Hartford and its points of interest; illustrated from original photographs (1895) (14597847949)

Identifier: hartforditspoint00merc (find matches)
Title: Hartford and its points of interest ; illustrated from original photographs
Year: 1895 (1890s)
Authors: Mercantile Illustrating Company (New York, N.Y.)
Subjects: Industries
Publisher: New York : Mercantile Illustrating Co.
Contributing Library: University of Connecticut Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Boston Library Consortium Member Libraries



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more ability and enterprise employed in theclothing trade than in any other branch of commercial activity. Competition in this field appears to be keener than in an-other, and the merchant who makes and holds a commanding position in the clothing trade has need of talents and abilitiesof a rare order. It may not be generally known that the vast retail clothing trade of New England is largely controlled by a 30 syndicate embracing the largest ex-perience and ability in this branchof business, which is known as theBesse Syndicate. This great or-ganization controls and operatestwenty-seven stores in the leadingcities of the New England States,among which one of the largest isthe firm of A. L,. Foster & Co. ofHartford, wholesale and retail cloth-iers and hatters. This house wasorganized in 18S4, and heads thelist of establishments controlled bythe Besse Syndicate. Its large con-nections with the trade throughoutthis section give it unrivaled facili-ties and advantages in the handling
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of a superior line of clothing, hats, etc., at the very lowest prices.Messrs. A. L- Foster & Co. have the largest store of its kind in Hart-ford, it having a frontage of fifty-six feet and a depth of one hundredand fifteen feet, with a height of ceiling of twenty feet. It is said bygentlemen who have traveled extensively that this is, without excep-tion, the handsomest clothing store in America, which is equivalentto saying that it is the finest in the world. The sheets of plate-glassin their mammoth show windows are said to be the largest in thecountry, being ten feet wide by fifteen feet in height. Above thisare large and handsome panels of beveled plate-glass, presenting oneof the handsomest fronts we have ever seen. Messrs. A. L,. Foster &Co. not only have a large and elegant store at Nos. 45, 47, 49, 51,53 and 55 Asylum Street, but they do the largest clothing business in New England, and carry an immense and unusually fine stock of clothing. They employ :an average of tw