Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-11-13
THE NEW HARPER.
MIR. ]. f.. Montrose Throws His
House Open.
A fsotei in Which Rock Islaud Nav
Well Renew HIS Pride-l asst Even
mas Bali and Banquet.

opening of the Harper house under the
proprietorship OF Mr.. ]. Z. Montrose.
late OF Lincoln. Neb. The hon Sc has un,
dergone remarkable tran sformation
since the local public last assembled with
in its walls. Mr.. Montross, who Is a
hotel man of fifteen years experience. and
not only has thorough practical knowl-
edge of the business in every d etail, but is
also possessed of a pleasant cordial dis
position, such as has already won him
friends By the score all over the country.
and which viii continue to win him more
daily in his new relations to the travel
ing and local public. That Mr.. Montrose
Is also OF an enterprising philosophical
nature, and takes a pride in his business,
and in the city which is his no me, is fully
evinced by the money he has spent, the
pains he has taken aud the i'm.
provemepts he has made in the Harper.
In August last he became lessee of the
popular hote for ten years, and before
he took possession the Harler estate had
the house overhauled throughout. An
entirely new steam heating plant was
provided. with additional heaters in the
office. and giving every room in the house
steam heat. The offices, res ling rooms
and dining hall were refrescoed in lovely
terra Gotta, the halls handsomely repa.
pered and reprinted, and every room in
the house richly pspered. no two being
alike and all being models of beauty and
design. A gentleman who has travelled
extensively in the last six months and
has visited many of the best hotels in the
country, told Mr. Moutrose yes terday that
he had never seen hotel so nicely paper
ed tbroue bout The old bar and billiard
room has been renovated. painted and pa
pered and will be equipped in few days
with the necessary fixtures, Including
billiard tables. The passenger elevator
has been made To run to the Second ave>
nue. floor and neat ladies' en-
trance leads directly to ii. The house
has been newly squipped with electric
illumin alton. Some of the rooms have
been supplied with baths.
Then the house has been refuTnished
from cellar To roof. The old furniture
was entirely disposed of. the Harper heirs
and Mr.. Montrose put new furniture
in place of it. He commenced
in the kitchen. put in an immense
cooking range with all tie necessary
cooking utensils. and thence proceeded
throu. b the dining room which was pro-
vlded with new tables and antique oak
chairs, new men. new silver, china and
Eerockery ware. The gents reading and
reception rooms were refurnished and the
latter provided with Brussels carpet.
The ladies' psrlors were re.Carpeted and
re-furuished. one withiMoquet velvet and
the other body Brussels, lie the furni-
ture is of the most elaborate silk plush of
various shades. The, floors Of the halls
are carpeted with MOquet velvet and the
sleeping rooms either will the same or
body Brussels The bed-roo N furniture is
all of the latest and most po puiar designs
in oak and cherry. Indeed, Mr.. Mon
trose has exercised the same care and
thoughtfulness that be would be apt to
apply if he were furnishing q private res
idence for himself, and the outlay made
by him and the harper estate iu making
these Improvements aqgres stes $50. 600
The opening affair at tie Harper last
evening was an enjoyable event in tri-
city society circles. IL was mainly given
| over TO the younger folk. though many
of our older citizens were anxious to i'm
prove the first opportunity OF paying
their IT spects to the new landlord at the
| first opportunity. and we're present.
| There were sl;o quite number of guests
| from Chicago, IT latives and friends OF
Mr.. and Mrs. Montrose, the more promi.
nent among hose in attendance being:
Chicago-E O'Brien end wife, Lot
| .
Frink and wife, Will Boner and wife.
Molne-Mrs. s. Fl. Velie. Miss Grace
Velie. Chas. Velie, ]. D.. iCsdy, NJ. Y,
| Cady.
Davenport-Miss Belle Richardso n.
Miss KuhDen, Miss Van Patten, J. P.
Donshue. f. D. Allen, Viii K ser. J. L
Van Patten.
Rock Island-Mr. and Mrs. l.. 8. Nc
Cabe DR.. and Mrs. G. G. Carter. Mr. and
Mrs. .Chss Truesdale. Mr.. and Mrs. Geo.
W.iCash. Mr. and Mrs. Henry Carse,
Miss Carse. Mr. and Mrs Chas. Nc
Hugh, Mr. and Mrs. H. L. Greenough,
Mr. and Mrs. David Donaldson. Mrs. r
Champion, Mr. r. l.. Champion, Miss
Maggie Dart, Miss Culton, Messrs Geo
Peasants. c. F. Lynde. F. j. Kinney.
Stuart Harper and w. H Marshall.
The dining hall was thrown open to
the terpsichorean features, Sc hilinger'.
orchestra furnishing the music. The hal
had been beautifully decorated witt
plants, flowers and fes,oous of evergreen
and presented gorgeous scene as th'
richly costumed dancers mingled in tb,
may waltz. The banqueE prepared BY
Steward O'Connor which would hsv,
done honor TO the gods. was spread il
the rejuvenated rooms on the first foo
soon to be used for the billiard rooms
Chief Clerk Willerton as sisted in receiv
ing and providing for the comfort of tn
guests, and the affair. which was almOs
informal in Its nature, will long be hap
PLY remembered by all no attended.
is the expectation of some of the olde
citizens now to strange for banquet I
all our business men in the near future
in order that all may have better Op
portunity of becoming acquainted wit
Mr.. Montrose and his acc Dmplished wife
n