USEFUL AMTS.
THE PANTECHNICON.—This establishment, consistingof two immense buildings, situate at the north-west corner of Belgrave Square, is a vast
warehouse and depot for all kinds of valuable and bulky property,—such as carriages, furniture, musical instruments, pictures, wines, &c. for sale or preservation. The buildings are fire-proof: being entirely of brick, stone, and iron ; the floors are covered with. iron-plates, laid down over prepared felt to deaden the sound ; the steps are of stone ; the girders, beams, pillars, and ballustrades, of iron. The carriage and furniture warehouses are five hundred feet in length by sixty-two feet wide ; and consist of three floors, besides the basement. The carriages, &c. are raised up by a windlasss, on a platform within the building, through an opening communicating with each floor. We never saw so many vehicles together, except at Epsom Races. Each carriage for sale is ticketed with the price, from which no abatement is made. The different lots of furniture and other property are in separate compartments enclosed with iron lattice. This appears to be one of the most novel and useful objects of the building, and will afford families travelling a secure depo- sitory for their furniture, instead of their being compelled to sell it at a sacrifice, as almost the only alternative of its being injured and destroyed. The building is dry, and well ventilated ; and the greatest attention is paid to cleanliness, every carriage being washed before it is placed in the warehouse. A commodious auction-room forms part of the arrangements.
The wine-cellars are in the basement of another building opposite, not quite completed ; which includes a double arcade of shops, and a pic- ture-gallery for the sale of works of art. The former are very light and elegant, but the latter is not in a sufficient state of forwardness for us to. judge of its fitness. The wine-cellars are extensive and convenient, and will hold fifteen thousand pipes of wine. The vaults are brick, and cool, with an even temperature. There are a number of stone bins, having iron gates, for wines in bottle ; the owner of the wine fitting his own padlock on that appropriated to him. The charges appear very moderate ; and every facility is offered by the proprietor for packing, re- moving, &c. The buildings are also remarkable for their architecture, and are ornamental to this grand neighbourhood, which is rapidly rip. proaching to completeness.
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