purposes. For setting diamonds, manufacturing jewelry, gold and silver plate, making and repairing watches, &c., &c. Over three hundred workmen are here employed in the various departments of manufacture. Among them are the most skillful designers, engravers, chasers and modelers, who are paid large salaries, and are competent to produce the most elaborate, elegant and original designs at the shortest possible notice. It is not an uncommon event for Ball, Black & Co., to receive an order in the morning for some elaborate piece of work, and to produce a model entirely original and elaborately ornate on the afternoon of the same day, to such an exactitude and perfection have they brought the various departments of their vast establishment.

People are apt to imagine when they gaze on the marble palace inhabited by Ball, Black & Co., that only the wealthy and fashionable are welcome visitors there. This is an error. Their goods are open to all purchasers, and at prices which can compete with the poorer establishments, the only difference being that Ball, Black & Co., from their large capital and resources, can afford to sell good articles at the same prices that many others charge for inferior goods. Their store is open to all, and whether visitors come to purchase or merely to examine the building, the same courtesy and attention on the part of the clerks is extended to all. This is a rule of the establishment.

Of the estimation in which the costly productions of this house are held by our jealous and partial cousins on the other side as well as at home, we have only to refer to the expressions and acknowledgments of the highest authorities throughout Europe, at such times as Messrs. B. B. & Co. have sent any of their manufactures for competition and comparison. The most costly testimonials ever presented to our prominent men have almost invariably been designed and manufactured by them, and it is but justice to add that in no department of American art industry, has the true mission of art been so faithfully adhered to, and the combination of beauty and utility been so perfectly attained as in the productions of this establishment.

Sixty years ago, the foundation of this house, whose triumphs as exponents of American genius and skill were destined to reflect a national honor, was laid by perseverance and industry alone, entirely unaided by pecuniary capital.

For nearly a generation, the three senior members of the present firm have been associated together, combining their brains, exertions, and abilities in leading and improving their branch of business. For an evidence of the success they have achieved, we have only to picture in our minds the commencement, progress, and the present status of the house, the latter rendered still stronger by the infusion of young, fresh, and ambitious blood, that ought to relieve the older members of a great portion of the cares and responsibilities which have devolved upon them so long.

Messrs. BALL, BLACK & Co., collectively as a firm, and individually as men, are representatives among the sterling merchants of America, through whose unflagging enterprise and unswerving integrity our metropolis has risen to its present greatness among the cities of the world; and thus, with honor to themselves and advantage to the class they represent, their names and lives are prominently identified with the history which it has been our pleasing duty to chronicle in preceding pages of this work.

ARNOLD, STURGES & CO.,

BENJ'N G. ARNOLD,
EDWARD STURGES,
LYMAN R. GREENE,
ADFUR EDDY,

C. T. CHRISTENSEN.

125 Front Street,

NEW YORK,

This, we believe, is the oldest grocery house in the United States, and was founded by LUMAN REED, about the commencement of the present century. Jonathan Sturges, one of the representative self-made merchants and millionaires of our city and country, was the senior member of the house until a short time since, when, without entirely retiring from commercial life, he resigned the business in favor of Mr. Arnold and the younger members. On the first of January last the new firm went in operation under the above style.

HALL, BRADLEY & CO.,

Corroders of

WHITE

LEAD.

This house has been for many years one of the leading houses of the Paint trade in this city, and seeing the necessity for a pure WhiteLead, which would compare favorably with the English pure WhiteLeads, and which must be better than any heretofore manufactured in this country, they erected some two years ago an extensive factory in Brooklyn, for the corroding and manufacture of White Lead in all its branches. Their factory is one of the largest and most complete in the country, and contains every essential improvement in machinery which their long experience dictated as imperative to the full success of their undertaking, and to meet the demand for a quality of Lead which should not only be strictly pure, but in color, covering property, and texture, be second to none in the world. This Lead is corroded from the best foreign pig, the same that is used in the manufacture of the finest grades of English WhiteLead; and to the fact that they use none but the best and purest materials, as well as every possible care in the manufacture, may be attributed the success which has attended their enterprise, placing their goods at the head of all similar manufactures in this country.

In connection with the manufacture of White-Lead, they have for many years been large importers of Oxide of Zinc from the Vieille Montagne Zinc Company, of Paris, and during the past few years acting as their agents in this country, thus contributing largely to the increased consumption of this justly celebrated article.