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TheMostFamousHoteliersofAllTimeVol.2
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HarveywassoimpressedbythecommitmentofPhillips,whoinfluencedfinancial
resultsoftheentirebusiness,thathedecidedtogivehimashareintheprofits.Thus,
hebecamethebest-paidmaninFlorence,earningbetterthantheheadofthelocal
bank.Whatismore,Fredexpandedthefacilitybyaddingathree-storytowerover
theentrance,turningofficesintohotelroomsandorganizingtheso-calledsample
rooms,wheretravelingsalesmencouldputtheirproductsonsale.Healsocreated
aninternalwaterandsewagesystem,andchangedthenameoftheestablishmentto
HotelClifton.Then,heinformedinthelocalnewspaperTheHerald,“EveryTuesday
andFriday,theladiesofFlorencecanhaveuseofthebathroomsattheCliftonHotel
(…)Allotherdaysthebathroomsareopentogentlemen.”Thehotelbecameanimpor-
tantpartoflifeinFlorence–aplacewherelocaldancenightsandotherspecialevents
Thesubsequenttakeoverof1879pertainedtothetrainstationhoteloftheSantaFe
RailwayinLakin–thelaststopbeforetheColoradostateborder.Albeitnotasimpres-
siveasthepreviousone,likewise,itwascharacterizedbyexcellentservice,imported
furnishingsandfreshfood.ItwastherethatHarveytogetherwithWilliamStrong,
thenewheadoftheAT&SFrailroad,boughtaranchofatenthousandheads.Once
offeredafourthrestaurantinLaJunta,Colorado,Freddecidedtostopengagingin
themanagementofcateringoutletsoftheircompetitorKansasPacific.Ultimately,that
meantheandhisfriendJeffRicecouldendthecooperationthathadbeentakingatoll
ontheirmutualrelationsforthepreviousseveralyears.Thoughhecuthisstableincome
off,hecontinuedworkingasafreightagentfortheChicago,Burlington&Quincy,and
wasstillmakingprofitsontheSantaFerestaurant,theranchandseveralrealestate
theconfidenceoftherailroadcompanytotheextentthathewasevenaskedtoorganize
atemporaryrestaurantinLasVegasbackwhentheSantaFeRailwayhadnotrain
stationbuiltthereyet.Hesetitupusingthreerailwaycars;althoughnotquiteimpres-
siveontheoutside,inside,onecouldfindthewondersknownfrompreviousHarvey
Houses.Therewereevenfreshflowersonthetables.Then,FredHarveytooktherisk
ofdiscontinuingworkasanagentfortheChicago,Burlington&Quincytocommit
himselfsolelytogrowinghisownrestaurantandhotelempirealongtheAT&SFrailway
tracks.In1880,anotherHarveyHouseHotelopenedinEmporia,Kansas,andtheSanta
FeRailwayswiftlyexpandedwestwards,layingtheirtracksacrossNewMexicoand
determininglocationsformorerestaurantswithFred.Oneyearlater,Harveyopened
facilitiesattrainstationsinLamyandDeming,andtookovertheMountainHouse
hotelinRaton.Runningabusinesstherewasnoteasyforhim,astheseplaceswere
wildandunpopulated,visitedsolelybyrailroadstaffmembers,minersandcommon
offenders.Inparticular,therestaurantsinDemingandLamyexperiencedfrequent
robberiesanddineanddashincidents.FredHarveywouldgotheretoreinstateorder,
withnofearoftalkingtothecutthroatsbymakinguseofhisEnglishmanners.He
