The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-08-21
CIT Y N e w s

THE ST. NICHOLAS HOTEL

The splendid white marble building on Broadway,
near Spring street, attracts the attention Of every
body passing through our principal thorough
fare. IL is the st Nicholas Hotel This magnif-
cent edihcc, which was commenced in May, 1851,
Is row approaching completion, and win, when
finished. form one Of the grand ornaments Of
hrosdway. The buildings now up, are but a part OF
what will ultimately form the establishment. The
building on the corner Of Spring street and Broad
way lie TO be Joined to the hotel, and win form an
important addition, giving front OF III feet.
The corner building viii have q handsome front OF
red stone, five stories high. The edfce, as at pre-
sent constructed, presents front six stories, built
of white (wostchester) marble. The window caps,
oornice, and other pamena stone work is wrought
out carefully, and displays great deal of taste and
artistic skill. The ground occupied by the hotel
extends through from Broadway to Mercer street, q
distance Of two hundred feet. There are three
buildings at present erected, viz: the fronting
on Broadway, another fronting on Mercer street,
and third, of tho same length, running parallel
these through the centre Space sufficient for light
and ventilation is thus left between the buildings;
but, beside these. air wells ventlatng spaces are
provided running FROM the top of the building to
the main aoor, and So arranged that strong cur
rent Of air can be introduced at pleasure The
buildings on Mercer street and in the centre, arc
but five stories high.
The internal arrangements seem to be as near
perfection practical knowledge could suggest,
skiful architects project There are two entrances
on Bfo@dway-one through the wide doorway In
the centre of the building, and the other by aide
door leading to the second story. On the first acor
arc the Offices, the gentlemep's parlor, bar-room,
public wash-room. and other appendages Of the
kind which pertain to modern hotels. The second
hoor is devoted to parlors and suits Of rooms.
There are here twenty-five magnificent rooms,
which may be used separately thrown into suits,
iust as tho guests occupying them desire.
On the third floor are ten suits Of apartments.
Connected with each suit is bathroom, closet
Sc. warm and cold water being conducted to every
rosm designed for the accommodation Of guests.
There also in every room gas burners, which
are to be supplied from gasomcter connected with
the establishment, the proprietors having deter
mined to make their own gas, rather than be SUBJ
sected to the Inconvenience which attend dealing
with the chartered gas companies. The sleeping
this floor finished with alcoves for the
beds. There is, throughout the house, to be but
cue bedstead in q room, unless at the request Of
occupants themselves All the bedsteads will be
double. The fourth floor is laid out in tue same
the third and will be similarly furnished
In tho middle building there are sixteen rooms on
floor, furnished with all tho conveniences before
alluded to. In the back building, is situated the
d;ning.room. wine room, buffers rooms, &C.; the
upper part being devoted to lodging rooms, twenty
of which are on a floor. These rooms are largo and
wei appointed, quiet and altogether desirable for
persons who would prefer to be removed from tho
hustle, which will always be apparent in the central,
or business part Of large hotel.
Tho dining room is 100 feet long, by So feet in
width, it is niry, and the walls are highly finished
Ghe propTietors of the St. Nicholas, are abeut to
make innovation upon the style Of setting tables
Instead of the long rows of table boards, which
have heretofore been used, thero is to be two tables
about forty feet in length, with at the upper
end. and the rest of the room is to be devoted to
small circular tables where families small rarties
or couples, can breakfast dine by themselves;
thus giving opportunity for familiar and pleasant
conVersstiVn, without the Inconvenience which
must attend being placed at largo table surround
cd by strangers. At the lower end of the dining
room. two doors open, one leading to the wine room
and the other connecting with the buffers pantries
These psn'res are exeeilenty arranged and connect
with the buffers rooms below, by means Of six
dumb walters worked by m improved method, not
so liable TO get the apparatus deraDged the old
fashioned pulles By aid Of these conveqionces
hot dinner can be brought from below and placed
dinner is. in fact, sent to the table by steam power
IN another part of the building is a dining room
for children. in which every provision has been m ade
for the comfort and convenience OF the little f,k
There Is still another room IN the house. which can
be used for an eating room when the large dining
ball IS required for use on any public OCCASION
This room Is NJ present fifty feet long By twenty
Eve feet wide, but when the odiGcc is 6uished it
viii he enlarged to ffy feet square; this room will
be found great convenience In a largo hotel.
There il still another dining room, VOL fitted up,
meal as il should be This room is for the exclusive
use Of the officers OF the house, valuable appcn-
dage to the establishment, which viii be fully APP
prtciated by those for whose use il is intended.
The servants dining hall is large and well ycnti-
lated apartment, the oor with The kitchen
In the basement of the ST. Nicholas may be seen
al those cunning devises and ingenious arrange
men'e TO which the guests win bc, in great Inea-
sure, indebted for the comforts which they enjoy in
the house In the first place. there large coilof
iron stesm pipe, laid upon solid foundation, and
surrounded by handsome laid brick work; con-
nected with this coil of pipe Is boiler, which fur
nisbes steam by which the whole houso is to he
heated, tbeir pipes leading frem this princi-
pc! coil 10 oil parts OF the building: this apparatus
Is pronounced by mechanics, who have seen IT, to
be equal 10 thing OF the kind that has ever been
constructed. There IL on this docr baggage room,
With pcrters station near the door--a ilnor room,
wsth room, ironing room. bake rooms ice house,
ano kitchen. In tho wash room is apparatus for
washing clothes without rubbing or w-iDgiDg them;
and IL the ironing room, provision is made
of tho IosDple. ia the bakeroom, ovens Of the
latest ana mot approved construction nave beon in
tio0uced, and an extra room is provided so that in
case the regula' bakery should get out Of order,
that important branch Of work could he transferred
at once 10 the tupernumary establishment. In the
construction CT the kitchen attention has been paid
mo- oily 10 the conveneuces for cooking, bat great
care haa fccn taken 70 avoid the escape of vapors
and all sorts Of exhalations from the CUISINE likely
20 bc IL the least degree offensive tho boardors in
the house As TO tho facilities for cooking, they are
L., ke.ti ID fah a
by aid OF steam, 50 that the vessel in which the
boiling is 10 take place does not come IN contract
With the FIRE Of all neither does the steam touch
tie article TO be boiled By This mode the burning OF
fne joint or vegetable will be altogether avoided.
Roasting is TO be before open crate, SO that
m nla owl nLd oihar thinga got down the bill