The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-01-19
rb a uotel-The City.

The Hotel-The City.
w. aos,re 70 impress the public nina o.
This c;tv very deeply with the importance
~ tho hotel question. The prominent fea'
tnres Of city by which the stranger form:
his opinion Of il are its hotels and public
buildings, its newspapers, its churches, and
its amusements. The hotel probably Is tue
most direct and positive in its effects noun
ing will more disgust and cnraGe a man III
alaud of refinement than n hotei whose APP
proaches are repulsive, whose rooms are
uncleanlv. and whose fare is lndtnerent.
From that hotel the guest viii gladly depart
by midnight train, without having oenelo
the city in which 1t is located. we 40 not
draw this picture from Richmond hotel,
but present it as an argument in favor OF
making hotel all it should be in locality
and management, so that the stranger. SO
far from being driven from the city Is IN
yited-or rather seduced-by the comfort
and pleasure it affords to remain and rest,
and survey the locality.
No man will invest money or buy goods
in place where he finds nothing to please
him. He fees from it in disgust. In many
towns that we could name this is so fully
appreciated that wealthy citizens literally
subscribe money to build fine hotels and
even theatres, not expecting dividends from
their investment. But where the city is
properly located these public-spirited peo'
pie are always ultimately rewarded. The
general prosperity which they so help tc
promote in time makes their investment
among the best of ventures.
Considering grand hotel, with reference
more particularly to the convenience and
benefit of the resident population, we may
call it the heart Of the city. Kings have
their palaces. Their splendid houses are
built with reference to their relief from
the noise and hustle Of life, and spacious
grounds keep off the thoroughfares ant
secure for the royal occupants that quie
and yelled retirement most favorable t.
pleasure and Gf you choose) vice. Thu
palaces Of the people are the grand hotel
of fourishing cities. If you had king, yo'
would have to pay for his palaces. Should
YOU not delight (by contrasD in paying 70
your own instead of his? The people
palaces are quite different from those
kings, They must be in the heart ant
centre of business. They must be entlrel.
accessible to the citizen and man OF busl
ness, and delightful to the stranger guest
The hotel is the temple of intercourse be
tween the stranger and the citlzen-tht
court of inquiry and intelligence between
the inside and the outside world, social
financial, and industrial. 1t is the place
also of conference for the people who dwell
in the city. What, then, is more importan
than the hotel! And is not the locality o
the principal hotel in city matter OF over
shadowing interest:
Let us make no more mistakes. The
matter should be decided wholly with re
ference to the public welfare, entirely re
CARELESS of private interests. The lattel
banked the former in the location OF thu
Exchange Hotel. Let that be a warning.
The want Of money is the constant
ground of opposition to schemes for public
good now. Economy is wise under proper
conditions but it may be carried too far
This city is in a critical state. A bright
light is about to burst upon her-a CRANE
opportunity for growth and prosperity i
about to be offered to her. 1t will not d.
for US just at such Il time to shut ourSelve
I'D in shells and say we are not ut home in
public sense, that public spirit is gone, ant
we wish to stand Us we are for generation
or two. The sunlight will be soon shut gu
from us, and the opportunity be withdraw
finally from our reach.
Do we not see that an enthused commu
nifty always finds means TO give and hand
10 work in the line of their enthusiasm
Men will give their last dollar to 4 passion
and devote even their household to resist
ance or to ambition. The children Of Babe
devoted their wealth and their united labor
to an attempt TO scale Heaven; and man
never vet failed Of some resources 10 fur
Their an object stimulated by passion OIL
pety.
Can there be no enthusiasm about the
practical enterprises which promote The
general prosperity of community, and
may not the energy of a people be com
bined and stimulated to do that which viii
promote the welfare Of all u!
Why may we then not find the means to
accomplish one Of the most important OBJ
jects city can have in view: We want {;
great hotel in the right place. 1t would BIZ
sort of heart of The city. We very muct
need, socially and in business sense, thi.
heart to stimulate the circulation and reg
ulate the public pulse. We have, So u
speak, body of symmetry and ROVER; blu
it is disabled by the want o. concentra
ton of spirit and vitality. Let us have thu
heart in the right place and prometheal
fire will soon animate it to the vigorou
performance Of its offices.
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