The evening times., 1901-04-26

estinG Facts About the Structure.
It seems quite probable that extensive
improvements will be made to the Riggs
House in the near future, The second
lease of Col. o. G. Staples. who has been
the proprietor of the hotel for the
past ten years. expires October I next,
and it is learned that Colonel Staples has
made known his intention not to renew
the lease. which il the two preceding in
stances has been Of a five-year tenure,
except upon the condition that elaborate
repairs and alterations are made to the
property Colonel Stables, it is said, de-
sires that the house shall be made the
equal Of any in the city.
The Riggs House has quite an inter
estiHg history. The G Street side Of the
hotel was built in 1879. George w. Riggs
built the house under agreement with
Mr. Coleman, once famous as a boniface.
Mr. Coleman had ccaducted the Coleman
House in New York city. and also the Eu-
taw House in Baltimore. and was well
known as a successful hotel mana ger. He
agreed to manage the proposed hotel at
a rental of $4,000 per annum. The build
ing was completed in 1850 Coleman had
arranged to furnish the house and was
prepared to take charge when he was ap-
preached by a representative of the Gov
ernment with a proposition to suitcase
the building for Government purposes
The establishment of the Internal Rev
enue Bureau was at that time under con-
sideration by the Government. and as the
Government buildings were at that time
fewer than at present, and were fully &C.
cupied, II was necessary to secure quar-
ters for the new bureau Coleman was
offered $4,000 per annum by the Govern
ment, for the hotel building, and after
consultation with Mr.. Riggs the PROPOSE
tion was accepted. The Government
agreed to lease the building for ten years,
and at the end of their occupancy, to
restore it to proper condition The Inter
nal Revenue Bureau was established in
the building in 1861, and remained there
for about five years. when it was moved
into the Treasury Department Building.
The Quartermaster Department was
then transferred to the Riggs House, and
occupied the building until the expiration
Of the lease in 1870. The building was put
in proper repair as agreed, by the Gov /
ernment-
At this time there were very inadequate
hotel accommodations in Washington
There were but four hotels of any pre-
tensions in the city. OF these the best
was the old Willard. The Metropolitan
was then known as Browns Hotel, the
National was in existence. and the fourth
hotel was known as the KirkwOod and
was located where the Raleigh is now.
The Riggs House remained idle for d
year when in 1871 Mr.. Spoffard and anoth-
er gentleman, both from Boston, agreed to
assume the lease. Mr.. Spofard had con-
ductcd the Parker House in Boston, and
more recently the Continental Hotel, in
Philadelphia. The Riggs House was rent
-sT~r~s
Of five years extension. Between Mr..
Spoffard and his partner, it is said. fric-
ton arose from the beginning. MI Spot
fard took charge Of the house cuisine and
overlooked the stewardship, while his
partner conducted the Office and business
part Of the hotel The end of the first year
showed deficit, and Mr.. Spofard's 3 part
ner expressed d desire to withdraw He
had put $1,000 into the venture which had
been expended on house furnishings, and
ne was willing 20 accept this amount for
his share in the project. Mr. Spofard
had not the means to accept the prOpo-
sition and Mr. Riggs eventually furnished
the money and bought the interest.
From this time Mr.. Spofard made con
siderable profit from the house, and it
was during his management that the size
Of the hotel was increased by the cree
ton OF an addition in the rear Of the old
house for four or five years with increas-
ing profit TO himself and prestige to the
hosteIry- at the end of this time, how
ever. Mr.. Spoffard made unfortunate con-
nections which ended in the wrecking of
his business
He and Mrs Spoffard became interested
in wOmaTs suffrage, and took in their
house such representatives Of the move
menI as Susan B. Anthony. Phoebe
Cousins, and Mrs. Stanton Mrs. Spot
faTd herself became allied with the move
ment, and her husbands s sympathies we're
also given When he abandoned the lease
MI Spoffard was in debt over SI00, 900. He
owed $4,000 for one and a half years
rental for the hotel, and for provisions,
etc, he owed in the neIghbcrhood of
s., ,e10- Mr.. Riggs foTeclOsed and seized
the furniture of the house
IN 1891 Col. O. @. Staples, the present
proprietor Of the Riggs House, arranged
with Mr.. Riggs to lease the hotel A
lease was drawn up covering a period of
Eve years, at the rental of $4,000 per an
num- NJ Staples purchased the fuTni-
tUTe left by the former tenant IN 1896
Colonel Staples renewed his lease at a
lower rental. The lower rental was
agreed to because of the hard times that
then prevailed all over the country and
reflected no depreciation in the standing
OF the hotel.
DTcu0D Cd aEroET CuDDDTcrD