Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-19
MORE BIC BUILDINGS
immense Structures Planned
for New York.
ANOTHER HOTEL PROJECT
Enormous Transient Population Of
the Metropolis.
CITY WILL OWN SKYSCRAPER
Problem of the NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
shops on a Large Scale Proposed.
The Bread Line Maintained.
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
Special Correspondence Of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.

BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
special Correspondence Of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.
NEW YORK, May Is. 1908.
One would think that there were already
enough expensive hotels In New York.
and the experience of the managers dur
ing the recent panic ought to have
taught them not to have too much of a
good thing. But there seems to be suf-
ficlent confidence in the future to induce
the investment of several more millions
in that line of enterprise. The Hotel
Astor, which has been remarkably sue
cessful, is to be doubled in capacity at a
cost of two and half million dollars,
with an inside theater. vast roof garden
and various other novelties which are ex-
pected to attract custom.
The stock company OF Engllshmen
which owns the Ritz and Carlton hotels
In London, and the Ritz Hotel in Paris.
is about to begin the erection or an
other palatial house at the northeast cor
ner of Madison avenue ana 4otn stree.'
lust back of the New York Central rail-
way station, which will cost two and a
half millions and will represent the most
extreme ideas of luxury. It IS TO pe call
ed The Ritz-Carlton, Will resemble tns
Carlton Of London and will be managed
by men transferred from the Carlton and
the Ritz to New York. There will be 300
sitting rooms and 400 bedrooms furnished
in the most luxurious and expensive man
ner. with a bathroom connected with ev-
cry bedroom.
During the last ten years fifty million
dollars has been expended on hotels IN
New York city. and they are already the
most advanced. convenient. luxurious
and expensive ever conceived OF Inc
Waldorf-Astoria is assessed TOT taxat nan
at S12 16O. 600 the New Plaza at SI.HUuUV'
the Aston at S5OoOOO. the &c be EN- ono. 20
5000; the Manhattan at S3.2 90: the
st. Regis, So3OO.OOO. the Knickerbocker,
s. 600 900: the Gotham, $1.25O,OOO. ana IN
addition to these there are dfty-two other
hotels Of similar valuation on the asses
sors' books. which. OF course Represents
not more than 80 or " per cent oi eae az
tual investment.
Driven to the Hotels.
II ia estimated that there are 1OO.OOO
transient guests in the hotels OF New
York every night, and the servant prob
lem and other housekeeping expenses and
annoyances have driven thousands OF
families from their homes to the hotels
and apartment houses. This fact Is en-
phasized by the large number OF resi-
dences on 9TH avenue. Maolson avenue
and the fashionable cross streets tnat
have been boarded up all the winter. It Is
one Of the most curious features OF this
great city. Hundreds OF the most pre-
tentious and expensive mansions nave
their doorways and windows entirely con-
cealed by boards to keep out the oust ano
the burglars, and they nave remained
SO all winter.
1.-The rich mans panic is supposed TO
account for some of them. Many OF the
residents of the fashionable section east
of Central Park and west or Lexington
avenue were SO badly hurt by the slump
in stocks, last fall tnat tney haps 5 49,
unable to keep up appearances. ana nave
either found quiet and inexpensive places
in Eurone or have ruSticated through the
season In their country homes but
still larger number of rich famlleS are
living in the big hotels because 1t IS less
extensive and they are not compelled to
entertain and are relieved from the cares
and annoyances of Housekeeping.
The resident hotel and apartment-house
population of New York city is now estl-
mated at half million souls.
New Municipal Building.
The city government Of New York is
going into the sky-scraper business and
has entered into a contract with Mckim,
Meade & White, the architects, to erect
a new municipal building of twenty-three
stories and a tall tower to furnish office
room for the various departments now in
rented quarters around the city hall. The
building is to be situated on Park row
between Duane and Pryor streets, and
Chambers street will run through the
center under an archway. The Park row
frontage will be 361 feet the Duane street
frontage 800. and each floor will contain
26,S75 square feet of office ROOM There
will be thirty-two elevators and six STAIR
ways and all of the novelties of modern
architecture. The plans were accepted
after competition in which twelve well
known firms participated.
The tower of the Metropolitan Insurance
building, on Madison square, is to be even
taller than was originally proposed. and
when finished will be 727 feet from the
cellar floor to the tip Of the lantern. or
IT, feet higher than the Washington
monument. The tip of the lantern will
be III feet above the ground. and the
floor of the highest office will be 6O3 feet
above the ground. The building is entire
ly Of steel. with a skin of granite. and
the architects say that such structures are
much safer and more secure than ordi-
nary brick and mortar walls of five or six
stories. 1t is now rapidly growing. The
steel skeleton has passed the fortieth
story and the granite masonry has passed
the thirty-third.