Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-03
THE HOTEL RALEIG H
Opening of This Notable New Building
Today.
A Large Number of Visitors Admire
the Handsome Decorations and
the Fine Appointments.

Today the new hotel building at
the northeast correr of Pennsylvania
avenue and 18th street, which has been
named the Raleigh, was open for the In
spection of the public and for business.
The former awaited itself of the opportunity
to get behind the doors which had been
closed for SO many months while the build
ing operations were going on, and groups
were found throughout the building look
ing at the admirable results of the liberal
expenditure of money and the exercise OF
good TASTE which were plainly visible on
all sides.
the proceedings, and there were names OF
guests placed on the registers. and the
tabls were occupied In the cafe ana dlninS
room. The interior fitting and furnishing
is on a scale never before attempted In
this city, and the house, from the top to
the bottom of its seven stories, Is mod
ern hotel, provided not only with all the
comforts a.,d facilities of such building,
but also with the luxury and SumptuouS-
ness which the travelling public seem to
expect.
The lower floor has two entrances from
Pennsylvania avenue and two from l2tn
street. One of the avenue entrances leads
into the room where there Is cigar and
news stand. back of which is the buffet and
the other into the cafe. One of the en-
frances on 18th street leads into the once,
Is a separate entrance for the ladies' cafe,
which is q large room at the extreme
northern end OF the building. The entire
floor is fitted up in the same general style
The walls are wafnscoted with an I'M
ported marble of greenish tint, KNOWN as
the antique verd.
Handsome Decorations.
The color Of the painted walls above
blend with that of the marble and gradu-
ally shade into the color of the frieze and
ceiling The latter is decorated with
pleasing and ornate raised design in paint.
and in the cafe ard ladies' restaurant
large oil paintings on canvas are fastened
to the wall and form a part of the mural
decorations On this floor the openings
of the arches are filled In with wrought
iron grills Of appropriate and elaborate
pattern. Over the one leading into the
buffet delicate tracery of grape vine
spreads over the entire grill.
The bar is a rich combination OF marble,
mahogany and wrought iron, the latter ap-
pearipg in band representing grape vines
the length Of the bar.
The pillars and pilasters Of the frame
Of the mirrors back of the bar are MADE
of imported French marble Of the prevail
irg hue supporting framework OF iron.
the panels being filled in with thin slabs OF
white marble, rejecting the glow of the
electric lights, which are behind
on the second floor are found the hotel
dining room, four private dining rooms,
writing rom, the public parlors ana sew
e1al chambers. The upper floors are de-
voted to sleeping rooms; with the proper
accompaniment of bath rooms. The rooms
are arranged so as to be used single or
en- suite, and are supplied with fine furni-
ture in various kinds OF hard WOODS.
Some Notable Features.
Owing to the generous frontage on two
streets, as we'll as the open spaces on the
sides, the rooms are all we'll lighted, and
Sc thnr fSfo hv ha
lofty ceilings. In some Of the rooms fine
pictures adorn the walls, making, In this
respect, notable departure in the fashion
of furnishing hotels.
There is another feature which will be
appreciated by guests, and that is the pro-
vision which is made in the halls CT each
floor for the reception of visitors when 1t
Is not desired that they shall come directly
to the rooms. On the lower floor there Is
an electric plant which supplies the build
ing with light, end there is also machine
for making ice and for cold storage facfli-
ties. The kitchen is on the ground moor,
and the machinery and other apparatus are
in the basement, as are also the toilet room
and the barber shop.
AS the building is not a new one, al
though it has been completely remodeied
and renovated, it is not necessary to in
form the residents OF this city that 1t Is
fire-proof structure.
That was the character Of the old build
ing, and it has been made complete in the
new. The floors are brick arches resting on
iron Soists, and the partitions are brick
from top to bottom. The floors are covered
with concrete, upon which the carpets are
laid. and in the halls the flooring is of mar
BILE thing, while on the ground floor mosaic
work Is used. With the exception Of the
trimmings of the windows and the door
ways, which are of mahogany and quar-
tered oak, there Is no woodwork throughout
the entire building.
The hotel is under the management of
Mr. B. w. Frazier. a hotel man of expert
ence. who represents the company which
made this handsome Improvement, and
which is composed of Washington men.
The new building Is therefore the product
not orIy of Washington capital, but an
evidence of Washington enterprise and
ability. A large force constitute the hotel
staff, who, under the direction Of Mr..
Frazier, will attend to the wants Of the
public.
The Bradbury again to the front. The
elegant San Domingo mahogany piano
shown in the ladies' reception room. sec
ond floor of new Raleigh Hotel, Is Brad
hurry upright grand,