The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-12-02

|
Are Vacant. but Flats and Apartments
Are All Occupied.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.-[S Special. Now
that the statesmen are coming back to
town with their wives and families and
secretaries the national capital begins to
look less like a village and more like
city. Washington is n pretty dull place
during the recesses of congress. 1t is sur
prising what difference the presence OF
the national lawmakers makes. This Is
particularly true about the hotels. In sum-
mer they are cavernous for the lack OF |
guests. Now names on the register, save |
for brides and grooms and Office seekers, |
are few and far between. Now, however, |
| the lobbics and corridors of the hotels OF |
the Capital City are scenes of animation.
The statesmen are here with their retain
ers and hangers on, and Washington be-
| gins to live again.
Summer Dizziness.
am told 10y competent authority, the
| landlord of big hotel, that there arc only
| two or three hotels in this city which pay
| expenses during the summer while con-
| grcss is not in session. These two or three
fortunate ones barely make both ends
meet while score of smaller concerns
lose money every week they are open.
know of one large house, capable of ac-
commodating 800 guests, which during
the last four months has been inhabited
by the proprietor his family, IA few scrv-
ants, Just enough to keep the house In or
der, and one or two guests. Every day ne
kept the house open under these conditions
the landlord lost several scores of dollars
but he hopes to make it all back during
the winter.
At market the other morning met the
richest hotel keeper in Washington 1t
was very early, at tho hour when mechan-
les are going to their work. Twas natural
" much surprised to see this very rich ho-
tel man, who can draw his check for $780,
COO any day, out and about buying meats
and vegetables and fish and game.
"What are you doing out at this hourS'
l asked him.
making money, was his reply.
And then he went on to explain. All
; the money made in the hotel business he
said, is made in the marketing, or, rather,
il is usually made or lost there. More ire
quently it is lost.
"For instance, =" said this landlord, my
market bills run about $500 a day That
is in the busy season. Five per cent on
that is $40 IA day. That is just about my
8 profit. have found through years of ex
z pcriencc that can do at least b per cent
better at the marketing than the best ano
n most faithful employee l ever had III
4 save only per cent, am making $40
d day, or something like $500 year. L
q send good man to market, lose this
o II l send n poor or dishonest one, ne SEM
A me on the road to the poorhouse or pahk
n ruptcy. | don't care how honest man
|
the owner. If he is at all amenable to tn
tricks of the tradesmen and permits then
to send him box of cigars or case
t. wine or some other present now and then
ID I know am paying for it. These present
s. cost the tradesmen nothing They com
il out of my pocket in the end.
r $50 YOU do your own marketing all th
ID timer
70 Eyes. And SO does every hotel keept
r who makes money. More than that, bu
TO everything that comes into my house
furniture, bedding linens, tableware, ca
nets wines and SO on. I'll wager SOM
thing prctty that l save, which is cquiv'
lent to making, at least $50, OOO year !
doing So 1t is the secret of success In u
he hotel business"
n Trade Secrets.
- This same landlord told me STORY
~ the owner of the biggest hotel III Ne
", York. The marketing bill OF that ho'
ed runs UP to about $4,000 day. VI this
ar, least 10 per cent is believed to be vast
ed through the carelessness or dishonesty
er' emnloyees. One hundred and fifty tho
"a sand dollars "a year lost because the Ian
er, lord is too busy to do his own marketln
~, Another story of New York hotel kee
or. Edward Stokes: One day MIR. stoh
Al. .sI.t Y.sff
~, was showing his friend, the Washlngu
sh hotel keeper, u half dozen barrels OF II
81 tcrrapin he had just picked up at %
"a gain. "Got them very cheap, salu N
St Stokes, "from u man who was haru up
- money. Paid only $50 dozen Tor e
and they are worth at least $40.
Hotel Life.
=, "Jll sell you all you want OF such ter
for MIN" said the Washington man, ior
for a dozen. They are nothing but sliders.
,15 Washington is noted as city OF not
for and boarding houses. Every year the nu
* Der of people who live In hotels III PREF
vi ence to keeping house appears TO increa
10 Hotel life is Just the thing for congre
,od men and their wives. 1t gives them soc
cd. advantages. 1t relieves them of the nee
30 sitv of entertaining their home friends
ok constituents when visiting the capital, q
VS., that is quito an item 1t takes away
zen 'h"0 10 ,'a,.,,o,;,c scrvnnts. mark
$50 cares Oh houseN'. ,rse -, =, a. ,s,imo
$50 ing, etc. In one ho'ci noi, -, s',,.,,
,ti- that 30 congressman and their fainl
10 live every winter. Et announcer ~
Ms moro costly. may DC found an average
lbs CIV or oiyht senators
> Oddly enough, Hats and npnr'm
houses, so long popular olscN Lcre, are
beginning to make Lcau" y III 'he
n,v tional CAPITAL 1h,rc ilc lLousuhu"
no vacant houses here and the rents have
Ter; consequence cone dGwn 80 per cent
go; the last five years. hut a!l the h"'S
nps apartmcnts are ca. ily snal iVd W
for -. l., n, ~. n, NnsiiI.iun used
s0m hotel or rcSIU, nee ~ tstS !" ~ "l''I'i
house built OH tie ti.itas q f'Il'' "'h
.,l,snil for a lni. InI on nl.ll 80 INNl INi