New-York tribune., 1883-11-04
HIGH CHARGES AT HOTELS.
WHY OWNERS REFUSE TO LOWER THEM
A WORD FROM THE WINDSOR AND BUCKINGHAM--
THE PEOPLE WILLING TO PAY.


WORD FROM THE WINDSOR AND BUCNYGnAM--
THE PEOPLE WILLING TO PAY.
The fact that though the cost of nearly every
thing used in hotels has been greatly lowered within the
last few years. the landlords nevertheless maintain the
high charges which fixed during the war, was
brought out In article printed In TILE TRIBUNE on last
Sunday The article in question contained the statements
Of number OF the leading landlords Of the city who
practically unanimous In saying that there pros
pect Of an early reduction though they had various views
as the that justified their attitude Since then
TRIBUNE reporter has obtained ether expressions Of
opinion on the subject, and they are appended.
PRESENT SERVICE REQUIRES PRESENT RATES.
The Windsor Hotel has for the last few years held tho
leading position among uptown hotels on the American
pan and divides the hoD0rs almost equally with the Fifth
Avenue as being the bestnOwn hotel In the city. Mr..
Wetherbee who is OF the prOpnetors said to TRB-
UE reporter: at is useless contemplate making any
reduction in our rates. People ask for much nova
days that when you TO consider the matter you win
find that S5 very far from being high charge for what
they receive have found that average we supply
servant and third to every guest accommodated by
us during the twelve months. have over 420
my payroll and never run below 300 even dur
ing the slack months, when we do comparatively
little business That again is another source OF appar-
emily useless expense, the large establishment
has to TO be prepared for the sudden rush OF
business at certain times For ye or six weeks tn th9
fall and for month In the spring we have not hotel
in NewYork to accommodate the npOurng visitors.
During the of the year HewYOr has too many and
100 large hotels. The smaller the house the better
think though have Of the largest houses IN tho
city No. sir find that only reduce prices
by cutting down expenses, thereby reducing the
fort and luxury Of service That do not care 10
try. We want to this house think ought 10 be
rum for find that the majority Of guests would
ola TIC rath Day n he Of
everything than pay "a day and be stinted IN any
particular"
"Has the apartmenthouse system affected you IN any
wayT
"Not apprecaby think. Our business Is largely tran
sent Those Of guests who may be called permanent
stay with us only the winter months, and chiefly
desrous OF avoiding expense enailed by keeping
establishment Of which fer six months at least they Will
make no use AS the prices of provisions and on
find the difference in the last few years trAng only
have OF course get the best Of everything and tho
best is always dear In my opinion however there Is
any alarm to tho future At present Is
true there many hotels any rate too much
hotel accommodation In NewYork hut that will hnd It's
own remedy. Every day the floating population Of the
city becomes larger and every day NewYork becomes
metropolitan. The tendency however, is very de-
cidedly for everything 10 uptown, and imagine
that the downtown hotels will be the first 10 feel the
pinch OF hard times when they do We great
many Wall Street men at this house. and naturally
extent affected by the insecurity there prevailing
But this Is all temporary affair The condition Of
the country s firm and solid ever and it will take
mighty severe panic TO to drop rates
did some years back. Then young concern,
and found II absolutely necessary TO follow the
ample by the Fifth Avenue It did harm than
good however, and do not think that shall repeat
the experiment. You may be Of one thing anyhow,
and that is If do knock off the dollar again, did
then, our guests will get for their money than
do lmn1 nd at "a tha
whole thing in a nutshell"
NO HARM TO THE BUCKINGHAM FROM APARTMENTS.
Far up Fhave, elbowed every side by the magnia-
cent houses Of monnares stands the Buckingham Hotel,
plain and substantial 10 it's exterior but rich and
gorgeous in ts interior finish and decoration Opened
about eight years ago. the Buckingham has been from tho
first small but select and successful house. Mr.. Fuller.
the only original proprietor left, said the other day: %"
read the article In Sundays TRIBUNE with mach interest
though its tendency seemed to me decidedly bearsh
one. Now am not bear myself either by tempcra-
the force Of circumstances, need hardly tell
you that though must respect and pay attention to tho
welcOnsdered opinions Of like the propeOrs Of the
Fifth Avenue the Leands yet fail TO that they are
correct in arriving at the conclusions they gave cannot
any rocks ahead myself neither any in tho
Of other hotel propctOs long they keep pace
with the tmes OF course our trade here differs In a
nom that OF most other hotels in the city. We
have about $50 rooms which, during the winter months
people take their by the year. have several
who have occupied their apartments since the
opened / have, think, only guest who Is
nected directly with Wall Street Thus you that
the aparmenthOuse has done little to innre
state OF things attribute TO the fact Of being
IN snoh an adyantageous position and haS-
Then again the fluctuations OF Wall Street do not hurt rs
directly As TO reducing rates that Il absolutely
OF the question. Our house the European plan;
pay immense ront which stands chance OF being
minshed and have to pay our help more than for
mery That the increase OF apartmenth houses viii In tho
future make any difference regard az un-
likely. The majority of winter guests have country
houses up the river or New York They close them
up for the winter months chiefly get rid OF the
venience attendant the keeping up large establish
ment They do not wish then TO burden themselves with
still another, and therefore, for month
two three months at time, and perhaps spend tho
rest Of the winter in Florida, elsewhere they may
eel inclined to-"