374 OCEAN TO OCEAN ON HORSEBACK. 



worth of hotel property. Perhaps no structure for 

 which any part of this immense sum has been ex- 

 pended is more beautiful and remarkable than the 

 Palmer House. This building is saftl to contain more 

 bricks than any two hotels on the Continent, and more 

 iron than most of them put together. The flooring 

 contains ninety thousand square feet of marble tiling 

 laid in massive beds of cement. The beams are laid 

 in beds of cement also. 



The immense carriage court is entered by three i^orte 

 cocheres. There are said to be one hundred miles of 

 electric bell wires in the building. The magnificent 

 office is twenty-four feet in height. It is wainscoted 

 with Italian marble, studded with panels of remark- 

 ably rich rose brocatelle marble, and with many 

 natural mosaics of rare and curious beauty. The 

 wainscoting of the counter is made of the same ex- 

 quisite material. The grand staircase is made of the 

 same. 



Mr. C. M. Palmer travelled extensively for some 

 time, before building, throughout Europe, making an 

 especial study of continental hotels, with a determina- 

 tion to surpass the excellences of them all in his be- 

 loved Chicago. 



Mr. Palmer's spirit seems to be characteristic of all 

 true Chicagoans. To have their city excel, to have it 

 something more extensive, more impressive, more fa- 

 mous, grander, nobler than any other place which the 

 sun shines on, this is their hearts' desire. Some one 

 said to a great man : 



" What paramount word of advice would you givQ 

 to young men ? '' 



The answer came, 



