The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1868-08-01
The C1ifsoa Hotel.

city is henceforth to be known. The last nail
was driven, the last lock screwed on, the last
touch Of the paint brush given some two
weeks ago, since which time the lessee,
Mr.. LEWIS HOWARD, late of the Howard
House, Freeport. has been busy with force
ofupholsteres, in putting down the carpets, haul
ing in and furnishing up the furniture, and fit
ting the house from tsp TO bottom for occupancy.
Mr.. Howard now expects to have the house
ready for the reception Of guests by one week
from next Monday. Dropping in on Thursday,
Mr.. Howard with great kindness showed
through the building; 50 that we have tolera-
BILE conception of what it will be like.
AS to the general appearance and finish of the
building, few words will suffice. The beauty
and finish of the exterior is patent to all, and ex-
cites the admiration of every beholder. The
contractors and builders were Messrs. Colwell,
Clark & Stebbins, and the exterior finish will
stand as an enduring monument to their taste
and skill. There is no building in Chicago, not
even Palmer's marble palace on State street, that
can show finer workmanship. We only need
say that the interior shows In every minute par
ticular the same high grade of skill and work.
manship. You see no imperfect joint, no piece
or patchwork, no sweled, or creaking, or rattling
doors or window sash-all moves silent, smooth,
perfect To enter into details were impossible,
but the remark of every visitor is irrepressible-
"what fine work."
Mr.. Howard is furnishing the building in
keeping with the high order of its finish. On
the first and second floors, except where, as in
the Office and halls of the first floor, the flooring
material is polished marble tiles, every hall and
room is covered either with velvet or the finest
tapestry and Brussels carpet. The furniture of
the ladies parlor and sitting room on the first
floor, in particular, is something gorgeous-ex-
ceiling the furnishing of like rooms in the Ire.
mont or Sherman House at Chicago. Then there
are also three gentlemen's parlors on the first
floor, scarcely less gorgeously furnished; and
the reading room, w.sh polished oak and walnut
fooring, and the spacious dining room, also
polished oak flooring are furnished in like keep
ing with their beautiful structure and finish.
Ascending to the second foor we enter room
after room, and while we are struck at once by
their cheerful, pleasant sze-(none of your little
9by l2's that disgrace many pretentious hotels,
but large, airy, inviting,) we look with wonder
on the richness of the furniture. Beautiful
tapestry or Brussels carpet on the floor, shining
marble mantel and iron CRATE, beautiful marble
top bureau and wash stand, a solid black walnut
or rosewood bedstead with spring mattress below
and hair mattress over it luxurious sofa, soft,
easy cushioned chairs, marble top centre tables,
| pier glass, &c. Describe the furniture of one
room, and you describe all, for on the second
| floor all are about alike. The furnishing of the
third floor may be little palmer. The carpet
may not be quite as fine Brussels, and the rest
of the furniture trife less costly-still few pri
vate parlors in Ottawa boast better article
The fourth floor may again be trihe palmer
Here, except in the halls, you may find ingram
carpet and chairs no longer covered with velvet
or plush. But the washstand and bureau are
not without their marble top, and OH the whole
your room looks handsome, spacious, comfortable
and cheery. You will also realize that by get
ting up in the world you have gained in tht
splendor of your outlook. The view from those
upper rooms, particularly from the south ant
east sides, is something to fill an artist will
rapture. The view takes in landscape unsur
passed for beauty, and is only bounded by the
limited powers Of vision.
Descending frs@ these lofty resiehs once more
to tt4%d t''t.a, we take hasty lcsk at the base
tneht story, and then off, We enter the culina
fy department, the laundry, dry house, &C., al
fitted out with tho ''latest modern improve
ments," but it would take columns to describe
We enter fine large hall and here we find fou
of Brunswick's or some other equally good) bill
lard tables, with all the furniture and paraphe,
MALTA belonging to such an establishment; an
then we enter splendidly furnished and equiv
ped barber shop, with bath rooms attached, an
here our friend George Freishemer already q
work; and back of that are two huge stess
; boilers and an engine house, from which W
were told hot water and hot steam would
carried all over the building, not only to heat i
, but to supply kitchen and rooms with wat,
and heat.
Verify, we said, everything is complete; an
while we could think Of nothing that could
: wanting about the building, We were forcb
impressed by the bearing and what we saw
'' Mr.. HOWARD, as well as of his excellent lad
whom we met everywhere, that they were pc
pie ''who know how to keep tavern"
:, ROSE MAruER, Mrs. Holines' new novel,
/. OsMAN g. HApEMAN's, No IL La Sale St, we