Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-10-29
TO
BE OPENED TO
PUBLIC JAN. |
Final Touches Being Put to
Big Hostelry Despite the
Labor Handicaps

E. z. Wallower, president of the
Penn Harris Hotel Company. who has
been in touch with every step OF its
progress. made a statement to-day
regarding the work of construction
which is most gratifying to every
body in view of the Importance of
having the big hotel finished before
the opening of the new year, He
said:
Notwithstanding the extreme diff
Guilty in securing mechanics for the
Penn Harris hotel. work has been
progressing rapidly and the contrac-
tor is now making strong efforts to
complete the building in December
and il is therefore hoped by January
first the building will be ready for
occupancy.
ITO illustrate the difficulty in Sc
curing mechanics, Mr. levin, of Nell
son and levin. stated that while
there had been 1Os different plaster
ers employed, some of whom were
brought from Washington, Chicago.
New York, Pittsburgh and elsewhere,
not over 81 had been employed at
one time. The plasterers have fin
ished the main building. which on
account OF the character of the work
has required skilled workmen in this
line.
The ballroom or convention hall
is now being plastered and will be
the finest room in the way of decor
alton in the hotel. The marble and
tile contractors are rapidly finishing
their work, the tiling in the lobby
and the ornamental marble work now
embargo on the milt>work on account
of government contracts the black
walnut wa!nscoting and column work
is now arriving and is rapidly being
placed in position, while the hard
wood floors in the lounge, the din
ing room, and private dining rooms is
being placed in position. The bed
rooms from the third to the tenth
floors are practically completed and
are now receiving the final coat OF
enamel paint while ali the doors and
other woodwork has been installed.
Finishing Touch
The decorator will arrive next
Monday TO begin his work. while a
large portion of the furniture and
carpets are in storage in this city.
Mr.. Johnson, Of the United Hotels
Company, and Mr.. Cleveland. dec
orators, who will supply the draper
les, will be in this city on Thursday.
The hotel now reaching its finishing
touches is giving evidence Of the
artistic designing OF ". l. Stoddart,
the architect
The vast amount OF machinery re-
qui-ed FOR a hotel Of this character
Is being rapidly installed. The re-
fr!gerators, motors, pumps, elevators,
boilers, etc, are in position, while
the laundry equipment is in storage
here and ready TO be Installed. The
kitchen equipment will be received
early in November. The plans for
the cafeteria in Third street are very
complete and this will be a very pop
ular feature OF the hotel, an innova-
tion for this city, not only in its
appointments, but in the high class
character Of the fittings. which will
embrace tiled floors and walls and
every provision for a modern cafe
terra.
"All the telephone and cable equip
ment. including a massive switch
board. is on the ground for instaIla-
tion. Indeed, nothing of great i'm
portance need now hold up the furth-
er work on the building.
while the war conditions have re-
tarded the completion of the great
structure under the circumstances
the organization has been kept well
in hand and rapid progress has been
made notwithstanding the conditions"