The Salt Lake Herald

A 300-ROOMED HOTEL
'Is Just What This Town Wants, Right Now."

CROWDED ACCOMMODATIONS.

Prospects of a Crush-What the Outlook is at the Leading Houses of the City.

Within a period of less than a month, the visitors to this city have flocked in to that extent that people have begun to wonder, "if this thing keeps up," where the accommodations are to be found. Hotel men smile and rub their hands in delight at the present condition of affairs and future prospects. They are satisfied, and contemplate the harvest in store for them during the coming summer and autumn. Some of them say they are crowded now, but are willing to be still more strained; others remark that they are not yet so full that they cannot accommodate more.

In view of this state of hotel accommodations, and the talk by everybody of an increased influx of tourists and visitors--transient and permanent--a Herald reporter made the rounds of the hotels yesterday, to ascertain, if possible, the correct status in the matter of hotel accommodations. The newspaper man, of course, had no particular object, other than to gratify his own curiosity, and set at rest his doubts as to the rumors which have been flying around in this regard, and which have been associated by some with the necessity for increased hotel accommodations and facilities. Those most disinterested, he thought, in a new hotel of extensive dimensions, would be those in the business at present, and whatever their views were, would probably be of account to those contemplating erecting a large hotel. Hence, the tour.

AT THE CONTINENTAL.

Mr. Van Horne was found at his post engaged in attending to the wants of a gentleman about to leave. He stated to the inquiring reporter that his house was full, and that recently he had turned away several who had made application for rooms. "If necessary," he continued, "I have plenty of yard space in the rear and lots of hall room." Mr. Van Horne has, as yet, made no special rates for any one or any party desiring accommodations, and did not expect to. He had his figures and would maintain them. Asked as to what he thought would be the result with hotel keepers if a thousand or so of tourists were landed here within the next few months, he replied that he hardly knew, but thought they would be able to find rooms somewhere.

THE WALKER.

Mr. Erb stood at the office desk when the reporter entered the Walker House. On being approached on the subject of accommodations, he responded cheerfully, and stated that his house was full. He began to say to the interviewer that if the present rate of increase of guests kept up for a short time, his accommodations would be exhausted, and was on the point of adding a remark that he wouldn't know what to do, when a bus, loaded down to the guards, drove up, and he finished his sentence with: "I don't know what we're going to do with these." And then, as he tore himself away, to attend to the new arrivals, he remarked, hurriedly: "It's no use discussing the matter now; we want more and better accommodations." The business, Mr. Erb said, was much better now than it was this time last year.

THE CULLEN

wasn't crowded, Mr. Ewing said, when the itemizer accosted him. There had not been a time, so far, he added, when he could not find places for all who applied. The reporter suggested that, with the anticipated arrivals everybody was talking of, his accommodations might sustain somewhat of a strain, to which he returned the remark that he was willing to be strained; he had plenty of cots and spots to place them. Mr. Ewing appeared to have little confidence in the "talk" of needed hotel accommodations, as he imagined it was being done by interested parties. There had been none turned from his door, as yet, and he didn't expect that there would be.

AT THE CLIFT.

Andy Brixen was so completely occupied in rooming a lot of fresh arrivals that he could scarcely find time to devote to the Faber-pusher. He did, however, stop long enough to impart some little information concerning his house. It was full, he stated; but he added, "I manage to turn no one away. By doubling up and using cots, I can fix for them."

"But, supposing the arrivals increase to the extent people are talking about?" asked the journalist.

"If as many come as folks say are coming, why, I don't know what will be done. I've got place and accommodations for 125 guests, and have had that number right along; most of them are transients. Now, here," he continued, "sixteen went away this morning and twenty have come in just now. And that's the way it goes. This town can't accommodate more than about 500 or 600 people."

And with that he rushed off to direct a new comer to his apartment upstairs.

THE WHITE HOUSE

Mr. Podlech stated that he had plenty of room, and always had had. He did not take much stock in the street rumors about the numbers who were heading this way from the east; but, if they did come, he conceded that there would necessarily have to be more accommodations. With a significant wink he added, "there is considerable talk of people coming here; but they're not here yet."

THE METROPOLITAN,

managed by Mr. W. H. Ditmer, was also full, and cots were being used every night. The gentleman said he contemplated putting out a lot of cots on the lawn close by and give his guests out-door accommodations.

"What this town wants," the gentleman said, as he moved off to order a couple of carriages for some of his guests, "is a three-hundred-roomed,

first-class hotel-- first-class in every particular."

"Yes," added a gentleman who was standing by, "a four-hundred-roomed house wouldn't be any too big."

THE ST. JAMES,

like the rest, is also filled, and the junior Mr. Greenwald, who was manipulating the business in the absence of his father, on being told by the reporter that there was talk in some quarters of another hotel--a mammoth concern, said: "That's right."

THE PALACE,

run as it is on the European and American plan, where guests come and go after a very brief stay, is in the same condition as the majority of the other houses--filled; yet the landlady observed to the reporter that there was ample accommodation for more.

Thus, it will be seen, there can be no escaping the fact that the hotel accommodations of Salt Lake City, while at present answering the demands, will be inadequate ere long. With the reduced railroad rates for excursion parties, the interest said to be taken by investors and travelers of the east in Utah and her resources, the certain coming hither of hundreds to investigate the attractions of this section, the growth of population and the advertising now being sent out to draw the attention of outsiders to the advantages here of climate, scenery and possibilities, there will be an influx which will demand more and better hotel facilities than can now be given. The remark of the gentleman by manager of the Metropolitan, that a three-hundred-roomed first-class hotel is what is needed here, can be echoed and re-echoed by many, and those many are not interested parties, either. It is the opinion of intelligent, observing men, that capital could be put to good use in the erection of a model structure. In the hands of a capable management, with appointments of first-class order, "a three-hundred-roomed hotel" could be made successful.