Evening star., 1922-06-24
RITZ HOTEL HERE
TO COST $9,oO0,01)
Structure to Be Erected at
18th and X Streets to
Have 500 Rooms.

Announcement of plans for con-
struction of an imposing ten-story
hotel, to be known as the Ritz-Carl-
ton, at the northwest corner of 18th
and X streets, estimated to cost be-
tween eight and nine million dollars,
was made today by the Ritz-Carlton
Holding Corporation. The hotel will
be operated as unit of the Ritz
Carlton system. headquarters of
which are in New York city and Lon
don.
1t is the announced intention Of the
hotel interests TO make their Washing
ton project "the finest hotel in the
world" The hotel will comprise 500
rooms. and will be of the most modern
fireproof construction throughout.
Washington Men StOckholders.
the holding corporation has been
chartered under the laws of Della
ware by Washington men in con-
junction with Ritz-Carlton represen-
tatives. G. Bryan Pitts is president
of the corporation, Samuel j. Henry
is vice president and c. Ebert Ana
dale is secretarytreasurer. Compos-
ing the board of directors, in addi-
tion to Mr.. Pitts and Mr.. Henry, are
William II. West, William Harris of
London. head of the RitZ-Carlton sys-
TEN, and Albert Kellar of New York
city, director general of the systems
American hotels. With the eXcep-
tion of the two men last named, all of
those connected with the corpora
tion are Washington men.
The corporation has purchased a
site comprising $4,000 square feet of
land, including the old Warder prop
street is 200 feet and the depth on
18th street is lS0 feet. In addition
to this land the company has ac-
quired the property to the rear. on l.
street where facilities for service to
the hotel will be provided.
Stone and steel Work.
Plans for the structure have been
drawn by J. Fl. de Sibour. local archi-
tect, and Warren Wetmore of New
York city. The latter firm designed
other of the Ritz-Carlton hotels.
The exterior of the proposed build
ing will be of Indiana limestone.
Steel frame construction will be used.
Work on the operation will begin
in the near future, it is stated. De-
taFled plans are now in course of
completion.
4 number OF unique features have
been planned for the hotel with the
idea of making it unsurpassed in
hostelry circles. A ballroom. to be
the largest in the city, Will be sur
rounded on four sides by a balcony.
The ballroom will be on the first floor.
4 large crystal dining room. mod
eled after that in the Ritz-Cariton
of New York city, VIII open on the
south and east into colonnade.
forming in summer a screened. open
air dining room and in winter a
glass-inclosed sun parlor and dining
room, overlooking Mcpherson square.
There also will be a large palm garden
and conservatory.
A Presidential Suite.
There will be provided a special
presidential suite, heralded as the
most sumptuous suite of hotel rooms
in this country, and a number Of
diplomatic suites, equipped exclu-
sively for use by foreign delegations
on lone-term leases. 1t is said that
several reservations already have
. heep made for these diplomatic
rooms.
The public rooms on the main floor
and all the guest rooms above Will
be furnished and decorated to CORE
spond with interior appearance OF
other noted hotels in the chain.
. All negotiations in connection with
tho nroiect are being handled through
the offices of ,he +. II. Smith Company
of this city.