The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1874-05-21

The question Of a reduction Of rates
for board. at summer hotels, is now agi-
tatinP the public mind and much is
being said aud written on the subject !;
among others we notice some very sen
sibe remarks in the New York Da,ig
Graphle, whose editor seems to
thoroughly comprehend the situation
which we enibody in this article:
" Whatever may be the reason il is
generally conceded that during the
coming summer the emigration from
this country Of tourists to Eu opc will
be less than it has been during any
re eut summer One Of the results of
this inclination on the part Of our
weather. classes to stay at home will
b. an increase Of the crowds which
vii visit our watering places and We
shall therefore hear louder wall than
usual concerning the e1orbitant prices
charged by watering-place hotel.
kee, ers.
Now it is quite clear that hotel
keepers cannot be expected to pursue
their business from purely philan.
thropic motives They OF course intend
to make money, and they have a per.
feet light to do so. Their prices Tn.
doubtedly seem very high, but il does
not follow that they are exorbitant.
We must remember that they are com.
PEELED to build enormous hotels to &C.
commodate their swafms of summer
guests These buildings require a great
outlay Of capital, and during three.
fonrths Of the year are totally unpro.
dnctive The interest on the cost of
the hotels for nine months in every
year must therefore be added to the
prices charged during the season, And
this 10 many cases amounts to q very
large sun
Then, too, it should be remembered
that the hotel.keepers arc not respon.
slble tor the high rates which the
farmers and provision-dealers compel
them to pay, If they could buy meat
and vegetables al a low rate. and could
hire regiments OF servants at low
wages they could materially reduce
the prices charged their patrons. As
ii is. We cat hardly require them to
supply their guests with board and
lodging aud service at a daily loss of
money.
Aside from any other evidence it is
Sufficiently plain that If hotels could
b. prodtabiy managed at a cheaper rate
than they nov are there wosld be no
lack Of cheap hotels. II 'Jones" could
build a hotel al Long Branch, Sara
toga or Manchester and furnish his
guc.ts the same accommodation for
three dollars that '' smith bow fur
uisLcs Tor from four 20 five. he would
lose 80 time 10 reaping his share Of the
harvest Bat we DO not fad that any
one ventures to risk the experiment Of
cheap frat class hotels. On the other
haad wc constantly hear Of the failure
agi bankruptcy Of the very hotel
keepers who have been currently sup.
posed to To acquiring enormous for
twuos by their high prices. The truth
Is that 10 the hotel business. as 10 any
ether business that is not monopoly,
prices regulate themselves in aceor.
dance With the law that makes the cost
II production, modified by the supply
aud demand, the standard OF price Ii
watering place hotels could be profit.
ably managed at Low prices We SHOULD
have abundance Of thea. That We
have 20 such hotels is sufficient evil
de &c that tho prices are tot cror-
bisAut. al things considered.
Ills well known that the average
darauaa of the profitable season for