New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-05-22
BOTEL-KEEpING IN NEWBORN.


To ne Editor II Ire ~ D. fr'ohhe
SIR: lately published IN article to show that the
American system Of bookkeeping needed reiorma-
ton In reply it is charged thu, my motives in
Auenced by Jecuniary considerations connected with
,be future use Of lie Irving House Now, in the OBJ
sence Of these two prominent features of the review
should not appear before the public to argue these
questions, for have more interest in them than
sny Other individual. But must disabuse the public
mind of the impressions just alluded to.
T,rs1. My former communication was not prompted
by any personal pccunery interest present nor pros
pective in bookkeeping in this City or elsewhere.
was solely influenced in what said by public consd
erations and desire that the best system that could
be devised by American and European experience and
ingenuity combined should be practically adopted in
this country. The occasion for the expression Of my
views was, however, personal to myseE II will 20 ap-
pear by reference TO my former communication. and it
was generally notorious and believed that had been
designated and had consented TO open splendid hotel
in The City of Paris on the American plan. Nv silence
not only indorscd thesc rumors true but implicitly
In public opinion committed my judgment TO an up
proval Of the plan. Neither yas true ! had not
been designated, neither had ! consented; and my
Judgment did not approve OF the system OF hoe,keep
ing as conducted in this country, fully conducted
in Europe. | was thus placed IN false position and
by my communication simply sought to relieve myself
from IT.
S,condlv feel that it il unjust that it should be
thought that any property interest had been asssiled
by me 60 as to require vindicsiion from any one
cept simply upon the questions themselves And these
questions involve merely opinions: mine, right or
wrong are the result of my experience at home and
observation abroad. The zeal manifested by my
aant would indicate that he considers the American
system Of hotel keeping faultless. formerly enter
tanned that opinion He labOrs to convince his real
en- that prees for hotel accommodations desrer in
\ in York attn
He makes out meagro days board for single man
upon the solitary plan 10 amount to 80 % per day
while in NewYork the charge in our uxuriant hotels
is only SO So This is not quito true for some of our
principal hotels have gone up TO 3 per day.
DO Hotels, as conducted in this country, re-
ceve adequate compensation for their profuse expend
iture1 Every person who has any experience, think
knows that they do not. Nor rst-class Hotels
ceive adequate returns for their vast outlays without
an advance upon present prices. AT least this would
appear 10 be the case from the Illustration given bymy
critic in the FIVE sumptuous meals furnished here in
"our hotels with every luxury the country aord
ain season and out Of season, room and all included,
"for the small sum of 50 50 per day What arc the
five sumpuous meals -" They are-Breakfest,
Lunch Dinner Tea and Supper. What would How
ard de Howard consider a reasonably profitable com.
pensation for those " five sumptuous meals, with all
hthe luxures in and out Of season I" think the
public should be informed, so that they may know
what would be the price charged for the room % Ac-
cording to the carte now before me- of one Of the long
established and popular eating-houses of this city,
luxuriant Breakfast, without being considered extra
sumptuous would comprise the articles at the prices
below, viz:
Breofd,t-Broied salmon &c spring chicken 5oc lamb
chops Ssc omet with iTuies oc stewed 9ysteTs 25 milk
Lunch per Carte-Oyster soup &c picked oysters
&c lobster salad DC ham, bread and butter and pickles DC
Dinner per CayteTurtle soup, SHE salmon, eye
roast chicken ufFes, 75c.; partridge with mushrooms
81 IS asparagus, potatoes and spinach omeei souf
7ea-Tes, bread cake, srswberrie. and cream 81
Srrpo-Boped turkey size alamode beef, 0;e chicken
ssia ''' ''''' 0'''''' '''' cup ''"''' '-' i'
We thus have without great extravaganza of lux
ures in and out OF season grand total OF sll Il
for these five sumptuous meals and it will be per-
ceived that the price Of the room can be found no
" where" | know that the meals here stocd are
somewhat extravagant but not moro 80 than can be
frequently found upon the public tables OF leading
hotels. Frequently the consumption and waste by a
single person at the table of of first class
hotels exceeds the variety quantity and consequent
y the sum- above.stated. 1t Is evident enough from
this that the sum of So 50 per day is indeed very
small compensation for five sumptuous meals" 10
say nothing of the room This at least shows great
pTouson OF expenditure and must be confessed that
there il a fault in the sysem ms ! have contended.
The carte above il got up the European plan-per
sons having an interest would do well to examine the
restaurant carte they would see that meal could be
obtained for from one shilling aud sixpence to many
doars
And what have Just said in respect to loss in the
supply Of meals also in substance applicable to the
use of rooms Ii is therefore evident that the hotel
keepers are the only loosers for certainly their guests
could not in any other way obtain much for Little
money Ofthe inequality of price, one person paying
for what he does not want to use and another not
paying for what he has, will not again speak. The
inequality is apparent that il must be obvious to
ALL would have this corrected, which in my opinion
could be easily accomplished satisfactorily to guests
and remunerative 10 hosts. ! may be permitted here
TO remark that have nowhere contended that ladies'
drawing or other necessary public rooms should
be dispensed with; but on the contrary, while IN
Europe / recommended the addition of such rooms to
their system and in several instances changes were
made accordingly.
In conclusion, hope to the European plan fully
and literally Amcricanized, which hope soon to see.
accomplished by an eminent host of this city, who
am delighted TO hear is about to sail for Europe. On
his return we shall have trust the uiis of his large
experience and careful observation; and anticipate
that his conclusions will Justify the substance of mnc
ID. d. HOWARD.