Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-06-27
SOME JAMESTOWN PRICES.
OF Travellers Show How
Hotels "GOuge" Them.


Experiences OF Travellers Show How
Hotels "Gouge" Them.
Visitors returning to Baltimore
from the jamestown Exposition con-
tinue to complain about the high
prices prevailing, particularly on the
Exposition grounds.
They make it plain that there are
a number of hotels and restaurants
in Norfolk where reasonable rates
prevail, but that there are also not a
few where the patrons have been out
rageously "gougcd."
A lady prominent in Baltimore
society told last night of the trying
experiences she and her brother had
at a large hotel inside the Exposition
grounds. They paid 80 cents to have
their light baggage carried from the
pier to the hotel and when they left
it was so cents more. The man at
the entrance gate told them that their
entrance fees of 80 cents each would
be refunded if they stopped at this
certain hotel. When they spoke to
the clerk about rcfunding the 81, he
opened his eyes in wide surprise and
gave expression thus:
"We don't refund anything here"
They asked for rooms on the A
mcrican plan at $3.50 day each.
The clerk asked why in the world they
wanted to stop on the American plan,
stating plainly that the American plan
restaurant at one end Of the building
wasn't "any good" and that the
only satisfaction to be obtained was
from the European plan cafe at the
other side of the building.
With this explanation he gave them
rooms On tho European plan at S.
for two rooms. They returned the
tickets and demanded the American
plan rates, which were furnished
them.
At the first meal the little waitress
offered consolation. Noticing that
they were not enjoying their meager
breakfast, from the simple fact that
the eggs were not quite so fresh as
they might have been, the waitress
trippcd up and sighed:
"Wcll miss, most of the people
who come here have one thing to be
thankful for-they have good homes
to 60 to after they leave"
The lady said this was one of the
most striking bits Of consolation she
and her brother received while at the
hotel.
In order to find out what they
really were paying per diem they jot-
ted down on a piece of paper a few
simple dishes sufficient for three
meals with the prices opposite. Then
they added up the figures. They dis
covered that by living in the simplest
fashion they would pay SIS a day.
Upon this discovery they took their
departure.
But they didn't get away as easily
as they anticipated. They were told
that in order to have their luggage
taken to the boat at 5 p. N. they had
better leave it at the desk about break
fast time. They couldn't understand
this, and began planning to take the
baggage by trolley, but found that the
car company had no facilities for
transporting baggage from the Ex-
position to Norfolk or from Norfolk
to the Exposition. 1t then dawned
on them that the obstacles the hotel
people threw out were only to keep
them in the S1S-a-day hostealy as
soon Us possible. But finally they
escaped.
A gentleman interested in several
Norfolk hotels said that every effort
would be made to force restaurant
and hotel men to quit the fleeing
process. He mentioned hotel as
one that was literally 'robbing its
patrons" and also referred to res
taurant nearby as engaging in the
same lucrative business.
But he pointed out that practically
all the first-class hotels in Norfolk
offer rooms at from 81 day up with
meals in proportion and that on the
Exposition grounds there are some
restaurants where meals may be had
as reasonably as in Baltimore.-Bal-
timorc Sun of Tuesday last.