The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-09-02
AMERICAN HOTELS.
They are the Best and Most Splendid Ia
--sl the World.

From an article on Hotel Keeping, by
George lies, in the Century, We quote the
following on the construction of hotels
Hotels in America are the best and most
splendid in the world. The existence of an
immense travelling population willing to
pay the tariff of good houses, the chear
land available iii many cities, the prevalent
love OF display, and the exigencies of an ex.
treme and variable climate, have all con.
tributed to this result. Notwithstanding has
become profession apart, and several emf
nent architects do very little other profess
sional work. This branch of design de-
mands, besides special knowledge growing
out of the wants of hotel management, in.
creased care in every direction wherein the
goodplanner Of residences exercises thought.
As the height and capacity of hotel exceed
those of dwelling, SO do the penalties of
its bad design and workmanship entail more
grievous results. Hotel architecture has its
special difficulties. I'm large cities land is
very costly, so story must be speedily add
ed to story, that much room may be provid
ed, and the investment begin to pay re
turn at the earliest possible date. Hence
the risk in case the land is made land, OF
the foundation rests upon anything but
rocks, that the lofty structure may settle
unequally, with momentous arrangement
and loss. hotel contains labyrinth of
fiues, pipes, and wires, any break in which
may BIO deadly to hapless guests and SER
wants. Besides, the cracks and crannies OF
huge building settling down invite rats
and mice, pests impossible to Danish when
once in possession. Therefore, after secur-
ing good position for hotel, the princi-
pal thing is to have thoroughly solid foun-
dation. Next, the basement should be well
cemented, and all the courses of the drain,
gas, and water pipes made easily accessible
for stated and frequent examination. Mod
ern hotels of the best type have solid brick
partition walls from ground to roof, diyid-
ing room from room. The walls conduce
to safety in case of fire, and, with we'll
deafened floors, help the important cause of
quiet. Whoever would see the American
hotel, rs far as architecture goes, in its
utmost development, must cross the con-
tinent and visit the Palace at San Francisco.
That vast house is built on the continental
plan of having o large interior court Access
sible by carriages. This court is covered
with glass, decorated with plants, and en-
livened with music To provide against the
risk of earthquake, the structure is thing
of massive iron bolts and bands. Compare
tive cheapness of land has enabled the
architect to make every room spacious and
each has bath, closet, and dressing-room
attached. Every external room has bay.
window. Pneumatic tubes connect each
floor with the office, for the rapid dispatch
of letters and parcels. Yet, with oil the vast
outlay in construction no sunlight enters
It's tiining-rooms. The Palace, too, proves
10 have overpassed in Dimensions the limits
within which n sense of comfort is possible.
Many travellers prefer houses less large,
where the obliteration of the individual b
less oppressive.