Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-07-02
HOTEL LAFAYETTE.

MInnetonks.
From time to time the GLOBE has made
brief mention of the fact that the railroad
king of the Northwest, Mr.. James J. Hill,
was engaged in the erection OF a mammoth
hotel On the shores Of Lake Minnetonka to be
called the Hotel Lafayette. AS it will be fully
completed within very few days and thrown
open TO the public, a representative of
the GLOBE was detailed to visit
the spot, and give its thousands of readers the
result Of what he could see and learn.
This large and elegant hotel is sit
mated on the north shore Of Lake
Minnetonka on the peninsula of an
island between that lake and Crystal Bay, just
thirty miles by rail from st. Paul, occupies the
most commanding emnence about this beau
tiful sheet of water ard its imposing proper
tons can be seen from almost every point on
the lake, and it presents grand appearance
from the decks of the steamers that pass to
and fro every half hour in the day.
Work upon the foundation was
commenced on the 10th of March,
last, and in another week it will entire
IL finished, furnished, and ready TO accommo-
date its guests by the thousands. In order that
the readers Of the GLOBE may have come idea
OF its magnitude, they need only read the fol-
lowing description, which so far as the fig
ures are concerned is official and taken from
architects plans and books
The building is 800 feet in length by sixty
feet wide, and is four full stories and a part of
fifth in heighth, or in figures is 10S feet
high from the ground to the top Of the roof.
II is built in the Queen Ann style of archi-
lecture and its many towers, gables
ETC., gives it an attractive look. Surrounding
the whole building is a yersnda seventeen feet
wide, giving a delightful promenade of about
one-lfth of a mile in length. Around the up
per stories are numerous balconies, recesses,
projecting gables, bay windows, etc, etc. Ex
tending through the entire length of the
building on each floor is hall, sixteen feet
wide, on either side of which are large, well
ventilated rooms, all connecting en- suite, so
that two, ten or twenty of them can all be
thrown together if desired, presenting vista
view delightful TO behold.
The building faces the southwest and, as
stated above, is situated upon a peninsula, SO
that both its front or rear is but few hun
dred feet from the waters of the lake. The
advantage of this is duly appreciated by the
clerks and highly pleasing to the guests, for
the clerk can give and the guests obtain a
front room. There are none but front rooms
in the whole hotel, and the scenery from each
is equally charming.
THE FIRST FLOOR.
This floor is reached by an easy flight of
steps, and, commencing at the west end of the
building, we cross the veranda and enter the
dining-room. The ceiling of this floor is IS
feet high. The dining-room is los by 30 feet,
and next TO it parlor 30 by u feet This is
reached from the veranda or Though hall
from the Office. The office is situated in the
center of the building and is Sc by IS feet. In
the center of the office is an opening "a by 16
VI o. q floors RI
the roof, each floor being surrounded by neat
railing. The grand stairway, twelve feet
wide, leads up by easy flights from the office
TO the upper floor. There are two other
flights of stairs, one at each end of the build
ing, six feet wide, also reaching to the upper
floor. Bath rooms and water closets are
situated at each end of the building on all
the floors and main water closet next to the
office, and in addition to the stairways there
IS hydraulic passenger and baggage elevator
extending Through all the floors.
Passing through the office eastward are
three large private dining rooms with ladies'
sitting rooms adjoining.
THE UPPER FLOORS.
The other four floors are all taken up with
rooms en- suite as stated above. The ceiling of
the second floor is fourteen feet high and the
others twelve feet. There are 235 rooms all
furnished with Brussels and other rich carpets
in new patterns, and with mahogany, walnut
ana hungarian ash furniture.
KITCHEN LAUNDRY, ETC.
Extending north from the west side is an
ell two stories high, with a basement 75x4O
feet, used as the kitchen, laundry and store
room. In the kitchen is a. thirty foot range,
and in the rear of it are two rooms, each
24z4S, one used as dining. room for the en-
ployes, and the other as a scullery. In the
upper story, over the kitchen are six large
dormitories for sleeping rooms for the help.
The basement is used for store room aud
the steam laundry. Two brick ovens, 10xl5
feet each, are also located in this ell.
The entire building Is lighted with electric
light, and electric wires run 10 every room. The
hotel is supplied with water from Crystal Bay
by two fifty horse power engines. The drain
age is in large cess pool in sandy, gravely
bank over 700 feet from the building, and is
perfect. The building throughout is finished
with native woods, oiled ami vanished. There
Is not q particle of paint about the building
except on the roof, which is dark red or
brownsh color. The floors are all of southern
pine.
In mentioning the furniture and other APP
pointments OF the parlors, it is proper to state
that in them will be found three of S1hmer 81
20. grand rosewood pianos, viz: A ~ oc-
tave parlor grand, Overstrung scale; IL &C.
tave concert grand and a ~ octave cabinet
grand, overstrung scale, all three of which
were purchased through Mrs. NJ. G. Thayer,
the well known music dealer, No. Ais Wa
bashaw street,St. Paul. The facg that three of
these pianos are accorded place in this splen-
did hotel would seem to indicate that they are
among the best pianos made, if not the best
The grounds around the building have not
been oramented much as yet, but the plans
contemplate leveling, grading shrubery, ETC.
A drive of sixty feet wide around the shores of
the lake will be One of the featm es, and inside
of that lots will be laid out and sold for the
erection of cottages. A large amount of
grading has already been done and is still in
progress. depot building is in process of
viii soon be completed.
Just as soon as the hotel is completed work
will be commenced upon building 60x15O
feet near the steamboat landing and the
depot for a billiard hall, bowling
alley and refreshment saloon. This building
also will be finished in the best of style and
supplied with all the creature comforts OF a
watering place life. A substantial dock $50
feet long has been built out into the lake,
where after to-day all the steamers plying
upon the lake will land during the season.
Perhaps better idea of the magnitude of
this immense hotel may be gather.
ed from a statement of a few facts. In
its erection over 1900, 900 feet of lumber was
used; 1904 600 shingles were required to roof il.
and two car loads of nails were used'
Between four and five hundred men have
been employed on the work since March last.
The carpeting will cover three acres: there
are seven miles of electric bell wires and five
ia cf,orrc