Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-11
NOT ENOUGH HOTELS.

Members OF Mayor Gourley's Committee
Afraid the City Can't Accommodate AL
the Republicans-A Convention Hal
Here That Can't Be Beaten.
An effort was made yesterday to get the
views of the men on the committee ap'
pointed by Mayor Gourley to push the
claims of Pittsburg as desirable place to
hold the Republican National Convention.
The majority couldn't be found, some de-
cliped to talk and several expressed them
selves as doubtful about the city's ability
to accommodate the people. This is the
only stumbling block, as all admit that
larger crowd can be put into the Exposition
building than in the Chicago Auditorium.
There would be no trouble about the hall,
but the lack of hotel facilities is the
problem.
Captain McKinnie, of the Anderson, who
is member of the committee, turned the
reporter over to Chief Clerk w. H. Crosby.
Mr.. Crosby has figured down to nicely the
capacity of the Monongahela House, ST.
Charles, st. James, Central, Duquesne,
Seventh Avenue, Schlosser and Anderson
hotels. AS the whole problem turns on the
hotel accommodations for visitors and dele
gates his figures will be interesting. The
above houses empty can provide rooms for
200 people. The average arrivals at all
per day, including regular boarders, Is
1,o75. Allowing 500 more people for the
minor hotels and boarding houses. the city
can comfortably take care of 600 strangers
in its public houses. The number of
delegates to the convention is
S95, and counting the alternates
who mually come, the list would reach
l,195, just about what the hotels could pro-
vide for. The crowd outside would be es-
Il timated at 10000, and these people would
line up on the Sixth street bridge at night,
and roast the city, so Mr.. Crosby says. He
thinks there is no real intention on the part
OF those back of the movement to have the
Republican Convention held here, but the
aim Is to advertise Pittsburg in the United
States. b.
A Chicago drummer who was listening to
the conversation said the Windy City was
badly crowded when the convention was
held there the last time. 1t was impossible
to get room or a cot at any of the hotels.
William Witherow, of the Duquesne, an
other member of the committee, was 10th to
give his views. He is candidate for ma
tional delegate, and for this reason had
that Pittsburg had a hall which
couldn't be duplicated for its size in the
country. The Exposition building could
easily be fitted up, and would hold at least
from 10, 900 to Il, 900 people. Mr.. Witherow
was in doubt about the hotel accommoda-
tions. The crowd that gathers at such con-
ventions is very large, and it would tax the
city to its utmost capacity to furnish them
lodging. If the convention was over in
any day, no objection could be urged.
One of the members of the committee,
who has had personal acquaintance with
many national conventions, said: "Of
course, as a Pittsburger, should like to see
the National Republican Convention held
here, but only if we had the proper accom-
modations for the crowds who would be
sure to attend, probably 10000 people at
the very least. A national convention IN
Pittsburg would bring together greater
mob of sigh.seers and political hangers-on,
in addition to the delegates and their alter
mates than any previous convention. This
on account of Pittsburg's central
position. People would come from the
East and South Atlantic coast, to whom the
long railroad journey to Chicago was an
obstacle, and just as many Westerners
would come as ever, because the Western
man doesn't care about few hundred miles
more or less when he boards the cars. IF
anybody will tell me how Pittsburg is
going to entertain these thousands of wis.,
itors when existing accommodations are
overtaxed by the comparatively insignif-
can't incursion of those who come to see our
local exposition, will take an active part
in the attempt to bring the convention here.
As matter of fact don't think the dele
gates and alternates alone could be housed
and fed in Pittsburg."