New-York tribune., 1911-11-29
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than two thousand hotels in greater New
York. The charges In the best hotels are
about three times as great as they were III
1850
A conservative estimate OF the number
Of hotels in the United States In lsn' eX-
elusive Of those in course Of construcuoD'
places the figure at something over nity-
five thousand. These give employment 10
about five million persons, and the capita
invested is more than sS,0Oo,GO'Ooo
Apartment Hotel Comes TO Front.
II was in 1901 that the mania for the cree
ton OF hotels and hotel apartments IN Ne"
York City really began. Statistics sho"
that before 1900 the annual hotel consruc-
ton was six structures, at an aggregate
cost Of S2,5C0,OOO. The apartment hotel hrs'
anneared as q factor in 1900, when thirteen
were built at an aggregate cost or $z,'oo'
Oo0 In 1901 forty-siX were constructed al
q cost of S2O,42 900. During the last quar-
ter Of 1902 there were sixty-six hotels anc
apartment houses under construction al an
aggregate cost Of S3S,O55,O0O The year
total was s5o,OOOOoO 1t has grown ever
since.
u ,s curious TO note fere, however. that
there are fewer hotels In New York now
in proportion to the population than there
were i'm 1860 for since then thirty hrs'
class hotels have been razed to the ground
Et present. when New Yorker sees
hole in the ground, he hardly ever STOPS
10 inquire what It means. He has learned
10 expect a newer, taller, grander hotel.
The McAlpin will soon rise at the south-
east corner Of S4th street and Broadway
II will be Of the type that the New Yorker
referred to above has been led TO expect
The Vanderbilt, at 93d street and Park
avenue. has just got through bursting upon
our hotel occupied vision.
: The Ritz Carlton, delicately beautiful ano
massive at the same time, though among
our most recent acquisitions, has alreaoy
become an institution in the metropolis
The Plaza IS known far and wide for other
things besides its splendid view of Central
Park. The St. Regis. where single room
NAV be taken for 5000 a year. where the
kitchen outfit cost $4,000, where the plumb
/ ing plant is silver plated, stands al 0otr
street and Fifth avenue. only half a mile
north Of the Belmont not far from tle
Hotel Astor, and in the same belt WIZ
the Knickerbocker and the Manhattan.
! When a brand new hole in the GROUND j.
not made. the proprietors build ADDITIONS
70 their hostleries, as has just been seen IN
the case of the Martinique and others. Ana
II there might be a story dealing with the
/ restaurants attached 10 these places II
would take some time in the telling. Many
! NJ those hotels are making an almost ire
/ sistible appeal for all the cash Of the met
rcnoIitan district, by reason Of their grill
rooms. after theatre dining rooms, etc
When tho Ansonia, built only few years
ago, was known to contain $500 rooms
200 miles of piping concealed within Its
walls, running ice water in every suite, a
complete refrigerator plant, $4,000 electric
lights. well equipped grocery, butcher shop
and milk depot, laundry and swimming
pool and also that person could pay
| Sc 900 q year for an apartment without
/ food. there was almost a sensation in
town-for an hour.
After mentioning the Martha Washing
/ ton, exclusively for the fair sex-Inen not
being permitted above the second floor
this brief survey Of the growth that sew
enty years have seen in the hotel line must
be brought TO close with a word for the
U44S 4ll4Siib ee'g BA''NJt P.SSSS fNAAN''
| chiefly as cafes
! No visitors experience is complete with
out o meal taken in at least one Of such
places Is Rectors, Delmonicos, Sherry's
/ Churchilrs or Martins. Here he finds.
besides good food (Which, however, is real
ly Of not first Importance in such places,
perhaps). luxury, music in which to revel
flashing diamonds, a spendthrft environ
ment that makes him, too. feel reckless
| flowers, plate. cut glass, mirrors-and @
check Of good size and hat boys at the
door.
In another seventy years we shall see
what we shall see.