The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-13
GRAND norm rs HERE.
Monument TO the Munificence of Major
Ginter-The jefferson.


Standing out boldly as one Of the prima
| faciae proofs Of the enterprise and at
! tractiveness Of Richmond the jefferson
| Hotel is in a class all by itself in Vir-
| ginia; in fact in America.
For years Richmond had no hotel which
furnished the modern accommodation
which was desired, and II was 10 fill this
gap-fOr the sake Of the city to make
the impression on the mind OF the visitor
one of luxury instead Of disco mfort-that
the late Major Lewis Ginter planned the
erection of this now famous structure.
, million and a half of dollars is said
10 have been the cost of the hotel. and
one can see where every dollar of a sum
Of that size was placed. II was not ex-
pected that the hotel would pay. II
was erected for the good Of the city, by
the city's foremost resident. and II is left
to the business associates Of Major Gin
ter 10 follow I'm his footsteps. making
the hotel an attraction OF the city and
a monument as we'll TO Major Ginter as
10 the ilustrious son Of Virginia whose
name It bears.
Manager Frye is an apt agent I'm pro-
viding for the needs Of the travelling
public. and in anticipating the slightest
desire Of his guests. The charges at
The Jefferson have never been common
surate with the service. II was a por-
ton Of the projectors original idea 10
make the accommodations Of the best
hotel in the country cost the traveller no
more than poorer service. less luxury.
and quarter rations" elsewhere.
The jefferson is built IN n square be-
tween two streets-the one. Franklin
street being the most fashionable resi-
dence way, and the other, Main street,
being the principal business thorough
fare Of the city. A natural slope be-
tween the two streets gives two ground
floors"
The Main-strcet floor contains one Of
the grandest hotel rotundas ever planned.
At night myriads OF lights make the glass
roof n reflector, and the scene is as bril-
liant as a festival Half n flight up the
balconies arc filled with ladies. who
watch with interest the animated scene
below. and listen to the strains Of sweet
music waited from somewhere out into
the great auditorium.
out Of the northern end Of the grand
rotunda is a stairway Of marble wide
arched above fifty feet, and lined with
palms. the ensemble being that OF an
ascent through bowers Of tropical beauty
into fairy land beyond.
Up the stairway one goes without IA
tieue. or lodging the bower OF beauty he
takes one of the elevators and then he
finds spread out another vista OF match
less beauty on the Franklin-street
ground floor"
Ensconced within a tropical profusion
Of natures growth. under another ro-
tunda. stands white marble statue or
the immortal Jefferson, for whom the
hotel was named. on every side there
extends embowered. retiring hooks. and
lodged conveniently to the entrances are
the reception-rooms. fitted in the most
elaborate manner after the fashion Of
the period of Louis XVI. There is also
a library most unfrequently found in
hoteD. and a ladies' dinng-room on the
European plan. which leads one 10 the
great American-pian dining-room ex-
tending tie entire width OF the house, on
the Main-street side.
Sumptuous as Is the remainder Of the
house in the elegance Of its furnishings.
the dining-room is planned to even a
greater degree TO satisfy the taste OF the
modern traveller.
The guest capacity OF the house is ire
mendous-the structure was built TO fill
the wants OF the future as well as the
present. But with the liberal manage
ment which Is now being applied TO the
house. there is little probability that
large as 1t Is. II viii be found too great
for the demands upon il.