y, and has many other advantages.

Many of the most fashionable houses are conducted on what is called "the
European plan," in which a separate charge is made for room, meals, and
every service rendered. It is said that this is more economical than the
other plan, and that it is less profitable to the proprietors. It is
adopted by the Hoffman, St. Denis, Glenham, Brevoort, Coleman, St. James,
Albemarle, Clarendon, Everett, Grand, Gilsey, and several other prominent
houses.

The leading hotels of the city lie very close together, the majority of
them being in the vicinity of Union and Madison Squares. This is found
to be an advantage, as strangers find it pleasant to visit friends who
are staying at other houses. The business of hotel keeping in New York
is generally very profitable. A large outlay is required at the opening
of the house, for furniture, etc., as much as from $200,000 to $500,000
being expended on the fitting up of a first-class house. The furniture,
plate, etc., of the Fifth Avenue and Grand Central Hotels are valued at
the latter sum for each establishment. If the house meet with success, a
moderate sum will suffice to supply its current wants. The business is
all cash, and large amounts of money are received daily. The annual
profits of the Fifth Avenue Hotel are said to be about $250,000; those of
the St. Nicholas about $200,000. Other leading houses, when well
managed, are said to clear about twenty per cent. on the sum invested.
Large fortunes have been made by not a few keepers of hotels in New York.

The large hotels depend entirely upon transient guests for their success.
The city has, perhaps, the largest floating population in America.
Thousands come and go daily, even in the summer months, and these are
mostly persons who have money to spend. Bridal parties are constantly
arriving, and these are not inclined to be the most economical in their
expenditures. In the spring and fall, the Southern and Western merchants
come to New York in great numbers to buy goods, and are among the best
customers of the hotels. Thousands, on business, and for pleasure, come
and go daily, and they all pour a constant stream of money into the
coffers of the hotels.

The smaller houses, while they compete with their great rivals for
transient custom, rely chiefly upon their permanent guests. These are
filled with families who have come to them to avoid the trouble of
keeping house, and who remain al