Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-09-22
MODERATE PRICES.

Ii seems 10 De aQullIleu, Ou dill SlueS, IHdI tue
mast season was not a prosperous one tor the
simmer hotels. Various reasons are assigned
far the fact-among others, that multitudes of
chose who usually frequent them went to Eu-
,one in the spring. Still, If this be true, the
not 90 to Europe in order to get more pleasure
and profit out of the same amount of money
that they would be obliged to spend here,-
nsy, whether they did not go to save money.
Indeed, we are inclined to think that the lack
of patronage at the hotels, and the enormous
deportation of our wealthy population, are
both owing to the high prices demanded at our
watering places for genteel fare and accommo
dation. Ii man can have the benefit of
sea-voyage aud delightful summer in Switzer
land, for what it would cost HIM 10 make tour
of our principal watering places, he will be very
apt to pack bis trunks for the foreign trip;
aud we must honr his good taste and Judgment
Ia the matter.
While the mammoth hotels and the high.
priced places have uourned over their slender
patronage the second-class houses have very
generally been full. At Saratoga, the small
hotels aud boarding houses Eave had guests IL
nepty.: The boarding. houses and farD- houses
10 all directions about the country have had an
abundance OF summer visitors. The truth Is,
money has been scarce, and the people have
studied economy. The expensive hotels can
ouly be supported during periods OF easy and
large money making, and the moment there
comes PINCH they feel it. They are keyed
100 high even for the average American high
life. They never make too much money 10 the
best seasons and when the bad seasons come,
tbey either make none at all, or lose. Who it is
that goes on building from year 10 year these
expensive establishments, We do not know, for
nearly every body who NEEDLES with them loses
By them. They cost immense sums, they burn
up, or they fail to pay rent aud dividends.
The permanent hotels of the great cities are
built and furnished at the cost Of millions, in
which families pay from FIVE thousand to ten
thousand dollars year for board. We may
say here that much Of the economy practiced
10 the summer is owing to the absolute lmpos-
abity OF living at reasonable price ln the
winter Whether one live at hotel or buy or
rent house, it matters not. The reason why
the great hotels are prosperous 10 the city is
because family can live cheaper 10 them than
at housekeeping. If we seek for the reason OF
this, We find that only certain localities and on
Es certain grade OF building and furniture are
considered respectable. Respectable life
geuteel life is all on an expensive scale. 4
man With an income of less than ten thousand
dollars year cannot support his family and
entertain bis friends in style that would be
considered gentoel-much less, generous,
Our whole American life is keyed too high.
liza man 20 into business, he will not be con-
tent with either moderate business or moder
ate profits Everything must be on a large
sale-busiuess living, hospitality everything.
The hotels are like the rest aud their proprletors
(af Ipf
Of them do it. There really seems to be
no respectable place for respectable fami-
of moderate means The ow-prlced
hotels are not gentcel; the low.priced
houses are either unfit to be lived in or are
10 mean localities; and thus the great need Of
the tue-respectable homes for respectable
Menot moderate imcomes-is unprovided for.
NlbeSaratoga hotels should reduce their prices
to$2Oor $500 per day, and give their guests
psn wholesome fare, minus the splendor and
The nuisc, they would not only be crowded, but
they would make money If nice three dol
lar hotel could be established in a respectable
quarter Of New York, it would be crowded
from year s end to years end, aud give re-
nuueratlve Income to all connected with it. Ii
PLAIN, comfortable houses could be built in dis
tFcts now upoccupied, for what their owners
we're willing TO take fair rent, people would
DOT be driven by thousands, as they are now,
either M into hotels or into the suburban towns.
We have now in New York only the rich and
The poor. The middle class, who cannot live
among the rich, and will not live among the
poor aud take the risk of living among the Vi
clous, as all do here who live among the poor,
soout of the city te find their homes. So the
words ITO Let stare upon US from the win
COWS of multitude of houses, which many
would take at fair rent, but which nobody 4
Gao aHurd to hire. Real estate is very high, /
snd sd considering the scarcity of money, wonder
IIaIy hru; but change will come sooner or
fter Our greatest fear is that it can only
come through great commercial disaster, 10,
'0lving the overthrow of all existing prices, and
another beginning at tie bottom Of the ladder.
-SclJaer's for October
HOMEK EEpING