The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1869-04-29

". b MlTCNELL. EDITOR.
Thursday, April 20, 1869.
oaALl. 81. CLOUD HAVE A HOTEL
A question more pertinent to the
material interests Of this city could
scarcely be proposed. Tho lack Of
irst-class hotel has long been felt, and
lameuted by all who have any concern
in the prosperity OF the place. A town
without a god hotel ia very nearly no
town At all; and what .hall be said Of
= regularly incorporated city which has
comparatively no ACCOMMODATIONS what
ever! We say it with regret, rather
than ~ complaint, that in this par
tioulsr St. Cloud is by-word among
travellers, visitors and :hose whom bus
ine's may bring here. Instead Of 60
ing away pleased With the solid advar-
tages Of tho place and its many natural
attractions, there are hundreds who,
disguised with their accommodations,
have left with not a single good word
to say Of anything. The effect has been
prejudicial to the growth and develop.
ment Of the town. 1t could not be
otherwise, and will not be until our cit
liens wake up to a full realization Of
the facts and their own duty.
This issue, involving an answer to
the inquiry which forms tie caption to
this article, will DO fairly and squarely
presented to the voters Of st. Cloud on
Monday, in the "notel Bonus Propo-
sitiou" This provides that upon the
erection and furnishing complete Of a
.6rst-class brick OF stone hotel-the
building to cost not less than thirty
Eve thousand dollars, aud the entire cs-
Enlistment not less than fifty thousand
dollars-the bonds Of the city to the
amount Of twelve thousand FIVE hundred
dollars will be issued. These bon Is
: ara to run for at least ten years and
not more than twenty years, and to
draw interest at the rate of ten pcr
cent. per annum. It is folly to think
Of obtaining 4 hotel such as the actual
wants Of this city require without the
direct aid contemplated in this propo-
si.ion. In the present stri1seucy Of
the money market some special induce
ment must be presented to persuade cap
ital 70 make an investment Of this kind.
Neither is the amount proposed at al
e1tnvagant, especially when We con.
slider how long tue bonds have 70 run.
It Is no random speculation to say that
before the time expires for taking up
the principal Of this bonus, the hotel
itself will have added enough to the
population and wealth Of the city to
meet the indebtedness.
A good hotel would be filled during
the summer and fall season with inva.
lids, tourists aud pleasure seekers.
Many would remain also during the
winter. Parties have come here, again
aud again, to secure rooms for the sea-
SOD, but have been compelled to leave
and inquiries from the East, with re-
gard to obtaining suitable hotel accom-
modations, have been received by thu
score, only to meet with discourasins
replies These are generally people Of
wealth, who pay out during their stay
usually made for pleasure-no incon
siderable sum Of money.
A good hotel Is an attraction to bus
iness men aud those who have capital
to invest. 1t denotes life in 4 town.
and spirit Of enterprise which neve,
fails to influence those who are looking
for desirable location in which to set.
tie. There is no doubt but that St.
Cloud would be many thousands Of
dollars richer from these two sources
alone had our people five years ago CIV
en- this bonus and obtained first. class
hotel.
Another item worthy Of consideration
is the benefit which would result from
tho disbursement in this place dur
ing the next year of the Fifty Thousand
dollars which the erection and furnish.
ing Of this building would require. The
work would give employment to nun
Der Of masons, bricklayers and makers,
carpenters, furniture dealers aud many
other mechanics and laboring mon.
Inns would De OF considerable tempora.
~ advantage to those who most need
employment and money. And yet the
permanent and lasting benefits which
would be derived are 30 much greater
that this sum, fifty thousand dollars, is
really but slight.
In looking over the ground involved
in the discussion Of this project, and
seeing the many solid reasons which
urge the granting of the bonus and
finding the very few and trivial ones
which are Or can be urged against it.,
We wonder that any man should hesi-
A>en An - -h>A - -. I-a-