The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-01-27

CUMMING A LARGE HOTEL.
some of the Items OF Cost and their
y Amount.

A reporter for the Globe Democrat, Of
st. Louis, had an interview short time
ago with Mr.. VIM. Kelsey, one of the
proprietor of the Planters House Of
that city, and the following is the result
of the pumping process:
Mr.. VIM. Kelsey, the senior proprietor,
was seated in his private Office, apparent
ly absorbed in the deep study of paper
covered with figures, which lay on the
desk before him. The reporter, thinking
that perhaps Mr.. Kelsey was engaged in
calculating the cost of some gigantic
hotel speculation, ventured modest in
quiry regarding the nature Of the latter's
occupation:
"Well," replied Mr.. Kelsey, looking up
with a pleasant smile, II have been
making calculation regarding our bust
ness for the past ten years, and the re-
suits are in some respects rather aston
ishing. Take seat and I'll show you
something that may interest you"
The reporter accepted the prOffered
seat, and Mr.. Kelsey continued:
"You see we are upon the heels of our
lease, and it is but proper that we should
take retrospective view of our affairs to
see what we have been doing. Besides this,
overheard a conversation in the office
to-day in which a gentleman remarked
that hotel was of very little Importance
to the business interests of city, and
that it was important only to its proprie-
tors, who made all the money. l was
considerably astonished, and thought how
little was known of the amount of money
paid out by hotel that finds its way
into the hands of all classes of people.
l, therefore, sat down and in order to
satisfy my own curiosity have figured up
the disbursements of cash made by us
during the past ten years"
"Is this private matter% queried the
reporter.
"Oh, no. The books are left in the
Office where the clerks have access to
them, and they can figure up the
amounts at any time it they feel 50 dis
posed; that is, when they are at leisure,
which, by the way, does not happen very
often now."
"Suppose you give me some of the re-
sults Of your calculations, for the benefit
of the public" suggested the reporter.
"Very WE'LL" was the reply. "Here is
the first item. During the past ten
years we have paid to Mr.. Patterson,
Secretary of the Planters House Com
pany, $250,0O for rent. am told that
the rent of the house for four years
amounts to its original cost; that is, it
pays for itself every four years Then
the next item is wages. Our payroll for
1876 employees, who are paid from $40 to
$50 per month, amounts to $354, ,47O.
This does not include the salaries OF the
Office corps. This money, it is safe to
say, is all spent in the CITY,"
"Then the hotel does benefit the public
ct large to some extent%
"Why, so it appears But here are
still more figures, Our ice bill for the
past ten years amounts to $36,666 95;
coal, s2SS12 IS. We have paid for milk
and cream $53,615 80, all bought by the
gallon. By calculating forty gallons to
the barrel / find that we have used 4, ,170
barrels of milk and 1928 barrels Of cream.
We have paid fer -four $32, ,952, and for
meat $292,971. This is for beef, veal
and mutton only, and does not include
hams, pork, sausage, breakfast bacon,
tongues or dried beef Our bill for cof-
fee amounts to $17, 1914 80, for tea g.,
175 80, and for sugar $42, ,453 40. Then
here is our gas bill, which ranges from
$3.50 in summer to $500 in winter, and
amounts in all to $37 ,846 81. have
not mentioned our disbursements for
poultry, game or vegetables, which would
puzzle the biggest turkey, the fattest
deer or the largest fish to give an idea
eggs thrown in. Nor have l footed up
: the cost Of butter, as we are almost con-
stantly changing butter men, and their
accounts are scattered, but you can see
from the few items have given you that
the Planters House during our ten
years lease has done something in the
way of circulating money in the CITY,"
"Will yourself and Mr.. Stickney take
another lease of the house at the expi-
ration Of the present. oneT
"That I can not tell at present; I have
seen thinking of retiring to my place in
Ohio and resting for time, but have not
fully made up my mind yet"
"While we are on the subject, can you
give me brief outline of the history of
the Planters"
ayes, I have the items here" and tax
ing from pigeon hole in his desk a
memorandum book, Mr.. Kelsey contin-
ued: "The building was commenced in
1888, and was first opened in the spring
of 1S4l by Mr.. Benjamin Stickney, Sr.,
who remained here until 1854, when he
sold out to Felt & Hatch. They re-
mained until May, 1865, and on the lst
of June, 1865, the house was leased to
Josiah Fogg. In June, 1867, J. II. Spar,
became partner with Fogg, and on the
1st of June, 1870, 1 purchased Mr.. Fogg's
interest; Benjamin Stickney, Jr., pur-
chased Mr.. Sparrs interest, and is with
me at present"