Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-03-29
GREATEST SHOPPER IN U. S.
is A MAN IN NEW YORK :,

The greatest shopper in the United
States, and probably in the entire
world for that matter is a man.
Probably this statement will come as
a shock to most persons, who quite nat
lIrally imagined that this title belonged
to some member of the fair sex.
George w. Sweeney is the man who
has become the premier shopper, but
choosing and purchasing goods Of many
kinds and in vast quantities is not his
principal occupation. In fact. he is
better known as one of the most sue
cessful hotel managers in the country,
and when the Commodore Hotel Of New
York City, now being erected at Lex
ington avenue and Forty-second street
and which will be the largest hotel in
America, is completed, he will direct its
destinies.
Mr. Sweeney was chosen for this i'm
portant post by John Nee. Bowman,
president of the company which oper-
ates in BiltmCre. Manhattan and An
sonit hotels and is building the Com
modore. and with his appointment
went a commission to purchase every
thing which would be needed for the
house 100000 persons from all parts Of
the world yearly.
The average housewife who might, at
first thought. be inclined to scott at the
task assigned to Mr. Sweeney should
first consider tie difficulty she expert
enced in Quitting her own house or
apartment and then take into consid-
GRAFTON that the manager of the Com
modore must shop for twenty-siX
story structure and purchase every
thing from toothpicks to safes. 1t would
take the average person six months at
least to figure out and tabulate all of
the things needed for such gigantic
structure.
First, Mr.. Sweeney went to one Of the
large silversmith's. and after several
hours spent in looking over samples
contracted for sufficient supplies for a
town Of many thousand inhabitants. In
all he ordered 100000 pieces of silver,
which will cost s243,000 and will keep
one concern busy for the greater part
Of 1917 turning out the desired articles.
The order includes. among other things,
$4,000 knives and forks, 10000 teaspoons.
$50 coffee pots, 1900 ash trays and
$500 butter plates.
The laundry is a highly important de-
partment Of any modern hotel and
Mr.. Sweeney purchased sufficient
equipment to turn out $4,000 pieces of
fiat work daily.
The list Of linens ordered also Is
staggering because Of it's proportions,
and includes these articles: Pillow cas-
es, residents. 17.400 help. 300: sheets. |
large. 400; small. 1880; help. 1900; |
spreads. large, 1850: small. 1896; help.
600; towels. room. 2S,312; bath. 5000; |
lavatory, 5000; help. $50; lockers, $3.50,
and bath mats. $500. In addition these
things were purchased for the restaur-
ant epartment-Cloths. 9.73s tops.
1880: doilies. 10000: napkins, $4,000:
towels, $4,000: aprons. 1900: cooks
scarfs. 500: cooks coats. 600: cooks
caps. TOO. and bar coats, $50.
Mr. Sweeney still has many things
for which he will shop, including the
furniture. He intends to purchase SUI
flcient beds for 5000 residents, room
suits, desks. couches. hatracks, dining
room furnishings. bookcases, and on
down the list Of necessities to baby
carriages and chairs for invalids. There
will be enough cooking utensils and
crockery FOR place the size OF Mount
Vernon. and It has been estimated that
the carpet required will be at least S.
BOO yards.
And last but rot least. the telephone
equipment will he the final word in a
department Of that character The in
stallation will cost 10000. and It will
require fifty persons to operate the sys-
tenn. The contract calls for more than
zoo trunk lines and for 100000 local