The Morning herald., 1875-11-03
The Ralston Palace.

The San Francisco Alto says So much
comment and description on the colossa
Palace-hotel, of which William Sharon
and the late w. C. Ralston were projectors
has bee~ written that little remains TO bt
tsld of special interest to the residents o
this city. To strangers the tale Of this pro
digious enterprise will read like romance
but there has been no exasgerat;sn Of the
project or its execution. The opening o.
the hotel to the public last night drew a
great crowd of visitors. The whole estab-
lishnent was sPlendidly Illuminated. The
plan of this hotel is believed to COM
bine all the desirable features of the great
hotels Of the Old World, and to include
many original features, prominent among
which il the retail-store feature. These
rooms face on two streets, and also into
arcades within the hotel, giving guests the
advantage Of trading indoors. The exter-
'or architectural OBJECT is plain, there is no
display of ornamentation; ne great col
umn., domcs or steeples, which might be
associated with building covering lOO,-
40 square feet, and seven stories. in height
Bat there is the idea Of solidity and great
strength. The ornamental has been res-
ervcd for the interior finish and the fur
nislins of the hotel. In this respect the
work is uncqualed. The striking feature
Of the interior is the great open court,
reached through porte cochere. 1t is 144x
81 feet, reaches to the top Of the building,
and is cove: ed with glass. This court,
with its tiers of verandas and lofty sky
light, its tropical gardens, its walks, 'oun~
tains and statuary, is uncommsnly gay and
beautiful. The accommodations for guests
are ms.t extensive. There are 755 rooms
above the office-aoor, and S77 bathrooms.
Twelve hundred people can fnd ample
accommodations at the Pslace.hotels. Most
Of the rooms for guests are 20 feet square :;
none less than l6 feet. Space, light, air
and strength have been sought b. the arch
itect, Mr.. Gaynor, who has introduced over
$500 ventilating tubes.
The material used was stone, iron and
cement and the building is considered fire
and earthquake-proof. The principal din
ing room is 150x45 feet. Each floor has
its own servants, postal tube communicating
with the main office, &c. Five elevators,
moved by hydraulic power, in addition to
seven great stairways give access to the
1iherent floors. The furniture is all of
California wood and manufacture. There
\ special tire-escape stairway, encased in
'rick, from the garden floor TO the roof. An
immense reservoir, containing $50, 900 gal
ons Of water, is reserved for fire purposes,
md the hotel is supplied with fire engines,
Jumps, and thousands Of feet of hose dis
ribu;ed at suitable points.
TAe office, that most impo.tan. adjunct,
5 locGed on the garden floor, to the left OF
he main entrance. Ii is a room 35x65 |
.eet, ard here the guests will find that king
't hotel men, Warren Leland, at the head
Of corps Of able assistants. The servants
ire al colored, and were brough. from the
>ast especially for employment at the Pal
lce-ho:el. As to the prices a. the Palace,
t is understood that the daily rate is to be
F4.50 10 S.; Of course, guest can make i;
hundred. Twenty miles south on the S.
? R. r., is Belmont, formerly the mag
,ifeens country residence of VIM. C. Raj
ton this has been incorporated with the
oalace-ho,el and is to be reserved a. the
ummer resorts Of its guests.
Everything about this enterprise has
'eea on a scale Of the utmost magnifcence.
The proprietsrs aimed to give San Fran
isco botel building the most thoroughl-
slammed and executed in the world. This
vill probably be the worlds verdict.
Eastern people, accustomed to escape the
igors Of their winter by exodus to the
outh, may we'll turn their eyes toward
'alifsrnia with her delicious climate. San
Francisco, with her Palacr-hotel, has no
quail on the globe as resort, not for one
eason, but for the year round.
A Tall MAN.