The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1905-04-06
HOTEL HOUSECLEAN|NG
Giant Task Accomplished in
the American CaravanSary.
EXPENSIVE UNDERTAKING
Much silver, China and Linen, Owing
to Breakaae or Theft, Must Be
Replaced - Carpets Renewed.
Army Of Cleaners Required.
Costs Nearly $4,000.

STT'y VI S'cdUCFs nSQuHC0s
Costs Nearly $4,000.
Fifty thousand dollars in cold cash
and three months of incessant work
by a thousand people are required to
accomplish the greatest house clean
ing in the world. The woman who Is
driven to the verge of nervous pros
tration by her semiannual bout with
the powers of dust and moths in a.
small house or apartment would prob
ably stand aghast at the task of
hotel manager who must clean and
refurnish his hotel and yet be ready
to receive the travellers who may ap.
pear at this inopportune time.
The housewife who discovers that
one of her precious spoons has been
stolen by a dishonest maid or some
of her finest dishes have been nicked,
sheds few futile tears The man.
ager of a hotel loses thousands Of
dollars every year in silverware and
table furnishings, which are taken,
not by help. but by guests Of the
house, who carry them off as souve-
Mrs.
Spoons, forks, saltshakers, small in.
dividual breakfast castors, tete-a.tete
sugar bowls, creamers, after-dinner
coffee cups and saucers. all these fall
prey to the tourist who thinks it is
clever to carry away hotel souvenirs
and the proprietor Of the hotel has
come to regard II is another avenue
of expenditure.
The American public which can af-
ford to stop at n high-priced hotel has
gone luxury mad, and carpets must
be thick and velvety under foot, so
there is no turning of the economical
ingram. The carpets must be dis
posed of either by selling to smaller
hotels or private parties, or through
auction rooms.
The replenishing of linen costs $10,-
600 a year, and as much more is re-
quired to purchase new china and sill
yer service. New furniture and car
pets, together with the wages paid
to help, will bring the cost up to
$4,000.
The house cleaning force is called
in about the middle of June and
works until the middle of September
which presumably is slack season
for hotels in large cities. The hotel
has its own upholstering, carpenter
and mattress shops. Carpets are sent
out to be cleaned, but are resewn and
laid by the hotel force
The rooms are torn up in sections,
so that some parts Of the house are
always ready for guests. The decora-
tions, papering and oiling of the wood
work are done by contract. The fur
niture is removed to the cabinetmak.
ers' shop in the basement, where it is
all done over.
The mattresses are recovered or
filed, according to the need, and
pillows are treated in the same way.
Curtains are taken to a different de-
partment, where expert darners take
them in hand, which accounts for the
long life of real good lace curtain,
as, II properly handled, they will
wear several seasons. Tapestry hang
ings and oriental rugs are treated the
same way
In the meantime the managers of
the hotels have gone on their annual
jaunts to Europe, or to some noun
tain resort. the famous chef is of on
his yacht for brief respite from the
onerous duties of catering to million
aire appetites, and midsummer finds
the heads of the various departments,
such as the housekeeper, the head of
the linen room and the steward. left
to carry the house cleaning to a sue
cessful and satisfactory issue.
The floating population Of such a ho-
tel is equal to that of a small city
Even in midsummer, with houseclean-
ing at its height. pilgrims for pleas
ure who are stopping en- route in
New York bring this population up to
thousand souls. In midwinter it Is
increased to 1900, and some idea of
the services demanded by rich travel
ers can be imagined when 1t is learn
ed that 1400 servants are required
to cater to the needs of the $4,000
guests.
Let the woman who has Mysteries
because her husband brings home
guest during the house-cleaning days
ponder on the duties of the hotel
housekeeper and decide that she has
no corner on Washington
Star