The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-07-21
New Building Is Most Substan-
tial Contribution to Bust
ness District This Year

The most substantial contribution
to the evolution Of the business dis
trict OF Bismarck this year has been
completed and Is on the eve of taking
its place in the daily commercial &C
tivities Of the city.
This is the new fireproof c~onstruc-
ton Penney store building, 113
Fourth street, which has just been
turned over by Weinberger and
Guthrie, contractors, to the owner,
w. H. Webb, and the J.. G. Penney
store management, represented here
by B. O. Refvem.
The Penney company is completing
today the moving in of its stocks of
merchandise and tomorrow morning
the place will open for business. Con-
struction Is finished except for minor
adjustments in equipment, the need
Of which will develop as the place gets
into action.
Four Months In Building
A little more than four months
were required to build this new mon
unnent to the business progress Of the
city, Weinberger and Guthrie began
operations as soon as the season
emerged from winter into early
spring, about mid March, when raz-
Ing Of the old building got under way.
Since then an average Of 20 men has
been on the job daily. The whole
city has followed the operations with
interest, from the time that the in
novation of a mechanical excavator
concentrated attention on the Job UNI
til the last tack was driven in the
brass strips of the entrance doors.
Daily groups gathered all summer on
the scene Of operations to note the
progress being made, for the new
store appealed to the general spirit Of
pride in the cityis growth and COM
mercial development.
Combines Beauty and Utility
Now the last bit Of construction de-
bris has been thrust away and the
new structure stands forth In its
combination Of utility and beauty, q
face Of shimmering glass, mellow
toned brick, bright copper edging, the
familiar Penney black-and-yellow tile
paneling and %fluttering colored cano-
pies.
The building was built according to
standard Penney store plans, worked
out In the New York offices Of the
company. The Penney management
has found that q two-stoty building
with basement is the best adaptation
Of design for Its business methods.
The main store room occupies the
entire street floor, which is so by 40
feet. From the rear third an oaken
stairway ascends to . balcony floor.
50 by 20 feet. Another stairway leads
to q front section Of the second floor,
30 by so. That part Of the building
which faces the street and is located
over the elaborate show windows on
the street level is set aside for office
purposes.
Each Floor Has Its Line
The basement Is intended largely
for Christmas displays and stocks. It
has . concrete floor and Is fitted out
in Penney style Of fixtures for the
display Of goods. The main floor,
with ceiling 10 feet above the floor.
Is designed for the housing and sale
Of general merchandise. Mems wear
will be located on the left side as one
enters and women's wear on the right
side, while the shoe department will
be in the rear. Novelty goods also
will be handled on this floor.
Over the shoe department In the
rear. on the balcony floor, will be To-
Gated the piece goods department
The section Of the second floor which
is In the front part Of the building
will handle infants and ready-to-
wear merchandise.
Striking display Of everything l!
Continued on cage ninej