Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-06-10
HOTEL DEL MONTE.
OPENING OF THE NEW CARAvANsARY
AT MONTEREY,
Description of the Building and its Sur
roundings-Saturday Nights Ball
New Railroad Arrangements.

readers remarkably well posted toucning
the building of the Hotel del Monte (hotel
of the wood, or groye), and the construc-
ton of standard gauge railway branch
from Castroville to Monterey, and the
running of two trains day between San
Francisco and the old Capital will not
tax your valuable space by an attempted
reoapitulation. Skipping, then, all apos-
trophies to the incompatible climate, the
magnificent beach, and drives and groves
and wonders and ruins and "reminiscences
innumerable, l will proceed at once to
brief description of the new hotel, its
formal opening, and the initial hop last
evening.
| arrived here by the fast train little
before sunset last evening, and while was
prepared, from all had read in the papers,
to gaze upon structure of splendid pro-
portions, 1 was surprised and delighted be-
yond description when my vision took IN
the breezy. beautiful, cheerful Hotel del
Monte. 1t first appeared to ME to resent
BILE the Mrs. Mark Hopkins mansion, ex-
cent that the latter has at least twenty
times less acreage.
The building is situated in the centre of
pine and oak grove of JOG acres, and is
352 feet in length, by an average width OF
from Is to so feet. There are three tow
ers. the one in the centre being nearly 80
feet from the masonry. The shape of the
building is like T turned sidewise y,
the centre depth, which includes the din
ing-room and kitchen, being 232 feet. Its
general appearance is modern gothic with
Eastlake finish outside and inside. Its ex-
terror presents an architectural medley of
l,,Ioopxr and sfoon coat.
ed with paint of an ashes of rose color or
tint, with licorice- colored trimmings. 1t
is checkered with window lights, so thick
ly scattered that every room, and hall, and
corridor and crevice gets floods of sunlight
the greater portions of those days during
which clouds or fogs are not impediments.
Its exterior, indeed, is bright and breezy,
with nothing MISUNDERSTANDING about it
except its British chimneys, which stand
up like grim sentinels on mountain tops, or
| like Pinafore marines at present arms in
the presence of their superficial Admiral.
The interior work is what is known as the
subdued Eastlake, painted In china white
| throughout, except here and there where
the balustrades interpose their Eastlake
patterns and architectural innovations.
For meteorological and other reasons the
| hotel faces the east and rear upon the bay.
The visitor is delighted the moment he
steps his foot into the main entrance, or
office, which is 40x5S feet, and l6 feet in
hight. This office is very airy and cheer
| full, and presents an attractiveness alike to
ladies and gentlemen. On the right is the
clerks desk and other paraphernalia, in
Guiding telephone to stable, telegraph, and
safe for valuables The ceiling is supported
by eight columns. There are two large
mirrors in this room, splendid open fire.
place, and lots of easy chairs. grand
stairway leads up the center to all parts OF
the upper floors of the house, and two side
staircases of six steps each to the dining
! room. The Office connects with the main
hall, or promenade, which is 30S feet in
length, u feet in width, and l6 in hight.
An elegant body Brussels carpet extends
the whole length of this hall, and likewise
through the upper hall, which is of the
same dimensions. To the left of the office
| is the gentlemen's readingroom, 25x2S,
handsomely furnished and provided with
fireplace, writing tables, large center table,
chandeliers, drop and sidelights, large easy
chairs, cuspadors, scrap baskets, etc. This
room is carpeted with a body Brussels of
Eastlake pattern, with bright but not loud
colors. A stairway from the Office leads
down to barber shop, boot blacking es-
| Enlistment and gentlemen's toilet. Next
to the gentlemen's reading room, with an
entrance from the main hall, is the ladies'
billiard-room, 25x63 feet. This is beauty,
and contains two three-quarter tables of
the most improved pattern, large fireplace
and mirrors, chandeliers and side lights.
! The furniture is what is known as the
Brentwood style, and is very unique and
nobby the carpeting is hall tapestry of
| subdued colors the walls are hung with
handsome engravings, and wlthal, this
apartment is exceedingly attractive. Adj
joining is the ladies' parlor, 3Sx4S. This
is an elegant room, and has few or no
rivals in San Francisco. The carpet Is
body Brussels, and is matchless IN its taste
fulness of pattern and brilEancy OF colors.
The walls are hung with engravings, and
the windows with lace curtains. There Is
fine large mirror over the fireplace and
mantel and two full-length mirrors else
where. The furniture IN this room is
ebony, richly upholstered in silk rep. The
tables are also OF ebony, topped with varie
gated marble from Tennessee. a Stein
way patent grand completes the appoint
ments of this magnificent drawing-room.
A little ways off from across the main hall
is the ballroom, to be used exclusively for
dancing, 36x72 feet.
On this floor are Il single rooms, Is
suites of two rooms each, and two suites
of three rooms each, all handsomely fur
nished, like the sleeping apartments of the
Palace Hotel, and carpeted with different
selections OF Eastlake patterns besides
the bathrooms in the suites on this floor
there are bathrooms for gentlemen and
bathrooms and toilet walks for ladies, and
the same may be said Of all the floors.
The dining-room is a model as regards
beauty, light, freshness, proportions and
accessibility. 1t is 56X75 feet, and % feet
from floor to ceiling, and can seat 240 per-
sons at one time. The service, including
the silver, is unexceptionable. The kitchen,
which was built and appointed upon the
most improved plan, has no equal, proba-
blv, in the country. The same may be
said of the bakery, butchers room, and all
of the other accessories of the culinary de-
partment. The second floor contains IA
single rooms, n suites of two rooms and
five suites of three rooms each. The third
floor has 81 single rooms, eight suites OF
two rooms and five suites OF five rooms
each. The fourth floor has 20 single rooms,
ali OF which are furnished in elegant style.
In all there arc 2l3 apartments, which,
with other arrangements, will accommodate
300 people. There are frc-places in all but
few of the rooms In fine, the carpenter,
plasterer and plumber work are as perfect
as skill and money could make it.
THE GROUNDS.
The grounds are laid out, or are being
laid out, with drives, walks, grass, flower
plats, croquet Enclosures, etc. The house is
I supplied with water from an artesian well,
being first pumped into an immense tank
! IS feet from the ground, with capacity
for 50, 600 gallons. The gas works, near
( by, are model of substantial construction,
/ embracing the latest appliances and i'm
provements known to the industry of gas
/ lifting, and finished with elaborate taste.
/ The splendor of the light, especially in the
( dining-room, office and ladies' parlor, is re-
markable, and last evening elected general
/ praise. The material used is a mixture of
( Walsend and Hartley shale, yielding y,
/ 600 cubic feet to the ton of S6-candle gas,
that of San Francisco being 10 candles.
/ Just four months ago the first tree was
cut down where now stands this majestic
architectural pile. In three months after
( the first nail was driven, the last blow of a
/ hammer was heard. Arthur Brown, the
j hridoe huilder and architect of the railroad