The herald., 1897-09-03
1T is ALL MADE OVER
THE WESTMINSTER ON THE WAY
TO COMPLETION
Tennessee Marble, Mexican Onyx and
Staff Used in Construction.
Steam and Electricity

The work Of reconstruction is going
rapidly ahead at the Westminster, an6
the result, which promises to be com.
plete transformation from the interior
arrangement that has obtained in the
past, will be readily recognizable wher
the hotel opens, November 1st. There
will be but one entrance, and that or
Main street. 1t will measure fourteen
feet wide, will be flanked on either side
by brown stone columns SO inches square
and they in turn will support a brown
stone slab upon which the name of the
hotel will be carved.
The floor of the main office is covered
with three-quarter inch white tiles thai
are dotted at intervals with stars Of
blue There is also border Of blue tiles
and all are vitrified, absorbent and
lustreless. There is four-foot wains-
coating in the office of handsome Ten.
nessee marble. with pinkish gray
ground, broken with serpentine lines
Heavy crossbeams divide the ceiling into
large square panels, which at the inter
section Of the side walls con ntinue to the
floor in the form of pilasters, thus divid-
ing the walls into panels as we'll. The
beams and pilasters are covered with
elaborately wrought cream white staff
work.
Down the center of the office are the
same supporting iron columns which are
also covered with the staff The paneled
wall and ceiling space is of rough plas-
ter, tinted. The counter is of Mexican
onyx, supported by small onyx pillars
and all beautifully grained and polished
The working office is enclosed by ten
foot partition; five feet of hard paneled
wood, the rest of cut glass. The main
staircase has been carried back to the
elevator and leads to the second floor
with two turns. The stairs, banisters
posts and landings are all of the Ten
nessee marble, and at each of the latter
are cushioned settees.
In arrangement the ladies' reception
room is just as it was. The floor is in :
laid hard wood, and the supporting col
umns are covered as in the office, with
staff. Around all of the supporting col
umrs on the ground floor are circula.
steam radiators, and the whole house
will be heated by steam and lighted
throughout with electricity. The parlo1
on the second floor is left practically as
it was.
From the old barber shop back of the
office on the Fourth street side has beer
evolved handsome reading and writ.
ing room for men, and an entrance has
been cut through to the barber shor
that faces on Main street. A grill room
has been constructed out of the old bill
lard room, and above the doorway II
the wide corridor that leads to the din.
ing room is balcony for musicians, en-.
Ceased in art glass. In the latter room
which has been much enlarged, there i.
a hard wood inlaid floor of Shasta pine
The east windows are of art glass, a!
are the Fourth street windows in the
main office.
The upper floors have been quite met
rphosed-windows and doors Gu
through, rooms thrown together, parti
tion removed and wells built Eaci
suite has its BATH with tiled walls ant
porcelain tubs, standing on marble slabs
There is new plumbing throughout, ant
the building is to be refurnished from
ground to roof.