Spirit firm may fnd
temporary habitation there until their
own premises are complete.
Near the Strand and facing Aid
wych will be the headquarters of the
Agricultural and General Engineering
Company.
Bush House, which will be finished,
it is hoped, in about eighteen months
time, is on the island" facing Aid
wych and the Strand.
On this site, which has been and
still is one of the most famous ad-
vertising sites in London, will be the
great Palace of Industries, a perma-
nent trade exhibition and a meeting
place for buyers and sellers Of the
world, designed on the spacious and
comprehensive lines OF its New York
prototype.
Here not only can be supplied eX-
hibition space for showing goods, but
there will also be a staff of capable
statesmen. experts at their job, and
foreign buyers and sellers will have
at their disposal competent staff or
interpreters.
This is, OF course, of tremendous
interest to commercial and industrial
firms of all countries, since it places
within reach of all types of buyers
and sellers at any season OF the year
the business possibilities of getting
into touch with each other.
The show spaces will vary in size
from a showroom 100 square feet in
space to showcase four feet wide,
seven feet high, and two feet deep.
The scheme is inclusive and the
cost of renting not only includes the
services of an efficient business staff,
but also the privileges and use of the
club with it's restaurant, reading, and
writing rooms, which will be in the
building.