New-York tribune., 1874-12-26
THE HOTELS OF NEW-YORK.
HOW THE TRANSIENT POPULATION OF
THE METROPOLIS Is CARED FOR.

MILLION EGGS, A MILLION AND HALF QUARTS
OF MILK, CONSUMED IN YEAR IN THESE no
TEIs-NINETEEN MILLION PIECES OF BED AND
TABLE LINEN WASHED. AND SIXTY MILLION
CUBIC FEET OF GAS USED EVERY YEAR.
Few persons arc aware of the magnitude OF
the hotel BUSINESS OF New-York City. The transient
population OF New York during year far exceeds the
combined resident population Of all tho cities and vii
lagos within radius OF 10 miles from the Ci'y Hail. ana
the amount OF trade and employ caused by these
transient persons cannot with certainty 10 arrived at
TRIBUNE reporter has visited Is OF tho principal
hotelsseectng houses kept on both the American
and European plans-and has ascertained number OF
valuab statistics. which will be found In tho accom-
panyng tables 1t will be seen that although the pri
cips ones have boon selected their transactions form
only q small proportion Of the hotel business
suf;3c,cpt however, can be gathered from their
statistics to give some idea OF Its OK
tent In order to simplify the tables. the
daily average of guests has been taken from
those whoS sleep In tho hotels: ana IL Is esli'
mated that those who remain moro than one night
or as boarders are fully by those who
visit he hotel only during the day. and do not remain
over night Among these may be mentioned persons VINO
arrive by rail TO meet European steamships, or to take
some other line Of railroad. and VINO, haVng q row
hours to spare "put up" OF hotel without securing
rooms or Obtaining more than their meals Allowing
then the daily average to be estimated ana multiply
hotels only Of the 108 hotels In the city, there Is
trausient populstion OF nearly million and half OF
persons In the course OF the year. The arrival and de-
parture OF these visitors give employment not only 10
the hotel proprietors and their servants but also u
stage and hack drivers besides causing large amount
OF money to be expended n the various stores OF the
oity for no matter how short time the visitor may
remain In tho city, he would be certain, almost,
to mako some purchase bo IL ever so trining.
nj fhOaa w telc
Crtpn Instruments stationed In hotels have revealed
that these transient visitors furnish most OF tho dis
patches sent by them and sometimes over 800 per day
Is spent In some OF the larger hotels. The theater
ticket sellers, who generally attached to tho book
stands Of tho hotel also do good trade about one
fourth Of the average number OF guest, purchasing
tickets from them for either ono or the other OF the
theaters whilo still larger number to sOmo place
OF amusement and pay for their admission whom they
get there Book stalls and Newspaper stands are also
supported by these visitors. many OF whom pro!or to
while away their splre no with reading. while others
select somo work Of light character to carry away
with thom aud peruss whils travelling IL may be
eafely therefore, that every visitor leaves In
tho city upon an average uc!uag hotel BILL very little
short OF slO which would nearly ooaO per day from
tho guests OF the Is hotels quoted In the tables
1t Will bo noticed that OF the hotels arc prepared
on an emergency to accommodate more than double the
number Of their daily average while hotel quo
have rooms To accomplish this IN the event of any
great influx OF visitors, each hotel has corps OF mem
servants capable OF turning paror into bed
rOOm with every appliance, IN few minutes. or wee
TIE TRIBUNE reporter was present On one occa-
sion when q Legislative Committee, without previous
Warming desired room at LJtc In which 10 hear tes'
tmony Tho clerk reported that they conld have room
F. aud the Committee having used the room before pro-
cccded at to It, Tho room was found to have been
fitted I'D with four bcd5teads with the various appl
for O sleeping apartment. BeIoro any inquiries
could be made, number OF men arrived ana, III less
than five minutes, every vestige OF the bedroom had
disappeared and the Committee were seated mt long
table in neatly furnished parlOr Doubtless after the
Committee left which was at about dusk the pIrOr was
again transformed into bedroom.
The amount OF food consumed at tbs hotels III the course
Of tho year enormous and must certainly surprise
every who has not glyon the subject previous
thought OF the 600 pounds Of fresh meat required to
supply these Is hotels weekly about $500 pounds arc of
beef alone. bullock averages 100 pounds in weight
when slaughtered and dressed; but as the hotels only
take the best cuts from tho bullock 1t requires ut loas
the slaughter OF $50 bul0cks every week, making II
necessary kill $1,000 head OF cattle every year to feed
the guests Of only small portion OF The hotels Ia THIS
city. The aggregate consumption OF mutton, veal, pork,
&c. IS also very large II will be seen that tho yearly
consumption OF fish Is nearly G00000 pounds, while
10000 900 oysters are required during the period
Five millions Of eggs also used In these Is hotels
during the year, while over million and bali pounds
OF poultry and game consumed in the space OF
tme About 10000 barrels OF flour and nearly
10000 barrels Of potatoes are also required,
In addition to very large supply OF green
and root vegetables. taxing the capacities of OF
the neighborng market gardens Nearly 10000 pounds
Of Coffee $1,000 pounds Of tea and nearly 7OO 900 pounds
Of sugar wanted every year. Over $4,000 cans OF
milk Tor about million and half of quart) aud
y 10000 quarts Of necessary for the OF
these hotels and the product Of several dares In the
country thus consumed Over 100000 pounds Of but
ter are also used every year. and although State
furnishes largo quantity for this demaad 1t has been
found necessary several occasions to tax the re-
sources Of other States This business for the hotels Is
transacted by commission houses, the propretors OF
which are bound to that there is no failure in tho
supply Of the very best butter that the market
produce Apples and dried fruits have to be supplied In
large Quantities and hotel four boxes OF
lemons every week In cooking. Fancy fruits during the
season. for dessert form large portion Of the expend
lures OF hotel Two three OF the largest hotels
been known 1000 pounds OF grapes every week,
while one hotel proprietor told TRIBUNE reporter that
barrel of oranges per day was small demand. Nuts
rasns &C., also used to great extent for dessert
oil the year.
It may be argued by those who do not look into the
minut9 Of hotel expenses that all these things paid
By the guests OF the hotel In their board bills and
that the hotekeepers well paid for what they sup
ply. But there are many expenses that rarely
sidered by the transient visitor Cleanliness is very
necessary IN hotel, and 1t will be that over
million and quarter Of pounds Of soap annually
required in these Is hotels or this includes soft
soap for scrubbing, hard soap for the laundry and
toilet soap for the rooms &c. The washing OF table
linen, bed linen towels &c. amounts to nearly 100000
pieces every year, the Windsor Hotel alone washing
over 1000 per day. At the Grand Central Hotel the
proprietor showed TRIBUNE reporter ono purchase OF
IA m Of Lard and A
soap. Light and heat also essential at all hours Of
the day and night. and after dark hotel must always