The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-08-24
THE GRAND CENTRAL HOTEL.
Opening Of tho New Palatial Structure on Broad
way, Between Amity and Blsecker Streets
In Construction, Magnitude, Architec-
ture, Accommodations and Ornaments
tion-The Exchange, Dining Halls,
Luxurious Parlors, Suits, Halls,
Elevators and supplies-A
New Era In Hotels.

Central which opens to-day In this city. An I'M
mense structure carefully planned IN ITS archltec
ture, stability and means OF interior crculauon
the design has been to render 1t complete in all its
details ana appointments, and the goodly sum OF
81, 10000 has been expended In bringing the grand
enterprise TO its full frultion. The Grand Central 49,
therefore, pre-eminently modern hotel, and by a
modern hotel is not meant a building simply FOR the
accommodation OF transient guests. where the idea
Is to provide for ostentation without comfort ease
or pleasant surroundings. No people In the world
are In such a state Of constant migration as the
Americans, and hence we may not appropriately
be termed "a nation or travellers To accommo
date this tendency the pubic demand hotels, and
those hotels must be the hotels of to-day. In leav-
Ing comfortable domicil for distant point the
first inquiry always il
WHERE SHALL STOP ~
and the answer frequently determines the Journey.
A city ls always known by its hoteis-ror hotels
while they are cosmopolitan. reflect the wealth,
liberaty and enterprise OF the corporation. When
one returns from his pilgrimage to some grand and
celebrated centre the recollecuons OF his STAY be
they pleasant or unpleasant come from his daily
surroundings ana those SURROUNDINGS are at his
hotel In this view 1t is an important public benefit
to have grand hotel structure erected on this
Island, very near the centre OF population and that
the Grand Central. ID presents an architectural
feature; 1t aorns Broadway; 1t invites travellers
the city; 1t has nearly as large an influence upon
trade as trade mas upon hotels; 1t is more public
resort; 1t Is monument OF our prosperity, an en-
blem OF our progress and q lifting invitation TO
greater enterprise. hotel Is not merely private
property; 1t belongs 10 the public, and is open 10
Criticism, and, II u success, Is public boon.
II was in consonance with these ideas that the
Grand Central has beea built furnished and opened
fhn trpn ..f frtn nsn
where there VIII be the largest accommodations,
where room is not economical, where light a d
ventilation thorough and where the table bears
everything for which fancy call the genius OF
the Grand Central; and In order to understand how
these important objects have been realized let us
look at the enterprise ia detail.
HISTORY OF THE SITE.
Upon the site Of the Grand Central, on The west
side OF Broadway, between Amty and Blocker
streets, was formerly situated the Lafarge House,
a very respectable house, which suffered total de-
sr1cton by ire IN 1854. 1t was soon rebuilt as
ho.el, with the Winter Garden theatre adjoining,
and in this condition remained until March 49, 1867
meantime being known for while as the South
ern, when The Garden was entirely consumed,
and the hotel injured to such an extent
mat business Immediately suspended.
After intestine quarreis, VIRUS Of eject
nlent, DEGREES and divers other troubles
the lease reverted to the owners-the heirs OF John
Laiarge-and under an order the property was de-
creed be sold. IL was bought under the hammer by
Mr.. 4. >. Higgins, OF TINS CITY, gentleman or large
wealth, who Immediately undertook the erection of
H. Lyman Powers the gentlemaniy lessee and propri.
etor. And then the work began with tearing down
and not building up The debris OF the Old Southern
Hotel had to be removed; new ground Mercer
street was acquired and from the extraordinary
value OF ground IN the vicinity some Of tue pur.
endeavors were made 10 buy the lot corner OF
Broadway aud Amity street, but the owner preferred
yfO mn M IN nattr
| OF small fortune.
| THE LOTS.
| The ground passing 10 the title OF Mr.. Higgins Is
undoubtedly one Of the choicest situations In this
city. II not now the exact centre Of the wholesale
or Beecker, Houston, Amity and Fourth streets VIII
be hating places for the onward march Of merchan-
disc T ya Is par d Mne OF dry goods straw
and the more popular classes OF business. the
astonishing rapidlty with which advances Of this
nature have aireaay been made have received fire.
quent notice In these columns; and though perhaps
not actually requiring permanent anchorage, this
large hotel, accommodating 1000 guests, is mag
GENERALIZATION OF TRADE
More can be sald-property is lncreased In value,
retail stores for fancy goods gather around con.
stantly changing and wealthy population, and
the busy hum OF industry Is apparent on
Central is superb. 1t covers lots Nos oil,
$50, e7l 673, e75 and 677 on Broadway, and
comprising Nos. 2O4, 2Os 2Os 30. 2l2 ga and 2Is
were never included in the Southern Hotel. Eleven
OF these lots cost the princely sum OF $7750oo aud
two more were purchased at 100000 showing that
for 600 one can become possessor OF 800 feet OF
metropolitan soil.
II Is now over TWO years since gang Of 800
wOrkmen have day by day been advancing with the
building, under the close supervision OF Mr. Powers
who has been determined to proceed with the con.
structlon only as the plan would develop according
to any modified ideas that might be OF greater SER
vice TO the future guests This work has not been
done blindy or IN haste but by peccmeal, and with
care and discretion. The foundations sinking to
hal at1
being 175 feet long on Broadway by 200 feet, through
to Mercer. From these foundations u superstructure
to the top Of the Flagstaff distant from the base 1877
feet. The hotel Is surmounted by heavy Mansard
roof, supported at its base by a heavy metallic
NICE bold, elegant, and yet chaste. Above 1t are
the d0rmer windows, the stating, the crownlng cor
nces Of the pavions, which latter are three in
number. These pavilions themselves small
hotels, the central one facing Broadway, having
three stories, and the TO the southwark and the
other to the northward each having two stories
Between the sidewalk and the nagstaffs Qhree in
number) Is, Of course, the grand front elevation OF
white marble. 1t Is now clean, pure and spotless
front cannot be situated on public square or that
the block IN front OF it cannot be removed, for no
SUCH large superficial area, handsomely emDel-
lshed. The front on Mercer street Is built OF Pha-
delphia brick, with white marble TRAININGS: The
100000 Of the former and hundreds or tons
OF the latter have been used IN the
structiOn, which embraces ten stories OF average
height or twelve feet. Over 49, 900 square feet are
The superficial Of ioor and the total floor
surface dimensions or the interior amount to $50 900
square feet. This but the structure looks To
the outside 0bseryer-a credit and an ornament To
the city.
THE INTERIOR.
The outside Is made for observation the inside for
accommodation, as with any structure. In the
Grand Central all Is richness within, as all Is chaste
without. Entering by the large doors and passing
into the tesseated passage You stand In the capa-
ciOus vestibule and under ceiling sixteen feet In
height. Then dawns the exquisite interiOr-not
cloud" decoration or vulgar over spreading OF
mererricions daubs, but tout ensemble quiet, soft
and blending.
The business ONCE, with marble counters grand
system OF bells, Safes letter boxes. walnut pigeon.
holes. stands almost IN line with the main entrance.
Further on, and IN large open apartment, Is ihe
hotel exchange. 100 feet 10y 1875 feet tiled In marble,
| with ornamental iron columns supporting rich
capitals. The wood work is black walnut; the stone
ftttings all polished and grained marble: the chan.
| deliers bronze, and the symmetry is per-