Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-20
GOOD HOTEL SEASON
SPRING BUSINESS HAS BEEN UNI
USUALLY HEAVY.
Exceeded Only by That When the In
auguration Crowds Come
to the Capital.

1.-THE spring hotel season which Is just
now closing has been the best and the
heaviest within my recollection in this city,
with the exception of inauguration years,
and this spring we have run the Inaugural
ton crowds very close second" remarked
the chief clerk of one of Washington's new
and big hotels to a Star man.
For over six straight weeks every big
hotel in this city turned guests away
every night, sometimes by the dozen, and
we had difficult time finding quarters for
them in the smaller hotels to which we
always refer our overflow. There wasn't
any exception to it, understand, but it was
every night, weekdays and Sundays The
rush started in during the latter part of
February and the first week in March and
1t has been working overtime ever since.
How do 1 account for 1t this year, since
the increase has been so heavy over the
usual good normal trade? think the mild
ness of the winter was one of the main
contributing causes. We catch the southern
tourist travel its way to the land of
sunshine and palms and get 1t again when
1t begins to ebb back toward the north in
the spring every year. This season, how
ever. these tourists most of whom per-
sons In independence, did not go farther
south than Washington. They found the
weather and conditions delightful In this
city and stayed here. Those who went on
toward the south did not remain there the
usual time generally allotted to such stays,
but packed up, turned about face. and in
stead of going directly home, headed for
Washington, and once again within
hospitable and beautiful gates, abided with
US longer than usual.
Now a Fixed Winter Resort.
Washington may be said to have now
become fixed winter resort, and she need
never fear on the score Of other COMPETE
tors. There is charm about this city,
especially as regards It's social and off,
cial elements, which other places do not
and cannot possess, and this charm par
ticularly appeals to the Weather classes
from the various northern and western
centers of population and wealth. Desirable
residence properties for the social season
are bespoken long in advance, the supply
is unequal to the demand and the great
overflow naturally comes to the several
big hotels.
But speaking for the city at large let
me not forget to add that this phenomenal
season has been shared by the smaller no.
tells and the boarding houses. 1t Is not
alone the weather. classes who have
focked to us this year, but 1T has been
the great American tourist by the thou
sands who have helped to contribute to this
most prosperous and gratifying year I
refer to the individual tourist well as
to the excursions that will land hundreds
in double-sectioned trains at our depots In
a single day. An unusually large number
of excursions have been run this winter
and spring. Hotel accommodations for this
class are provided in measure in advance
and the lnaiVidual tourist mas mad TO hustle
around with ms SUIT case oittimes.
Need of a Convention Hall.
FOR another principal continuing cause
we have had large number of conventions
this season and these conventions have
heen very fuIlv attended The ,,reent need
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