Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/110

 90 Sloan's Architectural Review and Builders' Journal. [August, DESCRIPTIONS. DESIGN FOR A CITY STORE, IN WHITE MARBLE, Erected in Philadelphia: Owned and Occupied by Samuel S. White. WE herewith present the front of a store situated at the southeast corner of Twelfth and Chestnut streets, designed, and lately completed, for the projector and owner, our quiet, unas- suming and much esteemed fellow- citizen and friend, Samuel S. White, Esq., who, in addition to the marked improvements he has introduced, and is still introducing, in his own de- partment of American manufactures, — namely: Artificial Teeth, and all Articles appertaining to Dentistry, — wherein he is confessedly ahead of all competitors in any country — is ever ready, — when forced to amplify pre- vious business accommodations, or, as in this case, fairly to remove for the sake of more space and greater facili- ties, — to afford the practitioners of other arts an opportunity of exhibiting their tasteful adaptation to his require- ments. The elevation in hand, being of pure white marble, though exceedingly sim- ple, almost severe, is, from the material, very pure and rich. We find nothing which could enhance the effect designed and obtained, save an upward con- tinuation of the return of the marble, throughout the whole width on Twelfth street, that it occupies on the first story, the part leased of Mr. White, for a long term of years, by Messrs. Bailey & Co., Jewellers. And in passing, we may be allowed to glance hurriedly at the great forecast, research and assiduity of this firm, from the old days of Bailey & Kitchen to the very instant, resulting in a large and ever- changing stock, gathered from all the best workshops and studios of Europe and America ; and in a reputation de- servedly as high as it is far-spread. It is really cheering to note the faith, both of the energetic owner and his indefati- gable tenants, strikingly indicative as it is of that spirit; which, we trust, will ere long bestow upon Philadelphia such a profusion of well-planned and chaste structures, for domestic life, business, or public use, as shall at once be worth the eye, the tongue, and the pen of the genial and able critic. This structure, forty-four feet front on Chestnut and Sansom streets, by two hundred and thirty-five feet depth on Twelfth street, is five stories high throughout, with a basement story and vaults beneath the pavement. The front on Chestnut street is of white marble from the Manchester quar- ries, State of Vermont. The Twelfth and Sansom street fronts are faced with pressed brick of the best quality, with white marble trimmings, to the doors and windows. The body of the interior is rendered thoroughly fire-proof, by means of com- pound wrought-iron beams, that span the entire width of the building, with no supports to interrupt the clear space. These beams, which will upbear 155 pounds to ,the square foot, — at six tons per square inch tensile strain, for all the iron in the flanges brought