The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-06-09
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HOTELS AND H0TEI.-KgEPING IN RICHMOND
AND RLSEwHBRE-THE CENTENNIAL CROWD
RICHMOND TO BE FLOODED WITH vlsTORs-
AN APPEAL FOR STATE FAIR WHICH WILL
DO CREDIT TO THE CITY-vIRGINIA COOK
ERY-PERSONAL, &c &C.
ICorre.pondence Of the Richmord Dispaich.l
OK THE ROAD, June 9, 1891.
Meeting with 4 good many strangers Of
late have had some opportunity to ascer-
tain what j. thought Of the Yorktown Gen.
tcnnial celebration, and am convinced that
for a week or two al least there will be a
great tide Of travel through Richmond TO
and from Yorktown. Native Richmond mo-
desty even cannot pre- vent me from saying
outright that more people wish to see Rich
mond than Yorktown. Thousands Of men
from the States which composed the Con-
federacy wish again 10 visit their old
camp.grounds. the fields upon which
they fought. and TO test their recOllec-
ton Of people and things in our
city. Many who wore the blue. and who
had the misfortune to be taken captive and
10 be registered at the Libby. crave chance
10 see Richmond under more favorable cir
cumslauces. When you remember that
somewhere between forty and fitty thou
sand men crossed the threshold of the
! y
will see that that class is not insignificant.
Then there are many northern and western
folks who have made money and who have
acquired q taste for travel, and who keep
ag0ing all the time. They want TO see
Yorktown and Richmond. and 4 suitable
trips be laid ont by the railroad companies
would 90 10 the Lurav Cayerns. 10 Balcony
Falls, 10 the Natural Bridge, 10 the
Peaks OF otter. and 10 other points
of special interest in Virginia. 4 day or
two ago | met two gentlemen from Indiana
on their way straight to the Natural Bridge.
As for the Lurav Caverns. the members Of
the American Mining Engineers A>socia.
ton who visited il last week were quite
unanimous in the conclusion that while IN
mere extent the Mammoth Cave Of Ken
tucky Is superior, in beauty, IN variety OF
lncrustations. it il far inferior. The caverns
are now easily accessible by the ShenandOah-
Valley railroad, connecting with the Chesa-
peske aud Ohio at WayneSbOrO'. and it is
quite certain that Of our natural wonders
tnev Will have their share Of attention. The
Natural Bridge viii soon be. by the compile
ton OF the Richmond and Allegheny rail-
road. within eaSv reach Of Richmond and
the Virginia and West Virginia mineral
springs region. and lhither strangers VIII
also crowd.
an sorry 10 learn that our hotelkeeping
does not stand 4 No. with the travelling
public. distinguished scientist whose
name would carry great weight were ! at
liberty 10 give il declared in my presence a
few days ago-and think have heard the
same from another source-that the best
cooking ever done IN Virginia was during
the war. when the soldiers cooked their
meat on the point Of the bayOuei. His ac-
quaintsnce with Virginia cookery was, how
ever. formed in hotels. He had not had
opportunities Of observation like the charm
ing old author Of Bacon and Greens" II
is true that many men who are found on
cars and steamers talking about "Splendld
tables" elegant accommodations &C..
&c, stop at the cheapest hotels they eau
lind. 4 veteran hOtel-man tells me that
many fellows who do 81 per day tditing
do S1.j0 per day boarding." All the same
there are nOw-a.days pers )ns OF wealth and
luxurious inclinaiiOns who Will pay from
four to five dollars per day for such hotel
fare and accommodations As they wish. 1t
is 10 receive such, | suppose, lhat the new
Richmond hotel j. TO be built. and 10 Sc
cure which merchants aud mInufacturers
have subscribed so literally and some OF
the richest property. and capitalists
so poorly.
How is Richmond going 10 accommodate
the crowds who will be there during the
Centennial! If the hotel capacity was
reached when the Medical Association. with
six or seven hundred members, met, what
is 10 be done with thousands, and tens OF
thousands, perhaps, arriving daily? There
is one suggestion seemingly worthy of con-
sideratiOn. Let the local committee pro-
cure the names of each family in Richmond
willing 10 take-not 80 much Of matter Of
profit as Of public Spirit-one. two. or hall
dozen boarders. Then publish tue list IN
pamphlet form. The railroad companies
have the means 10 circulate it and VIII cheer
fully do it. Unless some such appeal to The
patriotism OF our people j. made and heed.
ed and the results systemaiiZed the crowds
coming to Richmond will 20 away from US
with something else than praise on tnelr
lips. Aad certainly we have no right TO in
yite these people 10 come unless We can give
them food and beds.
bow do hope that our Fair will be wor-
thy of the city and the State! Sucn one
a. we had last year, or the year before even,
would be a Teproach rather than Il credit 10
u. II would most assuredy never tell The
visitor that Richmond Is the considerable
manufacturing city that she Is. Who would
have guessed from the exhibits that we
manufacture tobacco; or that considera-
Bile portion of our commerce IS In the ship
ment OF the leaff Who weuld nave sup
posed that our sales Of manufactures OF all
sorts foot up about S2j.0O0,00O annually |!
IL ! understand Alright recent communica.
tons in the Dispatch, Richmond, while able
10 control the Agricultural Society, has
taken so little interest in it as
at times 10 lose representation IN
Inc Executive Committee. That was
our own fault. Let ii not be repeated.
AS il now seems rather late to work up the
Industrial Exhibition, and as there are so
many other enterprises pressing upon the
attention of the people Of Richmond, would
il not be well now TO centre our energies
upon the Fair, and urge our manufacturers,
for the city's sake, 10 prepare articles Tor
exhibition, showing the extent, variety, ana
skill OF the work OF our mechanics
CHEsTER.
During a storm of thunder and lightning
On lime 4fh the granite statue OF the Em-