THE

PHILADELPHIA

?* E C O 2 D

9,

16

Electrical Plant Wetherill Pride

Products of Famous Chester Firm Have Important Part in Building's Success.
NE of the moat important factor* in the development of tUo nearby progressive city of Chester has been the firm of Robert Wetherill Hi Company, located there with its immense plant, taking in several city blocks. The Wetherills an* able to manufacture and supply anything originating in the machine shop. According to their published statements, they are manufacturers of Corliss engines, boilers, feed water heaters, plunSer. electric elevator and pumping engines, barometric condensers, heavy machinery on engineers' designs, Wetherill rolling grates, cement and dry kilns, aud plate work and stocks. In the construction of the Widener Building Robert Wetherill & Company nave a mighty important part. I'pon them and their products depend the electricity that will be used for the entire plant. It is only when laymen atop and consider the subject for a few minutes that they realite just how vitally necessary electricity is to the skyscraper. Without- electricity, however, the modern office building would be so hopelessly crippled it would be practically useless. Before going into dctaif~as to the giant Corliss engines, supplied aud installed by Robert Wetherill & Com Pany in the Widener Building, a few words of their methods will be of general interest. The wonderful success of the firm since it was established in 1872 and incorporated in 1905, has been due mainly to the personal effort and executive ability of one man. He is Robert Wetherill, founder and president of the corporation. In this success he has been greatly assisted^by his brother, Richard* Wetherill.

placed in the building is as follows: 8 cross compound non-condensing Corliss engines 19 and 30 by 86 direct con nected to 400 kilowatts, 8 wire engine type, O. C. Generators and one cross compound non-condensing Corliss engine, 15 and 24 by 86, direct connected t<> 250 kilowatts, 3 wire D. C. generator. This simply menus in everyday Ian guage that the engines which will furnish all the electric power to the Widener Building are the very latest in sci urine construction. They are the type known and proven to give the greatest economy in operation. The swarding of this contract to the firm of Robert Wetherill & Company was in itself s recognition of the worth of s concern located so close to Philadelphia, and which has gained success and prominence that few concerns achieve. This success proves, too. the day is not past when a hard working and determined American boy may forge his way to the top. Recently there died u man who had been in the employ of the Wetherill plant for thirty-five years, aud it was alongside of this very man that Robert Wetherill learned his trsde originally. The officers of Robert Wetherill & Company also include Mr. James 11 Carthwaite as secretary, besides the two Wetherill brothers. In Street Railways Time was when Robert Wetherill 4c Company had a leading part in street railway construction. This was in the days when the cable car, now long .since forgotten by most people with the rapid advanee of the electric trolley car, furnished municipal transit. The Wetherill firm built the cable roads and power houses, and then later, with the swift chance to trolley <ars, reconverted these systems and power plants into electric stations. using and demonstrating the efficiency of the Corliss engines. Where a corporation builds up such an enviable reputation as is possessed by Robert Wetherill & Company it is not strange thst business to a large degree comes to them from many sources absolutely unsolicited. But, nevertheless, the Wetherills have a wideawake and hustling sales force. In meeting competition they have behind them the record of years and years of successful demonstration of the firm's ability and integrity. The Wetherill Corliss engines include Hesry Duty snd Girder Type, Single Cylinder and Compound, adapted to the exacting requirements of alternating and direct current work for any service rolling mills, pumping engines, air compressors or any installation where reliable power is required. The Wetherill Gravity Type Valve Gear (patented) is designed for high rotative speeds, applicable to office building installation, smooth and noiseless in operation. All valve gear details have accurate wedge adjustment, and no driven keys are used in the construction. Corliss engines are built any size and capacity, from 50 to 3000 horse power. Robert Wetherill & Company have a complete Elevator Department, equipped with the most modern tools for the production of both passenger and freight elevators. A wonderful achievement by the Elevator Department was the installation of plunger elevators in the Hotel McAlpin, Thirty-third street and Broadway, New York. The McAlpin is the largest and most complete hotel in New York, and the work of the Wetherills represents the latest developments and patents in plunger elevator construction. The new Municipal Building of New York city is another example of Wetherill progress and success, the structure containing thirty-three of their elevators. The various departments of Robert Wetherill & Company are up-to-date in every particular. The foundry is equipped with traveling cranes, two cupolas and appliances for loam and dry sand work. The" Steel Plate Department is equipped with traveling cranes and hydraulic riveters, punches and tools for the manufacture of heavy steel piste constructionboilers, tank work and stacks, and kilns, coolers, dryers, storage bins, etc., for cement mills. The firm is being called upon constantly to estimate on and construct heavy machinery from engineers' designs.

Slag Roofing Tops Widener Building

Warren-Ehret Company Covers Enormous Structure With 25,000 Square Feet.
OOFING is a most important part of any structure, large or small, aud it is especially so in the case of a modern skyscraper such an the Widener Building. For it took HV0Q0 square feet of five-ply Blag, roofing to eover Philadelphia's newest and finest office building. To the Warren Ehret Company went the contract for this enormous job, and their selection meant recognition not only of the largest but slso the pioneer concern in built-up composition roofing. The Warren-Ehret Company is the contract department of the Barrett Manufacturing Company. Its offices are in the Land Title Building, end ita factory at Thirty-seventh and Reed streets, which is the Reed street wharf of the Schuylkill River. A s its executive and directing officers are Mr. A. E. Chevalier, president; Mr. Lester Wittenberg, vice president and general manager, and Mr. Thomas S. Brown, secretary and treasurer. In the erection of a building it is customary to work up to the roof as quickly as possible so that the roofers may get busy. No interior work is ever done until the roofing is finished. The entire poof is made right up on the top of the building in one solid sheet without seams or joints. It is possible, if everything is ready, to put on a roof the size required for the Widener Building and coiffplete it entirely within six days.

turned his attention to learning the business thoroughly. He acquired a practical knowledge of all its details, and was soon in charge of its drafting department. Finally he started out for himself, aided and supported by business friends and acquaintances who recognised his worth and felt sure his determination, persistence and intelligence would bring aim success. In the course of a year Mr. Wetherlll's business had grown to such proportions he formed a partnership with his brother. Mr. Richard Wetherill, who bad .begun with him in the capacity of book keeper. Are W o r l d K n o w n Working on conservative lines, keeping constantly sbreast of the time, the firm of Robert Wetherill & Company gradually grew to be known throughout the country. The individuality of Mr. Robert Wetherill was. and is today, stamped on all their transactions. He is a man to whom great success has simply whetted his appetite and arnbi tion to do greater things; a man who knows only one method for doing business, and that a strict adherence t < > houesty and fair dealing with everybody. His own employees say Mr. Wetherill is first to reach the plant in the mornings and the last to leave at night. H e never takes a vacation. He knows even the smallest details of his business, and this despite the fact that his plant is constantly filling orders of every kind for all parts of the country. Today Robert Wetherill & Company are known throughout the world as one of the largest and the most trustworthy in their line. The gery offices and employees of the corporation furnish the best proof of the reasons why the Wetherills have been successful. From office boys up to department heads there is a wonderful enthusiasm and interest in the business. The Wetherills work on a basis that the initiul cost is not what should be watched most closely in machinery construction, but the making of highgrade machinery that will keep the future running cost lowest, and thereby effect the greatest possible economy. They have proved that an inadequate initial cost instead of making a saving results in a greater and needless cost once operation has commenced. T h e E n g i n e s Needed Because of the fact that the elevators in the Widener Building will be operated by electricity, it ! necessary to have more engines to generate the power than if the elevators were of the plunger type. The official statement of the engines

Building a Business. In New York recently several prominent business men were discussing various outside points for a factory aite. Several were suggested, and then one of the party mentioned Chester, Pennsylvania. Another questioned him as to its location, and the third spoke up in surprise, saying, "What! you don't know Chester, Pennsylvania'/ Why, that's the town the Wetherills made famous.'* There is much truth in this statement. Mr. Robert Wetherill is a direct descendant of Jorah Keen, to whom, in ltJ44, the Swedish crown patented the territory upon which is located part of the present city of Chester. After an education secured in the public schools of Philadelphia and the I'pland Normal School, be served an apprenticeship with Miller and Allen, then leading machinists and foundry men of Chester. Young Wetherill, of a serious bent.

A New Lumber Firm ing a New Buildi

in

The Guiniven Lumber Company

1400 Widener Building
NORTH CAROLINA PINE AND YELLOW PINE ROUGH AND DRESSED John J.Guiniven, President
Mr. Guiniven is well known to the lumber trade, having been in the business (or 30 years. Telephone, Walnut 3897. Our telephone now connected and order* being taken in the Widener Building.

H o w It's D o n e In many respects the roofing proposition seems a simple one, but it takes at least three years' apprenticeship to make a well-trained and skilled worker. In the beginning the concrete building top is mopped with hot pitch, and then the men stick on the felt right up to the five-ply, shingling as they When Blizzards Rage The working force of the Warrenwork. When the felt is all on it is mopped agnin with hot pitch and Ehret Company is a veteran one. gianulated slag is imbedded in it. Slag There are roofers who have been in is simply a wearing surface, and really their tmploy for mote than thirty has nothing to do with the water years: others only five years less, and the average time of employment is proofing. With the Warren-Ehret Company more than ten years. This speaks well, work there is a ten-year guarantee on indeed, for the fair treatment el the all work, but in many instances the men who actually cover the building customers have been surprised to have tops. And. necessarily, fairness to emtheir roofs last for 35 years and still ployees reflects the general policy of a concern. have them in excellent condition. When storms and fires cause damage Slag roofing has practically replaced tin rooting, which has become anti- to roofs the trained men of the Warrenquated and is- generally condemned. Ehret Company get busy immediately. Various reasons are found for this I But, fortunately, slag roofs stand a modern change, chief of which is that great deal of adverse weather without of cost. The cost of the maintenance giving way. Fnlike tin roofs, they are of a tin roof for the time of the life of not liable to be torn off completely by a good slag roof would exceed by far sSQdafl gusts of wind and unexpected the cost of the slag roof and the origi- storms. In Philadelphia the Warren-Ehret nal cost of the slag roof would be far Company has fifteen cangs of roofers, less than that of tin. Today the Barrett Specification r.ml each can cover two houses a day. " < > and 186 houres can' Roofing is most generally recognized as Thus between 1 the standard and highest type of be roofed in a week bf this efficient roofing. It is of five-ply and the strong- force. And repairs can be mad with! est of any such covering. l e a d i n g equal rapidity. Experts predict that in the near architects throughout the country absolutely require its use for many of the future all buildings and dwelling finest constructions. The four-ply roof- houses will be covered with slan ing is known as the Ehret Slag Roof- roofing. They state emphatically it is ing, and it, too, is recognized as the the popular covering of the present and the probable only covering of the best of its class. WThen the late Michael Ehret. in future. Tin has seen its day and is on 1848, introduced built-up composition a rapid decline as a standard roofing. roofing it is doubtful if even he, the There is a satisfaction to Philadel pioneer, recognized its possibilities and phians in knowing that the modern future popularity. Today a large per- method is a result of the foresight, snd centage of the entire roofing done is ingenuity of one of their own citizens slag roofing, and Philadelphia can point r.early three-quarters of a century ago. to one of its early citizens as the Likewise the knowledge that his pioneer. A few years after his venture pioneer methods and thoughts still inMr. Ehret patented slag roofing and fluence the continuation of his original thus controlled the general output, a house, now known as the Warrenright he had unquestionably earned. Ehret Company, makes it natural for Today, of course, these early patents the average person to turn to this conhave run out and slag roofing in gen- cern when the rooting question is in eral is open to anybody, but the devel- their mind, whether the proposed job oped and modernized Ehret firm is still be a skyscraper such as the Widener recognized and acknowledged as the Building or a little dwelling place. In leader in the industry. both cases it is equally wise to use The Warren-Ehret Company has none hut the best in protection against been the outcome of a business that the elements.

grew greater snd greater every year, finally reaching proportions that originally would have seemed beyond the wildest dreams of tbe enthuaiastic. Mttons and millions of squsre feet of roofing sre made every year. Office baJMiagt require a large amount of ssjsfSf. but even s greater area is taken in for the covering of big mills and faetorics. A notable job of the Warren Khret Company was that of the roofing for the famous Pennsylvania Terminal in New York city. Mesas has not caused any abatement in the fine business methods of the Warren-Ehret Company. It is renowned for the attention paid to its customers, and every effort is made to keep them satisfied. As one of the officers expressed the business policy. "We aim to build a good roof, and should there be by any chance something the matter with it give it prompt attention." Great pride is taken in the policy of the Warren-Ehret Company. Employees, whether of years' experience and importance, or simply beginners. are installed with the thought behind the progressive methods. Surely this concern is one that appreciates that continued success comes only with honest consideration of customers and iBSafote integrity. Leading architects and builders havej n wonderful confidence in the Warren-1 Ehret Company. Not >nly in this city, j but in Baltimore, Washington. Pitts1 urgh, Trenton, and throughout the South, this Philadelphia corporation is called upon most frequently to put the final covering on the new structures. Throughout this territory is a permai ent record of their ability and the lasting qualities of their produets.

Plan of Second Floor Arcade Shops

35,000 Barrels of Cement Used in Construction Work

A'

Scenes From Europe's Battlefields

E were crossing a battlefield four days old. It was remarkable how it resembled the ordinary kind of field. The French had conquered quickly at this point and the dead had been buried. Except for frequent mounds of earth headed by sticks forming a cross; except for the marks of shrapnel in the roads and on the trees; except for the desertion of every living thing, this countryside was at peace. The armies had fought over a front of many miles. We traveled slowly. As we topped s rise we stopped and searched into the valley below with our glasses. A mil away in the cup of the valley we ssw a moving mass. It filled the roadway from hedge to hedge and appeared to be approaching us. We drove more slowly and stopped several times. We saw that the moving mass stretched back a considerable distanceperhsps the length of a city block. We stopped our engine and waited in the road.

Chester Traction Company

ANNOUNCES

That they will remove their executive offices to the new

t

Widener Building
Chester Traction Company

Where they will occupy larger and more commodious quarters, permitting better service to their patrons.

Lit the Portland < enient required Many people confuse cement and lerhoeker. Belmont and Plaza Hotels, for the Widener Building has concrete. For those who are doubtful New York; the stairs and platforms in beeS furnished by the Vulcanite as to the two a little explanation will | all stations of the New York Rapid Portland Cement Company. It is prove beneficial: Concrete is made of Transit Subway, and 10,000,000 fast estimated that more than |B\0Q8 bar- cement with sand and stone and water. of sidewalk in Chicago, 111. rels were used. In other words, this It becomes practically an artificial Cement sidewalks are formed by castwould total about 1000 tons of Port- form of stone. ing or tampering concrete so as when hind cement. There is confusion, too, as to the hardened to form cement stone slabs Offices of the Vulcanite Portland name "Portland" used to describe in place on the job. It makes a permaCement Company are in the Land cement. It is derived from the color nent and lasting sidewalk, and is Title Building, and their product is of the product, not from any city equally durable when nsed for driverecognized as among the best in the where it might he made. It was first ways, a floor wearing surface for market. To the building world the in England for the foundations buildings, platforms in tbe stations of Vnleanite needs no introduction. fts under water* of the Eddystone Light- transportation lines, wharf floors, celuse in building after ouilding of big house. After being mixed in water it lar floors, snd live stock feeding floors. proportions is best proof of its value. assumed the color of a stone commonly It is important that the best material A question may arise in some minds known as the Portland, and in this be used in the manufacture of Portas to the possible difference in the manner the name was secured. land cement sidewalks, and thus the manufacture of cement. It is a The Vulcanite brand is one of the Vulcanite Portland Cement Company natural inquiry, but one easily anhas been enabled to build its present swered. The care exercised in the ohiest and most uniform of cements. large and ever-increasing business. manufacture of the product is nn im- In Philadelphia it has been used conThe exceptional qualities which make portant reason one brand may exeel siderably in the erection of the large another, and the second is the fact buildings and hotels. A few of these Vulcanite Cement superior to other that the stone from one company's are the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, the Stock brands, it is claimed, are its persistent quarry may be a little better quality Fxchange Bnilding, part of the Belle- characteristics of slow setting snd than that from another concern's. The vue-Stratford Hotel, and the older sec- rapid hardening, enabling the contractiade-mark of Vulcanite is one for tion of the Land Title Building. For tor to place the concrete before it hat which reputation has been made by more than twenty years the product set, and thus permit the use of tbe road, or concrete, at an earlier date the excellence of the product and the has been on the market. manner in which the company has Many are the modern uses of cement. than would be safe with other brands. stood behind its product. In the country, as well as the city, is This is due to the composition of VulThe Vulcanite Portland Cement Com- its value being more generally reoog-1 canlte being high in lumina and lime pany began its manufacture of cement nized. Cement sidewalk paving is com- and burned harder than other cements. For years the Vulcanite Portland far bark in !94, and since that time mon, but often its erheiem-y is forgotlias been a leading factor. On the ten. Of the important sidewalks laid Cement Company advertised the fact Widener Building it was not known with Vulcanite Portland cement here that the value of a Portland cement definitely as to the amount of cement are a few-Philadelphia Rapid Tran- was in slow setting and rapid hardenthat would be needed for the founda- sit Subway stations. Broad Street Sta- ing. At the last meeting of the Intertion work. Consequently a contract tion, Bellevuc-Strntford Hotel, Union national Association for Testing Maft as made with the Vulcanite Company Station, Washington, 29.O00 barrels; terials this statement was made and simply covering all the cement that :Orand Central Station, New York; City concurred in by the representatives of As the mass came nearer It outlined j ed the middle of the road and moved Would be needed. i College, New York; tbe Astor, Knick- the various nations present, thus makitself into men. We saw that they were! ade in either direction. Those behind ing a triumph for tbe Vulcanite claims. soldiers, but we could not distinguish' M likewise, until there was n lane for th<v ar u the uniform. So we waited. We even, * f * "- But we waited. As got our papers ready to show if neces- * * f n , t . """V * **# > t h "* * Then we saw that the soldiers S o a k e d British Tommy, with a b a a * sary that[* o v p r e e.ve, winked his good eve were not of the same regiment We lf_ * fll,d touched his cap in salute their uniforms were conglomerate. We took our hats off ns the trngic crowd rr>iIIK nnme "liecker" is one that is IDftH. and consists of Mr. Isaac Becker saw the misfits of the French line regi- surrounded us. The Tommy sat down well known in Philadelphia as a and his son, Mr. Isadore (i. Becker. ments, the gay trappings of the Spahis on our running board and 1 handed him standard for high-grade men's Years and years before, however. Mr. and Chasseurs d'Afriqne, the skirt trou- a cigarette. wear. And this honor is due entirely IsaSc Becker had established himself sers of the Zouaves, Turcos and Seneto Mr. Isaac BecJkef, the head of The in the sale of men's wear. The cigarette established cordial regalese, the khaki of the English TomBecker Company, Mr. Becker's first store was at 38-40 mies ami the turbans of the Hindus. lations at once. Tommy's lean face was For more than 2.~> years Mr Isaac browned by the sun and streaked with South Fifth street. From that beginBut all these men in the varied cosBecker has been prominent in Philadeltumes of the army of the allies wore dirt. About the bandage which encir- phia business circles and has built up a ning he has progressed until today The one common mark a bandage. Arm or cled his head and crossed his right eve wonderful reputation. Becker Company has stores at 30 head or face was wrapped in white were cakes of dirt. He asked me: "Is South Fifteenth street. 0OS Chestnut this Frawnce, or is it Belgium?" At It is fitting, therefore, that a shop of cloth. For these on whom we waited street and Juniper and Filbert streets. were the wounded who could walk. my answer he squirmed around on the The Becker Company should he located Kach is equipped with a full line of running board, called to a companion They were going from the battle trench- in khaki just coming up. his arm in a in the Widener I'.iiilding Arcade. The new Becker store, with a complete as- things neeessary for men's comfort in es to the rear. sfiag, "*K says its Frawnce." The dortmont of men's furnishings, hats and wear. The Widener Building Arcade The men in the front rank glanced other shrugged his shoulder indiffershoes, will be unquestionably among the shop will make the fourth of The Beckwonderingly at the big motor that block- ently and saluted us. er Company stores. vert finest in this city. When the Mint Arcade stood where More than 2fl0 square feet of floor I asked the man fi) l l t a i the battle, but again he ,.nly shrugged his shoul space will be used by The Becker Com now is the Widener Building, The The entire arrangement of the Becker Company had a store there. der. The man on the running board pany turned his eye upward and said: "It's new atOTS will be in I novel and origi- The opening of the new store, there'e]|. that's wot it is." I replied that my nal arrangement. The general fixtures fore is in the nature of a return to question hod to do with the course of will le of mahogany, and the show old successes and glories. Ix>ng before the battle which side was winning; snd ,.flsos of the best grnde of glass snd the Widener Building bad nee red comhe. too, shrugged at that. Then he with tasty illuminstion. The shoe de- pletion The Becker Company had made arose and plodded on, and I gsve a partment will be located on s meMsnine its arrangements for the floor space. Hoor, and this arrangement will add to This was due to the foresight of Mr. cigarette to his companion Isaar Becker, who realised the opporA score of men stood about the front the beauty and style of the store. Tbe Becker Company was started In tunities and advantages in such a site. of the car, where the hauffenr was busy handing out spples and pears. My companions were busy on the opposite side with a dosen French infantrymen, telling the Istest news from Paris and giving out newspapers. I leaned over them, the box of <igsrettes still in my Before a aingle stone could be laidbefore the hand. A tall rVsafatcse standing back first rivet could be driven for the new from the group rnngbt siirht ,,f the box and called out: 'Cigarette. f >b v ' f mo tinned him to my side of the ar. He came running weakly. Ml.,wc.1 *j 50 others. I handed out until that bag and several others that I dug from my valise were exhausted I called several times that 1 had no more, but still they crowded about, stret< hing out their arms PHILADELPHIA'S FINEST BUSINESS snd crying "Cigarette, eh?" STRUCTURE One of my companions warned me that we might ourselves feel the want of tobacco that money would not buy the excavation had to go down to bed rock. il in thp country we were traversing, Down to where the rock riba of Mother Earth because it did not etit We stiil had would give an immovable foundation for this a box of eigars, and I had several loose in my poeket. great building. The black face of a Turco appeared at the car wind.cn. n e arm was in a Thousands of cubic yards of dirt, gravel, rocks, Ming snd a bandage was wound about sand, had to be dug out and carted away, not his brow. Hut ins <>,>s anoae bright 1 j only expeditiously, economically and on schedule at the thought of tobacco, and at the time, but without disturbing the traffic of this smell of it now arising on all sides. He was tobacco hungry He was more busiest of our city's streets. than that. He was tebaeco star\iug He poked his other arm into th,' . ar And because of their wide experience in handling Then 1 gave him a cigsr He hung such work for Philadelphia's greatest buildings over the car frame as I held out th. lighted tip of my oWa cigar. He puffed because they know how to do it as it must be a cloud into the interior. He looked at donethe contractors selected for this most imhi* cigar fondly and seemed t. meas portant work were ure its length. It was a good ,\gnr It it had been a misers hie cheroot hi* regard would have heen the same. He Keith's Thestre Bellevue Stratford took another puff, and drew a complete R Americso BMf. Hotel AdelphlS mouthful into his lungs His rheeks Me Kl< h Hint \rn-ll(t Hotel bulge*! and his eves glinted inward as Psnn Mutual Ring though he looked at the tip af hi Hltt < arlton strswbrlnge n>*p. 1 wondered how long he could Wsnsmaker Hldf. A ( tot bier keep thst huge nvmthfnt of smoke with Reading Termtasl Otmfcet Bros m him Again he held the cigar close Land Title fclag I . Mint j to hi* eye* and warned to measure its ***** Several others < length. Finally he poured forth the ROBERT J PEOPLES ANDREW PEOPLES i smoke from nose and month and ejacu lated the only English word he knew,

BECKER'S SHOP IN ARCADE

Washburn & Granger Dean Dumping Grates

50 Church St. N e w Yo r k

WIDENER BUILDING

Some PEOPLES Excaimtiom

PEOPLES BROS.
CONTRACTORS

25th and Callowhill Streets

Untitled Document

"Geodr

Thomas M. Tryniski 309 South 4th Street Fulton New York 13069

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