Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-30
an ARTISTIC MODERN STRUCTURE
Dealers Hopeful Over the Outlook
for Business.
A FAVORABLE EATUR E

ton to the Raleigh hotel, adjoining the
structure at the corner of Pennsylvania
avenue and 18th street, which was remod-
eled few years ago, becomes important
to the city and especially to the business Of
hotel building at the capital This addition
is in itself large and magnificent hotel,
provided with every safeguard and comfort
known to hostelries anywhere, and beauti-
fed by architect and artist, so that from
the first to the eleventh floor there is only
a pleasing succession of beauties of ar
rangement and ornamentation while the
furnishings are of the richest character
and IN keeping with the elegance of the
building.
Builders and artists were today engaged
In putting the finishing touches their
work, so that the proprletors of the hotel
might carry out their promise to open the
addition to their patrons October l.
In viewing this splendid addition to the
notable private structures of the city the
people here will feel natural pride in the
fact that it is the result OF the enterprise
OF men born and reared here.
When Work Was Begun.
The addition to the Raleigh was begun a
year and half ago. The hotel put up
five years previously had $50 rooms, ex-
Guiding public rooms, ana they were found
to be inadequate to accemnodate the pa
irons who came to 1t. This constant pres
sure for more space resulted IN the Column
bia Hotel Company purchasing adjoining
ground on 18th street and arranging for
the construction of an addition So by 100
feet on the ground floor and eleven stories
high. The house was designed by Harden
berg of New York, who was the architect
Of the Waidorf-Astoria and many other
notable structures, and waoBe connection
with hotel building has been SO extensive
as to cause him to be distinguished as
specialist In hotel archaectufe. The su-
perintendence of the building was placed
Mr BERNARD Green who
spicuously connected with the construc-
ton Of the Congressional Library building.
The addition contains 100 r0oms.. exclu-
sive of public apartments, SO that It exact
ly equals the capacity Of the orig nal hotel.
The first floor of the new building is de-
voted to a lobby and office end DINING
ROOM both of which are extremely beaut1-
full. The large lobby is fitted In Sienna
marble, has Mosaic floors, aed the extensive
wall spaces are covered with splendid his
Rn the ams wan the Is ,ne
sian artist, entitled Returning From the
Fair. Spirited steeds. lashed to a furious
The figures are life size. and make one of
the most characteristic scenes of the land
Of snow. The picture is 12x30 feet in size,
and was exhibited in the. Paris salon in
Gallery of Art in this city. subsequently it
was taken to New York, where it was pur-
chased by the Columbia Hotel Company.
1t represents Sir Walter Raleigh watching
one of his expeditions departing for Ameri-
ca. CanvaSes on the east wall, above the
elevator entrances, and on the west wall
represent scenes Of old English life, the
former marine and the latter a pastoral
scene. The electric fixtures are particular
ly handsome as are the fittings of the
office. -
A commodous safe deposit vault is at the
side of the office. The teleseme, an cleo
trical arrangement allowing guest to in
dictate almost any imaginable want, is To-
Gated in an Office by ftself There is also
special provision for local and long-dis-
To the north Of the lobby is the dining
room, G0x60 feet. where the ornamental ton
is extremely elaborate. It Will be furnished
in red.
Special Feature.
special feature Of the sleeping apart
| ments Of the hotel is the fact that through
out the house is finished and furnished
with equal elegance. The rooms are SO
| arranged that suites can be had with en-
tire privacy from the other portions of the
floors on which they are located.
The ladies' parlors on the second floor
are furnished exquisitely in the style of
Louis XVI. Only brass bedsteads and ma
hogany furniture, all of large sizes, are
used throughout the hotel. All the cleo
trio light fixtures are of brass. On the sec
ond floor are the four private dining rooms,
which can be thrown into one large room
S0X20 feet
The hotel is absolutely fireproof. The
staircase is of iron and white marble.
There are three passenger elevators, and
letter chute is provided. A unique feature
| Is a burglar-proof vault for especially val
liable trunks.
On the eleventh floor Is the banquet
room. 4Ox 50 feet in size. and with capacity
to seat over 400 people at table. 1t is
magnificent room with vaulted ceiling
round the room. The ornamentation is in
soft colors and gold. This room is entered
through reception room 30x2O feet in
size. which is provided with ample cloak
cial kitchen for this banquet hall is on the
same floor.
While the floors above ground contain so
much that's beautiful the basement is one
or the most interesting parts of the new
building, and contains number of feat
ures which are unique in this city. The
entire 18th street sidewalk In front of the
addition is vaulted and here Is located con-
| siderable machinery Machines with ca
pacity for four tons Of ice d day, and for
| refr1gerating the cold storage boxes are
| mere Elevator and electric light machinery
provide ample power. There is sufficient
| current for from four to five thousand cleo
| trio lights. besides fans and necessary
| power. An artesian wen, constantly throw
| Ing stream three inches In diameter, pro-
vides cold water for regulating tempera-
| ture In connection with the fee plant.
me location of the Hotel Raleigh is an
historical spot AS early as 1872 it was the
| -, - .Ao oiu ouHtdiH, Inn, winch was
| well known In the early annals Of the city,
1t was demolished and the Kirkwood House
was erected. Here Andrew johnson took
| the oath of office after Lincoln's assassina-
| ton Governor Shepherd demolished the
| HARDWOOD House and several other houses
on 18th street, and put up what was known
| as the Centennial building in 1876 That
building in turn was occupied by the pen
sion office. and later by the Palais Royal.
! The Columbia Hotel Company five wears
ago bought this property from the Jessup
estate. and after extensive remodeling
opened the Hotel Raleigh there, which re-
ceiVed liberal patronage from the start
Hopeful Over Outlook.
Real estate dealers are feeling extremely
hopeful over the present outlook. though
they realize that the advancing prices of
all building material will tend to delay a
good many small deals. People who have
been hesitating to conclude real estate