THE MAMMOTH HOTELS OF PARIS AND SAN FRANCISCO COMPARED.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5447, 11 September 1878, Page 3

THE MAMMOTH HOTELS OF PARIS AND SAN FRANCISCO COMPARED.

A correspondent of the Philadelphia Times writes a letter descriptive of the Continental Hotel, Paris, which was opened for guests June sth, and speaks of it as the most magnificent hotel in the world. In his letter he says ; “ It cost twenty million francs, or four million dollars, and is six stories in height, It contains five hundred chambers for guests and employs two hundred and fifty servants of all classes.” If the correspondent were familiar with American hotels he would know that the Palace Hotel of San Francisco is seven stories high, and that it cost 5,500,000d015., and has 755 rooms above the ground floor for guests exclusively. The Palace, iu the midst of the dullest season of a dull year, has 274 employes of all classes. The" correspondent says, further, of the great hotel of Paris, that it has three passenger elevators and four for baggage within the building, tmd one other without, which carries people up to the coffee and billiard room up to the top of the house, and from which there la obtained a good view. The Palace has five passenger elevators and one double decker for baggage. From the walks and observatories of the roof the guests have a grand view of a picturesque country. The Continental Hotel of Paris is ventilated and heated, by steam, tho machinery for which cost 20,000do!s. There is machinery for heating and ventilating every room of the Palace, and every room has a fireplace. The cost of heating and ventilating apparatus was not less than 200,000d015. The gasometer of the Continental supplies 600 burners inside the building, while the courtyard is lighted by electric light. The Palace has no less than 10,000 gas burners inside, and in the grand central Court there are mord than 500 burners. The dining-room of the Paris hotel seats three hundred people. The Palace dining-hall accommodates nearly twice that number. The silverware of the Continental is valued at 450,000 francs. The Palace silverware is of equal value. The correspondent, describing the furniture of tho Paris caravansary, says:— “ The salons and chambers are finished and furnished in the moat gorgeous style. The grand salon, with bridal chamber attached, is finished iu modern renaissance and upholstered in crimson and gold. Another parlor, called the salon of Louis XIV., is in the style of that period—the panel paintings, by the best artists of * Paris, represent nuptial scenes of that day. A single pair of curtains coat 3000 francs (600dols.) The mantel, of variegated black marble, reaching nearly to the ceiling, has a centrepiece of a mythological subject exquisitely carved. Between the two courtyards is a large conversation-room. The ceiling is painted by Mayerolle, a artist, and finished in gilt, while numerous statues, on marble pedestals, adorn the side walls. Adjoining is the winter garden, finished in Moorish style, with reading-rooms for ladies and gentlemen on either side. The diningroom, to seat three hundred persons, is finished iu tho same general stylo, and adorned with paintings and Gobelin tapestry. The ceiling of the breakfast-room is painted by Luminais to represent hunting, scenes in the time of Henry 11., is wainsebated In ebony, inlaid with red copper, and the walls are hung with leathern tapestry. The chandeliers are made after antique patterns. The cafe and billiardroom are also finished in the style of Henry IT, and the furniture is of solid walnut, covered with crimson velvet. The desk is an elegant piece of carved walnut, with a violet-colored Breche marble slab. The carving of the desk alone cost £1000.” All of the roems of the Palace Hotel are furnished with rich carpets and curtains, and furniture of beautiful designs. Without going into a detailed description of the parlors and reception rooms, it may be safely said that it ia of the richest kind manufactured. In the decoration work of the artist, the Continental Hotel may surpass the Palace, hut when the art treasures of the Palace Villa—the Belmont country place—are counted as belonging to the Palace, tho advantage possibly rests with San Francisco. Paris is certainly a good place to enjoy life and spend money, and the Exposition, according to all accounts, is worth seeing, but when* one wants to see the best thing in hotels that the world has ever produced he must visit San Francisco. Even the Palmer House of Chicago is equal in size, splendor, and cost to the best hotel in Paris.