Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1901-05-11
OUR OTTY-ITs GROWING IMPORT
AEOE AND NEED 0F a
MODERN HOTEL

IN 4<~@A kFA1At y~SA@ AA-@~
many changes and much progress IN and
around the city Of Annapolis. Twenty
years ago we had no Short Line railroad !:
no bridge across the Severn no com
munication with the adjacent Third dis
trict. except by ferryboai or sail The
suburb of Eastport. then Horn Point.
w. Hndeveloped Roads. approaches
to the city, were in crude and often al
most impossible condition The era OF
bicycles had not arrived. and our public
highways had not been made ready for
them. The city was not brilliantly lighted
as il now IS. The electric spark had not
then flashed over its wires for illuminat-
ing purposes. And for several days each
month, about full moon. nature was re-
CURED 10 do the city lighting. Moon
light was then thought sufficient The
telephone had not placed US within talk
ing distance Of Washington and Balt-
more. We were side-tracked and half
forgotten. or remembered only as the
Ancient City - fossil OF the past. We
talked about George Washington point
ed out with pride the place where he used
TO dance and the room that he slept IN
And. so little had the spirit of our
dreams" been changed. we could hardly
have felt surprised to see him driving
into town for another stately minuet or
another night at the ancient hosiery.
Had he been permitted such revisit. he
would probably have exclaimed The
same old place
How different to-day An up-to-date
paving of the streets; blocks OF hand
some new residences: a new Court
House the annex to the State House ;
handsome library building at St. John 5
College a Federal building and hand
some State building in process of cree
ton the approaches to the city added
to and improved new railway built -
all this and more within twenty years.
Annapolis has become an accessible
and wide.awake little city. Still home
like, but provided with all the facilities
and advantages which are required TO
make place of residence desirable.
Churches, schools, markets, and all the
accessories TO comfortable living and
pleasant and profitable social and intel
lectual life are to be found here. The
liberal outlay that the United States Gov
ernment has made and is making in
buildings and improvements at the Naval
Academy also counts for much. The re-
cent Spanish war has made the navy and
naval men more prominent. This has
given prominence to the Naval Acad-
envy. AS the navy is enlarged the de-
mand becomes greater for officers In
stead of turning off a large number of its
graduates each year, the Government has
need for them. And the numbers seek
ing admission to the Academy are multi
plying The interest thus centering in
Annapolis as the place where the officers
of our navy are equipped for their pro-
fession, is destined to make this city pc
culiarly attractive to them. They spend
here their years of study and preparation
And they cling, in after life, TO the memo
ries and associations of the place with a
fondness often expressed and always felt
How natural. then, the desire to return
here when retired from the navy. to
spend the evening of their days in pleas
ant intercourse with each other and sur
rounded by associations connected with
their former life There is every reason
to believe that Annapolis will become a
most attractive home to those veterans of
the navy as well as to their friends One
tb; satly needed is good hotel. To-
Gated near the Naval Academy. where
they can be provided with suites of apart
ments. with commodious parlors, dining
rooms and whatever else is needed to
make hotel life comfortable and agree
able
To meet this want we understand that
one of our enterpusing citizens, Mr..
George T Melvin, one of the proprletors
of the Hotel Maryland, has purchased a
large and beautifully located lot upon
Maryland Avenue. near King George
street, and, with the aid of capitalists
from New York, Baltimore and Wash
ington. intends soon to erect thereon a
hotel OF ample dimensions and with every
modern convenience. to be called the
"Hotel Admiral, This name is indica-
tive of the special object TO which it is to
be dedicated. namely, TO provide suitable
and up-to-date accommodations for naval
officers, their families and friends.
For nearly seven years past Mr.. Melvin
has been an active partner in the man
agement of the Hotel Maryland. and has
devoted his best energies to the work. and
by the intelligent efforts of himself and
partner. the Hotel Maryland. from failure
after failure of former years, has become
a well conducted hotel and decidedly a
financial success Bringing the expert