The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1912-1984, 1917-03-30
THE soUTHs GREATEST HOTEL

Following is a description of the
largest hotel in the South-The Roy
al Poinciana, at Palm Beach, Fla:
1t covers five acres of ground, and
if stretched out would cover ten
New York City blocks ten stories
high. 1t has twelve hundred en-
ployes.
Watchmen pass every point every
fifteen minutes in the daytime and
every six minutes at night. They are
never out of sight of each other.
1t has an electric power plant equal
to one for a city of ten thousand in
habtants.
Has its own ice and refrigerating
plant with cold storage that is used
throughout the hotel. Ten tons of
ice are chopped up every day for
drinking water, etc.
Has its own incinerating plant in
which two hundred cans of swill are
burned daily and all other rubbish.
Used sixty tons of sugar in two
and one half months.
The stewards department is under
the management of Stephen c. Meg
her, who feeds from twenty-three
hundred to twenty-six hundred peo-
pie three times a day. The daily con-
sumption in his hostelry is eight bar
rcls of flour, thirty boxes of oranges
and grapefruit, twenty crates con-
tanning seventy-two hundred eggs, a
hundred and fifty pound of coffee,
four hundred bottle of Bedford and
Poland water. Four thousand pounds
of spring chickens used for one
meal, seventeen hundred squads us
ed for dinner alone. One hundred and
fifty cooks and that many more soul
lions and roustabouts in the kitchen.
Has its own bake shop and ice
cream plant.
Eve hundred gallons of maple syr-
up used for griddle cakes alone DUR
ing season.
Ten bags of first class mail re-
ceived daily and has its own post
office.
Discipline of this great hotel is
strictly enforced, and it is ruled with
a rod of iron in all departments. 1t
is managed by one man, Henry Els
worth Bemis, a master of detail. He
is an early riser and is on the job
continually during the season. His
desk is always clear. He personally
handles all complaints and this is ex-
planned by saying that they are few.
He knows the cost of every meal
two hours before being served
The dining room is under the man
agement of Head Waiter Joseph Nc
Lane, with thirty-two assistants and
five hundred walters. McLane is an
organizer Of ability. To bring this
immense number of walters is nee
essary to recruit them from all over
the United States. They are brought
there as needed and let out as the
season commences to close. 1t re-
quires detail and great deal of sys-
tenn to handle this department of the
hotel
There are between eight and nine
hundred colored employees. Their
physical condition is taken care of
by Berkely C. Waller, negro physi-
clan, and graduate of Howard Uni
versty, Washington, ID. c. There has
never been a death since Waller has
been in charge for fifteen years.
This great hotel is practically five
hotels. Has one general housekeeper,
five assistants, and about one hundred
chambermaids. 1t has two assistant
Martin Sweeney, who
looks after the accounting depart
ment, and II. M. Wing, who is in
charge of social affairs.
1t entertains more world wide and
national celebrities during the sea-
son than any other hostelry on earth.
The Washington Ball, given each
year on February 22nd, is the great
Est social event in the world.
The hotel remains open only three
months of the year.
All a knocker wants is somebody to