New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-14
Soldiers Uniform Signal to
Shopkeepers to Double
Cost of Everything
Hotel Asks $14 a Day
Spartanburg Expected New
Workers to Spend Million
q Month


the caution which WAS taken to es,ao-
lish TIE training camps for the new
army at a safe distance from metro
politan wickedness. The sequestered
cantor nents in New Jersey, South
Carolina and Alabama have converted
New Egypt, Observation-Disclosures,
Spartahburg and Admission into comb
nation boom towns and tourist resorts.
Steep prices are becoming precipitous
and the sight Of an olive drab uniform
removes the last restraint from South
ern Imagination and stiles completely
the hospitality commonly believed to
be instructive even with hotel men.
shopkeepers and cabbies in the South.
Tho North has little to brag Of, for
even Admission, Ala. and Spartanburs,
S. c., could give no pointers to New
Egypt, N. j., or ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Pines.
Admission Takes Their Money
Ann ton had made not the slightest
preparation to receive the 10000 SOL
diers who were sent to that Alabama
camp, unless vague talk OF building
new hotels can be considered prepare
ton. Now even that has ceased. An
niston has just settled back IN the
breeding. It's Chamber OF Commerce
makes cOmmendablc efforts 10 prevent
swindling by local shopkeepers. but the
town itself is utterly incapable OF
meeting the situation caused by the ad-
vent OF 10000 soldiers.
Hotel and boarding houses rates have
gone rr from 20 20 80 per cent, restau-
rants and motion picture houses have
raised their prices; 1t costs 10 cents
instead Of 20 get a shine. A news
paper no matter what paper, costs q
nickel, despite the price OF ga cents
q copy or 10 cents week which -
printed as that Of The Admission Star"
There are only two hotels in the
town, end one of them would rank AS
a second class rooming house IN the
NORTH. The proprietors are taxing the
sudder rush of guests with the utmost
unconcern. each secure in his conVic-
ton that his 'rivs" will take no more
pains Tor the Northerners than ne does
himself.
Officers wives and other visitors
would have found themselves COM
pletely stranded had not the house
holders thrown open their homes to
them.
Expected Million Month
Spartanburg took more thought of
the future when It heard that tho 9th
Division, some 10000 strong, with many
regiments from New York itself, was
gong 10 settle down AZ Camp Wsds-
worth: IL estimated that the soldiers
ought TO spend more than Sl.000,0O0 n
month in Spartanburg II they don't
it hasn't been because Spa-anburg
failed to give them the opportunity.
Before the camp opened the leading
hotel charged 81 2 day for an ex-
cellent room with a bath. Now it's So
and up. If 1t becomes necessary 10
put several persons in one room each
must pay the full price of that room.
Rooms that were $3.50 or So are 50
now.
Before the soldiers from the North
arrived excellent board could be had
in Spartanburg for $50 a month. Now
the prevailing rate is SIS a month
half Of second lieutenants pay. In
some houses, however, the charge is
$40 a week Ior adults and So for each
child.
On their arrival the soldiers con-
tributed 70 the price-raising move
ment Eyuberant after tiresome days
and nights in the train. they never
questioned prices and blithely paid
amounts that would have caused the
native born Spartanburger 10 look
about for the constable. The trades
men were quick to see the point. As il
by magic signs shot out above the
street with such legends as New York
Shoe Shire" New York Pressing
Club New York Barber Shop" and
in every case the proprietor strove to
maintain the unities by charging what
be imagined New York prices might be.
In much the same fashion Camp Dix
at Wrgh,stown, y. j., awcke the sv'
arice which had been slumbering
peacefully along with everything else
in Wrightstown, New Egypt. Browns
Mills-in- the-Pines and other New Jer-
sey communities. Smiths Hotel in
Wrightstown is getting $3.50 for rooms
that used 10 be let for 81. The Lake
view Hotel in Cookstown, not far away
condescends to serve for Is cents and
81 luneheons that formerly were put
on the table for % and 80 cents, re-
spectively.
The hotel at Browns Mills-in-t the
Pines, however. is the most wideawake
of all It's charges Of Sc and 81 a day
proved too high even for Captain John
Wanamaker, jr.. who. with his bride
has abandoned the place and rented a
cottage.
Cleopatra at Home
Wives Of isborers who are being paid
az high as 500 a week at Camp Dix
ere playing Cleopatra in grand style
in New Egypt, y. J. A s5-a-day rate
in New Egypt leads 70 the suspicion
that one is patronizing a very cheap
hotel. Eight dollars a day comes nearer
being the standard rate. Last summer
a room with board cost $50 a week.
A l00--oom hotel which is being
erected al Wrights.own is already
booked for three months at Fifth Ave
nue. prices. Another OF thirty rooms
is being put up. but hasn't done any
advance business yet, probably because
the proprietor hasn't quite decided
what the traffic will bear.
Hope is found in Piattsburg tina,
trade will return to It's normal profits
For several years Plattsburg has had
military camps az her door. Grocers
haberdashers and others maintain their
ordinary prices now, whether camp
is open or not. Rooms in hotels or
boarding houses, however, command
abnormal prices. The Wijherill Hotel
whose summer rate Of s. day was
considered steep, is now charging $40
SIP and s14. Dining room prices are
in proportion.
The Arcade Hotel is the exception
Prices have been raised little, if at all
and Il has the patronage OF the camp
Mushroom military supply and tailor
shops which have sprung up in the
vicinity Of the camp are charging so