Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1918-04-11

Former Independent Editor
Describes Washington Dur
ing War Times; Advises e.
ko Girls To Stay at Home

Elko Independent. Elko, Nevada.
Believing that my impressions OF
Washington in war times might be
of interest TO the readers OF the In
dependent, l decided this afternoon
to send you a communication.
The first thing that forces its at
tention on the new arrival here is
the terribly congested condition of
the city. The war caused an influx
OF about eighty thousand people, and
as there was no time for the prepa-
ration OF accommodations. the prob
lem OF caring for them has been a
serious one. Hotels, apartments, and
rOOming houses are crowded to ca
paCity and thousands are located in
spare rooms of private residences,
and with the growing demand. prices
went skyward. | know OF one in
stance where four young ladies' are
| occupying an attic room for which
they pay forty dollars month. The
| plainest kind of a room in a third
class hotel, with single bed and with
out bath, costs two dollars day and
one with bath costs from $3.50 up
ward. In first class hotels, rooms
with bath cost from $40 to S12 per
day for one person, and from SIS to
is for two persons. Apartments
such as generally rent in San Fran
cisco at SEQ to $50 a month. bring
| from $500 upward / was in a five
| room apartment occupied by friend
of mine. quite modcstly furnished.
and he advised me that il costs him
/ 1915 per month. At that he had to
take it for a period of six months.
| You will observe that 1T Is an evil
wind that blows no one good" and in
this instance il is the hotel and the
apartment owners who are rcaping
the harvest.
Meals are proportionatcly high il
hotels, as will be seen by a personal
experience. The first morning after
my arrival, / went down to the dining
room with my usual western appetite
and ordered grape fruit, lamb
chops, and eggs. fried potatoes, rolls
and coffee. let an awful groan
when presented with a check for
$2.55. With tips to waitress and cloak
girl, my breakfast cost me S3.O5. As
I walked away, highly resolved to
] - fTRl
boarding place.
must relate a neXpcrienCc about
/. that breakfast that amused me.
q was short on change so | laid down a
$50 gold piece. I noticed the waitress
hcsitated about taking it and she and
the cashier convcrscd fully five min
utcs before she returned. When she
came back she gave me seventeen
ono dollar bills and forty five cent!
in change. As / rolled up the billg
trying to look unconceTned the cir
remarked that Is the first gol,
twenty dollars | ever saw" ! tol,
her that she had nothing on me, tha
had never seen seventeen one do
lar bills in one pile before.
' have spoken of the Congested cor
dition of Washington and the hig
prices with particular purpose /
view. AS everyone knows, the go,
crnmcnt is advertising extensiyel
- for clerks and stenographers at sal;
rics ranging from 5000 to 81 t.iOO pc
=, year. heard number of Elk
! young ladies express a desire to com
here and | want them to know thg
: under present conditions, they ca
y barely exist on 5000 a year | wi
y say, however, that conditions will /
. much improved before the end I
y summer Much building is in pro
D rcss and there will be ample aCCor
}. modations before the winter sets /
u Nevada Senators Stand High
| was particularly pleased when
learned of the high esteem In whit
the Nevada senators are held. II
n mo cxaggcration to say that Senat
Key pittman is one of the foremo
al figures in tho upper house OF co
al grcss. His high order Of ability al
co patriotism Is recognized by eve
n, member and he has gained an inf
to cncc that Is cQualed by few.
Senator Charles Il. Henderson
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