Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-04-26
UNDER THE GUNS or A FORTRESS.
Another Hotel ut Old Point which Mus
he Torn Down In Cuse Of War.

Another Hotel ut Old Point Which Must
be Torn Down In Cuse Of War.
There stands here, towering above every
other object in front OF the fort on the
hilltop. says an Old Point letter to the
New York Sun. a gigantic new hotel
whose owners know that In case Of war
and a threat OF attack on the fort the
building will be torn TO the ground With
that understanding the Hygeia was put
up many years ago, but that hotei II
OF wood, while the new Chamberiin
Hotel is OF solid masonry. il Is evident
that the men who invest In hotel pro-
perty here have little fear that any for
eign power viii have the temerity TO
attack our shores.
All the land at this all-the-yesr-round
vatering-p!ace is a government Teserva-
ton, and hotels can only be put up here
with the governments permission. This
has been difficult TO obtain. and II Is safe
to say that IL will not be got again for
any other hotel than the Hygeia and
the Chamberlin. since the only available
locations are now occupied. Workmen are
now putting the finishing touches on the
Chamberlin Hotel. and 1t Is to be opened
TO the public within few weeks.
IL Is the fashion for tourists who come
here TO get permits 10 see the new hotel.
which especially attracts the southern
contingent here, as II Is more costly and
modern than any other hotel south OF the
Mason and Dixon's line. The building
covers $4,000 square feet of. ground, and
Mr.. John f. Chamberlin, the famous
Washington hotel man. for whom the
house is named. says that the frontage on
Hampton Roads is greater In length than
the facade OF the Capitol at Washington.
The fact that the house IL Of brick
and iron. has elevators and electric lights
and iron stairs. and all the latest i'm
provements and novelties OF a modern
city hotel. excites the curiosity of the
habitues Of Old Point Comfort, who can
scarcely credit the idea that a place
which has so long depended on its ma
turai attractions IL TO be enhanced by
what they call "a regular cityfed hotel"
They look with curiosity upon the great
number Of bathrooms In the building,
and are never tired Of pointing out TO
one another the four faucets over each
tub-one for hot water. one for cold. and
one each for ho' and cold sea water.
The elevators run In iron shafts. the
stairs are Of irch. and the inner walls
are of brick, from cellar to roof There
Is an ice machine I'm the hotel. not only
to make Ice, but to send chilled air to all
the numerous refrigcrators In the build
ing There is also apparatus for fitering
rain-water. and for condensng salt water
to make the drinking water for the
guests.
thousand persons can be sheltered In
the 55i rooms of the hotel, many Of which
are arranged in suites, consisting OF n
parlor, bedroom. bathroom. and clothes
closet. There Is a triple parlor lS2 feet
long and 81 feet wide, and ball
room nearly 100 feet square. There are
several private dining-rooms and a r. =
taurant, but distinct popularity OF the
hotel is that it is to have n raths6elle.,
separate from the wine and bar-room, for
those who like lager beer. There is
provision for six bowling alleys. and there
will be a large billiard-room in the house
The building Is wired for 1000 electric
lights. to be supplied by five dynamos,
which are in a separate building with
the battery of boilers and the laundry.
Mr. Chamberlin says he has received
] 200 letters, from all over the country
asking when the hotel will be open. II
will be opened in July. positively. he says.
He thinks there is business enough at
Old Point for three Of four such hotels
nine months in the year. During the re-
three months he expects TO pay
expenses The Chamberlin has cost more
than 100000 The forced sale OF the pro-
perty and its purchase by the original
owners. leave the company in very good
shape financially. OFT Of an issue Of
$4,000 of bonds. only $1,000 have been
sold. leaving a balance of more than half
Il million in hand. with money set aside
TO meet the interest on the outstanding
lnht