Year: 1878

opened his nrst stock of goods purchased with the
patrmony he obtiined in Ireland tor the purpose OF
going into business. That advertisement was nrst
inserted August H. 1923 the day which Mr.. Stew
opened his store He then in his twenty hrst
year. He had arrived here about eighteen months
previously, and after teaching the classics for
while in Bragg school. in Pearl street near chat-
ha,Ii--as he used to say, with more success than
proft-he returned to Ireland to get the patrimony
left him by his grandfather Turney. amounting.
think 10 abont f550o The property there consisted
Of freehold and was part OF the Marquis OF hert-
forus estate. situated a short distance from Beiiast


STEWART START IL BUSINESS.


Mr. Stewart induced his guardian to sell and con-
chase OF stock of goods. which he found ON arriv-
ing here in great demand, the fashion having
just then set in tor that class of hne goods when
were selected with great care by himself.


.How long did Mr.. Stewart remain III tho store
where he first commenced business


In 1925 he removed to No. 262 broadway, second
door above Warren street. and from there three
afterward he moved to No. 237 broadway At the
time when the retail store was transferred to Tenth
street it regarded as y dangerous business and
supposed to be departure from Mr.. Stewart >
usual canton For some years before his death Mr..
Stewart entertained belief that matter OF ne
cessty he would in few years be required to move
his wholesale business up town, and with that view
entered upon the purchase OF parts OF the block OF
ground between Eighth and Ninth streets Fourth
avenue and Broadway. This had progressed so far
that the time of Mr. Stewards death he owned about
three-ffths Of the entire square between Eighth
and Ninth streets. then ceased. having made mp
my mind that it was but question Of time and ex-
pediepcy when we would convert the present retail
to the of both branches of the business
considered ii amply sufficient for the purpose when
properly adapted Already we had transferred there
several OF the wholesale departments. Heretofore
the fourth and fifth floors and also most of the base
ment of the retail building have been occupied for
manufacturing purposes. employing at times nearly
since added the sixth hoor, converting it into
of the finest floors in the building This
was done by inserting in the roof ventilating
skylights Of peculiar form and model, making the
hoor almost incredibly cool in summer. In winter
may add an interesting fact, we heat it comfort
utl ly h1- nfn
additional expense"


do You anticipate possible scarcity Of for
both the wholesale ana refill departments III the
Tenth street store?"


NO not at all. In adapting the store for the
wholesale business found had ample room;
equal indeed, to that have in the downtown store
For instance. We have in the retail building space
of about twenty three lots of land. equning nearly
two acres for each floor In addition to
this the basement ana sub basement extending under
the sidewalks give an additional to each floor
underground. for the whole store about eigh
teen acres. Already we have transferred our entire
manufacturing department temporarily to ST. AIMS
Church on Eighth street and the buildings adjacent
and also connecting with and extending through 10
Ninth street. We have also leased from Wood
Brothers l. Co. the large buildings on lafayette
place. having a frontage of eighty-two feet on the
street. depth Of 175 feet and stories in height to
which propose transferring our entire manufac-
turing department and probably our silk works.
After removal all this will be connected with the
main building by telephones.


MOVING TOWN.


The retail portion OF the store will remain il is





with part of the third, about five acres; and the
residue of the buildin9-thrtecn acres-will be de-
voted to the wholesale trade aided by three passen
ger elevators and four Wholesale elevators running
the entire height of the building. We think it will
De found quite sufficient. The wholesale offices will
commence on the corner of Ninth street and Fourth
avenue. and will extend all the way up that side of
the building each floor to the top connecting with
the elevators. Already the counters and shelving
may be said to be- quite ready for moving week."
When do You expect to move r.


1--WE shall begin moving by departments, and
pect by January ~ to be entirely located within the
walls of the Tenth street building without having
suffered any Inconvenience to our business


.One other question. Has the general depression
of trade affected the business Of your firm to any
great extent?'


.'Our business never in q more satisfactory
condition than it is at present. During the holiday
especially trade in the retail store exceeded
anything the house had ever had previously. The
number of people visiting the store simply
enormous. Beginning with Monday Of last week,
when the number OF visiting customers upward
of thirty-ive thousand, there a daily increase
until Friday Of that week. when the number amounted
to over fifty thousand. On Monday last our super
intendent. Mr. Denning. estimated that not less than
seventy-fye thousand visited the store and that
day may there were six thousand charges to
regular customers made the books apart from the
cash sales. The receipts for that day and also for
the holiday week have not at any time heretofore
been exceeded by the house, while the quantities sold
were far in excess OF anything before known by u.s..