Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1875-10-21
The Fifth Avenue Hotel.


rFOW iHt N Z. hume oouThaf Vct 10.
Those who remember Madison Square as far
back as 1858, and 1t seems an age now, will re-
collect the Madison Inn," quaint, old-fasli-
ioned wooden building of the time Of George
Washington, kept by Corporal Thompson. 1t
WAS " in the country" then, and few o!d-fasll-
ioned stage coaches ratified daily by. Since 1859
Il beautiful marble palace, in the Italian style of
Architecture, las occupied this spot, and to-day
tue Fifth Avenue Hotel stands i'll the centre of
one Of the finest cities in tho world, fronting a
beautiful park, which is filed with shaded walks,
has fountains, flowers, etc., and is surrounded
by noble buildings. Like a great white marble
giant, this stately building lifts its head ever the
surrounding structures, and il ono of the land
marks of the city, like tho Cathedral, tho Tenn.
pie or Mr.. Stewards private palace.
1t il believed that no hotel yet erected sur
passes tho Fifth Avenue Hotel in beauty and
size. The structure is now so prominently
known throughout Chrstendom that foreigners
scarcely think their visit to the States complete
until thoy lave lived at the Fifth Ayenue Hotel.
10 name the notable people who have besn
guests OF this house il 10 write the names of the
mon OF the timea for tho last sixteen years, from
the Prince OF WRles and George pcabody, 60
President Grant Great social events have oc-
Cured there-we have seen receptions held
by Presidents and public men Of the country,
and have heard the shouts Of the throng when
Charlotte Cushmau appeared on the balcony.
DliuBs ils CildIpos, anu tNuu Luo TuJil
Avenue Hotel was susceptible OF Improvement
To this end the proprietors have recently had the
msin marble staircase rebuilt, the immense
trailic over it having worn the foot-rests
beautiful new balcony, fitted up with mahogany
and black walnut, opening out upon the stair
case many of tile halls aud parlors have been
re-decoracd and newly freacoed, and much new
furniture has been added to the house.
But the most marked improvement. is the
Substitution Of Il new flour rope Tufts eleva-
k-f Ill,
OF tho spiral screw elevator which was the first
passenger elevator ever put into practical ope
ration. The screw was too slow for the number
Of guests who make this hotel their home and
although it has been running night and day for
sixteen years, it has had to give way to an elo-
vator which makes the trip from the basement
to the roof in forty five seconds.
The interior OF the new elevator is magni-
Gently fitted up, lined with mirrors, and lighted
with gas, 1t is provided with electric bells that
is operated by a new balance rotary engine, the
first Of it's kind ever built. A second engine can
be used, il required. What is known as Mas.
seys retsrder Is attached to this elevator, sin,-
ply rs precautionary measure for safety. II
even all the iron chains and cables were to break,
which is almost an impossibilty. the elevator. by
this new appliance, could only descend at the
usual rate Of speed.
In the laundry department Of the hotel, for
the use OF tho servants, a tire-proof iron stair
cdse uhs Decu cIcSteu, GHClUntu Ill UIiCh Whlib,
Anotherla addition is iron elevator for trans
porting the linen. Altogether, the improve
meuts have cost somewhere near sixty thousand
dollars, and tho Fifth Avenue Hotel is now q
model Of convenience and luxury.
To give an idea Of the class Of guests who pa
tronize this hotel, we quote these distinguished
names from among the arrivals Of one day, last
Thursday Sir George Ferguson Bowen, Gov.
ernor of Victoria, Australia Major II. ID. Pitt,
private secretary TO Governor Bowen Count
Washington; Prince Frederick of Wittgensten,
of Germany, and Baron de Bosmetel, all Of whom
were passengers by the Russia. These were
among names registered at the Fifth Avenue
last Monday, the eleventh instant :-Commodore
Alexander Murray, of the United States Navy;
General o. NJ. Poe and Colonel George Gibson,
Of the United States Army; Congressman W. II.
Barnum. OF Connecticut; p. Figyemesy, United
States Consul at Demerara; Judge George Il.
Shopley. of Maine; and Judge Israel S. Spencer,
pT Nv