New-York tribune., 1876-08-09
LOCAL MISCELLANY.
DEc1lNE IN HOTEL PRICES.

DECIlNE IN HOTEL PRICES.
REDUCTIONS CAUSED BY DULL IlNhS-oil>'oa' ,,,,,,
CITY LANDLORDS-IHE kE'oLoliON NJ
NEw-YoRK HOTEL -,
The tendency toward retrenohment WHICH
has been manifested in all ranks OF society io' WV u
three wears has lately produced some marked
IN the cost Of living 10 this city, already uos''i''U
T,lr TRIBUNE, and promises 10 brlhS aoo"'" w
oided fall in the charges OF hotels ana poarins
The NevYork hotels have failed 10 reap from the sum
mer travel to the Centennial as large harvest as h
mated and the prospect for the Winter season Is no a.
encouraging as in former years Persons re'uhnH io'
the various watering places and summer lesoI.s No
desrous Of getting reductions from former rates
unfayorable circumstances naturally cause the 4aoi"
40 no ornrebonsye and lead them TO secure patronage
for the pyncna season Of the year at prices Wheh 'e
sotherwise would consider unprohtabie. from 'q'iS "
the city hotels il has been learned that eNteHS>o
tons have been made from cid prices by uf9oliy VI
the secondclass houses and by few OF those rNeu III
,pe first class These reductions have not generally been
made according toany schedule but are rather the resu
of private bargains between landlords ana tenants an"
,bcv vary according to the friendly relations OF TIC
pates 10 the agreement the situation OF tho rooms occu
med and the length of time for which thcy arc eHS"T
The majority Of hOtekeeperS say that Their rates us
The pas year have so low that, WITH lne siha mum
ber of guests the returns have done little more hn gay
current expenses. They complain of excessive feh's
demanded by owners othotel property, and say th"'
these rents together with the large salaries paid 10 the
employees cat up the profits of the business.
A few of the leading hotels like the Fifth Avenue
Clarendon and windsor. which from their SITUATION VI
from the character Of their guests are maze eolp"
tvelv independent of change. still retain their Ola Ies
of s. per day. and landlords say that theJ 10 not III
fond IA lower their prices at all. Other hoteketpes
have made some reductions in their charges anu S"S
that they are constrained to take this acton by 'he s
rency of the They declare that Win 'heir Ho'
on their hands they in the condition OF W'ihS"en
ont Of employment glad get the public patronage
even al prices which they III afford In the lace OF
such assertions, Hiram Cranston proprietor OF 'he '"
York Hotel has recently put down the price oil ooard
and lodging from - 10 the ante-Dellnh maximum VI
s3 so Der day besides offering special terms 10 pefa
ncpt boardcrs and making extensive reducuohs III Tue
pricos on his wine list Mr. CranSOnis well known ana
veteran for period Of Is years previous
10 1867 conducted the New-York Hotel on a OASIS OF
s. 80 per day made fortdne out of the business ana
brought the house rank among the hrst III the couh-
fry After Mr. Cranstons retirement the hotel Eept ITS
l"scd tbr3nSb the unwillngness of Wrisley & Co 10
paw the high rent demanded ny the owners OF thc
nr4peitv The proposition Of Mr.. CTansOn 10 Keep tue
$40 Il 10 its former standard OF excellence on reduced
scale OF prices has caused no little comment among Ie
other landlords the city, VINO cast some DOUBTS on ms
ability to conduct rstcass house at sngh ierins, Du.
general reduction in hotel prices must enSue :,
Ia answer inquiries by TRIBUNE reporter dr'
Cranston explained his method of proceeding aud the
prices without destroying the profits OF the business he
FIRST took up his wine list, and showed by comparison
with tne prices OF leading wine merchants that the
profits OF wines at most hotels have been enormous ana
that he had been able to lower the rates charged Tor
wines TO accommodate his guests, without loss 10 Nun
self The list shows decline in champagne yer q9aI5t
bottle ~ and @3 70 - and 81 she1ies - anu ."
to ~ ~ and IL, and other classes or wine III poPo
ton CrausOu stated that many hotels IN Ie ciiS
were burdencd by most cXOrbtaut rents, some oil thru
as much as 100000 ami 100000 per year.
The refusal OF WIisley q Co. to pay the
high rent demanded FOR the New-HOrk Hotel
he said. had enabled him 10 start business
without being obliged 70 carry undue burden o! rent
He also explained that by combining IL himself the
offices of manager and steward he was able 10 lessen the
expenses of the hOuse materially III defending against
the ext0rons OF grOccIs and marketmon. Another iIc
saving lie added, consisted III engaging, IN place ol
oyred aud overpaid hotel clerks, VINO were lnsule 10
strangers in unasiOnile attire, intelligent aud active
men who were willing TO do careful Work for moderate
salaries He had found his employees WI in- 10 tcnd TO
flC wants of the huubcs traveller, and al the time
able to meet the wishes OF tie most fas'idous lie
asserted that the times demanded the utmost economy ~
living and that with the present cost OF PROVISIONS ana
labor there why thc prices OF hoieI accom-
modatious should not be much lower than tey ad DeeA
during the past few years.
The sturtcvaut House announces extensive ledre tio,
as follows: hundred rooms reduced u - Per DAY
100 rooms reduced 50 5O paIlOrs ana Sc ond Hoois
81. board the European l!&n II per ua
inward.