New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-04
APARTMENT HOTELS.
old Builder Tells of Improvements
Made IN Present Structures

the architecture or the BUILDINGS can ~ ~r~..-..
or the management of most OF the structures bst
tered They think that the popularity OF such buiIs
ings will grow considerably each year
Near the Equitable Life Assurance soce,,,.s Raw.
In Broadway is the office of a builder who mora
than forty years ago was active builder In
the Wall Street section. He is still In active work
though age leans heavily upon him To hear him
talk about the progress OF building is a treat There
are some old timers among the builders who are
always saying that there are no structures nut IN
nowadays that in strength and beauty equal those
they or their FRIENDS erected years ago No, .o
with this man. Ee says that there are GO man,
beautiful architectural creations especIaIIv n
apartment houses and hotels that he feels he will
never have time TO examine them ALL A Tribune
reporter yesterday visited this builder in his down
town Office and found him in a reminiscent mood
"I was just thinking said the builder ..abou.
those poetic lines which speak OF the mar who
longed for time 10 turn back in its flight and TO
make him boy again But would not want TO be
boy again Of the old days but Of the present
time. When / boy the city was lust begin
ming to make some important strides in the building
lines by adopting excellent American ideas in
the construction OF fathouses and office buildings
In those days there no such apartment hotels
the Ansonia. which covers the west block In
Broadway from Seventy-thrd to Seventy fourth ct
then had dreams about the probable future build
ing operations IN this city, in my most fancfpl
visions 1 never saw such we'll designed and ex-
cellenty managed apartment hotel as the Au.onia
consider 1t one OF the best apartment hotels ever
built There is no doubt that II Is the largest
"other ma gnifcent creations in APARTMENT hotels
the Seymour. at No. so West Forty-ffth-st IN.
Algonquin. at No. 80 to IS West Forty-fourth-st.
Marbury Hall, at Nos. I6i and l66 West Seventy
fourth-st.: the Leonori, al Sxty-thrd-st and Nad-
son-ave.; the Hotel Cambridge at No 142 70 14s
West Forty-ninth-st.; the Warrington in Madison
ave. between Thirty-second and Thirtv-tbird s-s
the Bristol, at Nos. 10 and 124 West Forty-nnth-
ST. lie Marquis. at No. IL to Is East Thirty-frst-st
the Willard. at Seventy-sixth-st. and West End
ave-, and number OF other recently completed
houses.
These are only few Of what consider the
leading apartment hotels OF the city. Do not expect
ne to reveal TO you all the points which make these
buildings some of the best among their class will
show YOU some of their best points and what 1
have 20 say on this subject should suffice for the
present. You often hear many architects and build
ers speak Of the fine ole houses with their delight
fully high ceilings. The expression looks well in
type and is pleasing to the ear. Stop a moment and
picture in your mind such building, and invariably
you will see in the picture dark and unattractive
roons- In some Of those old houses the sun seems
to be an unwelcome guest. There are great wide
freplaces there in almost every room IL is we'll
that they are, for the freplaces even If there are
smouldering embers cracking logs on the
hearth. awaken feelings OF warmth to take some Of
the chill of the gloomy rooms
In my early days builder we built many
fathouses with fine high ceilings. and the windows
would have had free play within. The sun and good
air did set easily into many Of those buildings
but IN the majority of them the uncomfortable
gloom Of darkness was too much in evidence That
was one reason that apartment houses and fat
houses popular with people of means for
they were accustomed to the melancholy shadows
in their fine dwelling houses. but the shadows in
the apartment houses made them SILVER. why we
builders did not succeed in making the old style
apartment houses really inviting is simple to us
a = hr;~t, rieN,S
day in plentiful streams into the inner rooms of
the houses II we succeeded in making the front
parlor cheerful, or all the rooms with windows on
the street or rear, We were indeed fortunate.
There is no doubt that We built strongly but
Tar from perfectly. Outlines sacrificed a great
deal OF cheerfulness for little mere strength in
Design. We built walls thick enough and strong
einougn to endure century of time; There
apartment houses that would be more alluring than
problem which confronted US was the building Of
ten structure with all light and cheerful rooms IL
strong in every respect and with rentals to suit
almost all classes Of people. The architects and
frame got the key TO the problem and the builders
were aoIe 10 erect the new type OF apartment hotel
,, AS l said before, the Ansonia Is one Of the
conspicgo 15SdTarks ~, n ne II one Of the most
than tetvs hnd3e rd6 G boe s mas 26 mo les
took more than three years to erect the building
Great problems OF engine ering were involved in the
enhstruction No less than 10 miles Of piping Of
or extended around IFS basement and under the
rcck below. These tubes serve all sorts Of pur-
poses, those OF conveying messages protecting bell
ana telephone wires and electrical conductors prn-
rooms. TegertiRg the ceboxes operating s es
vators draining and ventilatng the sanitary appli-
ances. and conveying steam TO and from the large
Some Of the features Of the Ansonia are sup
ply OF fresh filtered air the interior OF suite
Of apartments. the drawing out Of all impure air
from the rooms through vents by means Of electric
suction fans the roof electric closet in every
private kitchen to which an electric range may be
contested, extra servants rooms on the seven
teenth floor. a long distance telephone IN each
sure finely appointed public restaurant VITA
private dining rooms. and an old English grillroom
is feasible There are bachelor apartments of one
room for $500 two rooms and bath for $50 and up,
and bath TO fourteen rooms, with three baths and
IoLI oSiiets SnartIneDts JnsV Ta had win
or without char1bermaid service.
apartnent hotels that exempify the highest
achievement in modern apartment notel arehiseet-
The rooms are commodous, with large bay
safes telephones. concealed radiators, large OUT
side bathrooms. with Roman tubs. shower and
buiIding The rents Of the apartments are as fol-
lows: Parior. cha1nber bathroom, etc, 500 to
8 go: rarlor library. chamber. bathroom ETC. $1,000
b DO stio bathToom ee. 200 to %
Pe S is f 3 tef as psnnt to
to provide superior home for its guests wherein
their comfort II is substantial in its construction
and admirably planned TO its conveniences. Its
location is excellent. is absolutely fireproof be-
ing constructed OF steel, stone and brick. All
rooms, Including bathrooms. open on the outer air.
The main dining room of the hotel will comfort
ably seat hundred and fifty guests private
dining room is also maintained. where guests may
entertain. II has apartments Of two three. four,
five or more rooms. The Seymour is worth visit
alone for the style az decoration used
The Ieonori is built OF steel, stone and brick,
making it absolutely dreproof. Its heating and
ventilating apparatus is of the most approved type
All its rooms, too. including bathrooms, open on
the outer air. Its apartments Arranged In