Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1874-09-22
wanted. A First Class Hotel.


fIom Saratogs this season, the subject of hotels
was considered, with a view TO showing, a. Illus
.rst6d by the experience of Saratoga, how i'm
pOTtant al agency first class hotels, well man
aged, are in the growth and prosperity Of q
city. Quoting from this article ia fHE STAR,
FO<ney's Sunday CArOHicls lately took up the sub
ject ss follows:
Approaching the want of bett II hotel accom-
mcdau0ns in this city. and a. being very essen
tial TO the other attractions that have grown up
here since The war, and those that are yet TO
be finished and in further contemplation, the
writer says:
Now we Iced TO complement this by two or
three Saratoga style hotels, and am conf lent
hat the capitalists who mud IL worth their while
toput their money in hotel property at Saratoga,
where there a short season OF three months
sDly, wou.d get better returns by build
ing hotels at Washington that would do a rush
Ing business for a season of from six to nine
months, and paying business through the
summer months. What say YOU, Mr.. A. L.
Stewart Cannot YOU put some of your surplus
income into = Washington - Grand Union
Hotel" and help to make our city the great
winter resort of the country? OR MIR. COrcOr an,
much as he has done for Washing tOn in works
of taste and philanthropy, doubt II he could
accomplish more for the permanent prosperity
Of the city be loves 80 well, in any other way
than by the erection OF a frst-clsss hotel
building
Either of the two gentlemen named could
easily carry out such project, and realize from
to a. profitable q return as from any investment
they could make. For Mr.. COrcOran to do il il
would add 20 much the more to the local pride
II would excite among our people and induce
them TO contribute their share more willingly
and literally toward its success. That a hotel
after the style Of the finest in the world, with
apartments in advance of the latest Improved
modern comforts. would succeed in this city
there Is not the slightest doubt, and that il
would be worth hundred-fO!d to its attrac-
tons the experiments elsewhere, with not a
fractional part Of the advantages we can offer,
amply demonstrate. In most OF the summer re-
sorts OF the north the principal and only attrac-
tons are the hotels, and they alone must I'LL
the measure OF inducements, but not 80 here in
Washington during our busy season. Beside the
national character of the plan, its being the at
tractive point Of every foreign and native tour
list, the center where yearly the affairs OF this
great nation are devised and legslated upon,
we have climatic and other natural attractions
surpassed or equaled by few locations in tho
country, and there are few persons of extensive
travel whom we have heard speak Of Washing
ton who would not extend the comparison to All
parts CT the world.
Our reputation is known and fixed: all we lack
II the n htsort OF inducements to keep strangers
am0rg Us when they do come; the same as
when they go to Saratoga, the seaside, and the
mountains. We must make the sliUrements OF
nature and climate enjoyable and comfortable.
This can only be done By hotel attractions at
rates within the means OF all classes Of respect
ability.
There is nothing that will convinc. the publie
80 soon il the advertised attractions OF a place
az the assurance that il has some OF the best
hotels In the world. Men and women naturally
conclude that people who provide amply ami
nagniucently for their guests have faith in
their Own comforts and deserve to be pairOniZed
ana once this Impression gets abroad the results
that follow are easily maintained. This subject
OF grand hotel for Washington has been talked
about ever since the war, but unfortunately
never Win the Ii2ht spirit Let our o Rn capi.
talists take the initiative. AMI then Outsiders
who have the proper conception OF what We
ought 70 have, will come forward aud give Ia a
M. There are plenty OF sites Ia the city for a
hotel CT the proportions we speak OF, near the
neighborhOOd Of some one or two Of the pubIic
RrouIds; so that An this point there would be
Without having any special preference, we
sui think that on Pennsylvania avenue. near
the PRESIDENTS grounds, would be By far the
pest location Tor a hotel equal to the wants AMI
attractions the future. SIR. Moves properly
suggests Mr. COrcOran as the srOper mah 70
head an enterprise such - this and We are
much mis-sk en- in him il he does not respond
providing the matter is property brought t. his
auent.On, ard he gets tue assurance OF aid from
OUTSIDERS who understand the business. and
VINO would be willing TO risk their money IN the
project Who will open the balI?"
We are glad TO hear that a number of our IN
huential citizens have had the matter OF the
erection OF a hotel OF the character above
stated. under consideration, and that, apprs-
eating the great importance to the city of such
a feature, and believing az the same time il
will be remUnerstive inEes'meut, they are
ready to unite in carrying 1t through if
proper site can be obtained for the structure.
itis held as dssideratlm for the site that il
should be on or near Pennsylvania avenue,
west OF Fourteenth street, and in the vicinity
OF the White House, and that 1t should cover A
whole square, With room for a spacious tree
shaded court, and rOOmy halls, p4rIOrs, corri-
uOis' plazzas, &c-, afOrding opportunity for
Promenad ng, dancing, social intercourse and
all the features that make hotel life a. Saratoga
30 essen;Ialiy bright, cheerful aud exhile-ating.
There should be suites of rooms specially da-
signed by their comforts, c0nveniences and
elegaDeies 10 invite family parties of wealth and
culture to make Washington their winter home;
and all the rooms should be planned to be at
usetive through having a cheerful outlook,
such as could be afforded through having the
hotel placed on pleasant streets, aud with a spa
cicus court with laws and trees. AuOpera house
might well be made feature Of this grand no.
tel, aiOrding an opportunity for the guests ian
audience in themselyes) to attend in any we ather
without exposure OF health or damage to dress.
AS the ground in the neighbOEhoyd desi gnated
Is already occupied by buildings of c0nsidera-
BILE value and with different owners, some of
whom II willing - sell at all, wOald probably
set fancy price upon their property, the work
OF securing An adequate site for a hotel of the
character named is not a small part of the task
Doubtless tue very best Ound for the purpose
Is Dir. COrcoran's own square, and a,
mas been suggested above, he could
DO no greater service 70 the city than
by himself carrying out the project Of the erec-
ton OF a hotel that will aid in making Wash
ipgton the winter Saratoga Of the country. This
hotel would by 10 means iDjure the value OF his
present adjacent Arlington Hotel bit wouId
doubtless add TO its present prosperity, lust as
the prosperity OF all the hotels at Saratoga seem
to be enhanced by the erection Of new ones by
which the general attractions % the place as a
pleasure resort are increased. Eut if MIR. Cor
eoran does not care 10 undertake the task, we
hope IL will be taken up by some one, ard
speedily. As our contemporary say, who
will open the ball?''
The New York Graphic denies positively the
f'insinivs7On'' OF tie Tribune that Ben Butler IL