Evening star., 1901-12-14
A VERY LIVELY SEASON
LARGE INFLUX OF VISITORS En-
PECTED THIS WINTER.
The Early Rush at the Hotels and the
Further Bookings Seem to
Indicate This.

This winter promises to be the best from
the standpoint of business in all lines that
Washington has experienced In many
years" saidsthe chief clerk of one of the
capitaTs sky-scraping caravansaries to
Star man this morning, as he summoned
the head porter, chief bellboy, assistant
steward, master electrician, recelpted for
a special delivery letter, signed for a tele-
gram, handed out paper and envelopes and
| three different room keys, said 'FRONT.'
four times and mo, sir; he is not in"
seven, and polished his diamond and talked
with The Star representative without inter-
| ruption at the same time.
The country is at present enjoying un-
precedented prosperity. the people have
| money, and when they have money they
want to travel, and the first though. which
occurs to most of them is a trip to Wash
ington.' The mills in New England are
working overtime, and many of them day
and night. OF the money they earn for
their owners tens of thousands of dollars
each winter finds its way to this city, for
one of the principal of the great arteries
of travel that stop at Washington flows
through the New England states. While
this same happy condition prevails through
ont the United States, and we draw heavi
upon the tourist travel from the west, it is
from the middle and New England states
that we get the bulk of our visitors.
$50 far as hotel and other accommoda-
tions are concerned Washington was never
in better position to welcome the stranger
within it's hospitable gates, and give him
comfort and pleasure, than this year. We
have new, large. up-to-date hotels, several
of which are the finest south of New York.
All of the older hotels have been lavish this
summer in improvements. Several have
spent from $4,000 to $4,000 in interior
ions nd nd Of
have expended liberal sums corresponding
to their size. One or two big hotel propo-
Sitions are in a fair way of realization, and
though their facilities are not avail
able, they indicate the trend of the times
and the faith men of money have in the fu-
ture of the capital
'In addition to all of this, Washington's
skyline is undergoing a metamorphoSis and
elevation in the erection of over a score of
big apartment houses of from twenty to
fifty apartments each, to say nothing of
the many smaller fiat houses and countless
dwellings to accommodate the ever -incrsaS-
ing population which seeks the most COM
Portable city in the United States in which
to reside. 1t is a fact worthy of note and
congratulation that the apartments in these
modern structures are engaged long before
the buildings are rooted Many of them are
rented by families who keep them the year
around, but who live here in the winter
And the same is true with this hotel and
many others, who each year reserve suites
for the same parties.
Each year Washington is becoming more
and more a winter resort for all classes. IT
is not only the rich who come to us annu-
ally to live, but persons of moderate means
I'LL the smaller hotels and boarding houses.
Most of the latter are now we'll filed hut
there will always be room for all who come
Strangers Love to Linger.
THE session of Congress this year will
be long one, and that means activity in
all lines long after the midwinter tide of
tourists has ebbed by. 1t is over the coun-
ter of hotel that learns the real SEN
timent Of people who visit a city, for we
meet all classes and conditions of patrons.
They all love to linger in the capital A
dozen times day we hear remarks like
this: L had intended going home last week.
but Washington is so attractive and my
stay has been so enjoyable that 1 wouldn't
go We like to hear this. 1t is compli-
ment not only to us, but to the city
The hotels have had the biggest Novem-
Der season this year that recall for num-
ber of years, in spite of the increased ac-
eommodations for guests. This means a
lot OF people. We have shown four times as
many rooms as ordinarily and our bookings
ahead are such as to indicate an overflow
winter. The stimulus that such condition
gives to trade conditions of the city in gen.
eral is tremendous. 1 was talking with
several of the leading merchants recently
on the prospects of the winter and all
agreed that it would be the best and liveli-
ing preparations accordingly.
There is one new factor in Washingtons
material prosperity, a very important one,
and that is that the President Is a New
York man.
The President the Leader.
''The President is not only the political
leader. but he is socially the first man in
the land. The greatest social season we
ever had was during the administration Of
President Arthur. L believe that it will be
eclipsed under the administration of Presi-
dent Roosevelt President Arthur was the
prince of entertainers. His example was
followed by the leaders of society, and the
winters were a round of social gayety. New
York Presidents are more given to social
functions than those from the west. Pres
ident Roosevelt has host of personal
friends in New York, who are of the high
est and wealthiest set, and these will come
by the hundreds to Washington. As an ex-
ample, We have booked several of our most
expensive suites to- friends Of the Presi-
dent who will spend the winter partict-
pating in our social pleasures rather than
those OF New York, and minor examples
might be cited without number
Again, there will be many diplomatic
and high official changes this winter, which
mean the coming of many people of wealth
and social standing. There are several
measures of the utmost Importance to the
country at large which will be before this
Congress which will attract men of means
from all sections. These measures will not
De settled at once, but will be under dis
cussion more or less during the entire ses-
sion, and will in all probability not come up
for vote until its closing days.
I'm short, believe that Washington may
look forward to the busiest winter COM