The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1883-11-24

POtCiISU cOutu, "Oulu Ot very SAo".
The great hotel would be only loss for
an indefinite time, perhaps always, and
would stand as monument OF the too
great ambition Of its protector.
But Mr.. Kimball did not listen to these
discouragements. His notion was that
large and magnificently appointed hotel
would make the town, or do very much
right, and years ago thoughtful men ac-
knowledged that tho Kimball House had
been one Of the most important stimulants
to the city. The precise help that hotel
is to town in this age of universal travel
is hard to define But the situation here
was somewhat of this nature There was
large and continually increasing number
of travellers, especially commercial travel
lers, who came into Georgia. Naturally
they would 90 more readily to the place
| where they could find comfortable accom-
modations. Besides these, there were, OF
course, many other travellers-our own
| people, and persons who came from the
| North-the travelling world, in fact, and
in these days all the world travels. There
| was no really commodious or comfortable
hotel in all Northern Georgia.
| When the Kimball House was built and
properly opened, therefore, it at once be-
came resting place for the wayfaring,
and an objective point Of every traveller
| in all this region. More than that, when
| ever the people (our own people or visi-
| tors) were discussing the propriety of hold
! ing meetings small or large, conventions,
religious assemblies, business meetings.
any kind of gathering) Atlanta was always
chosen in preference to other towns in
! this section because it had so much better
! hotel accommodations. In this way, the
Kimball House turned the tide towards
| this city, and there is no way to calculate
the result. It is hardly rash assertion to
say that the fact that the Kimball House
was here caused Atlanta to be made the
capital of the State.
The old notion of hotel-a notion+sim-
! ply of a place where travellers stop .and
nothing more-has necessarily yielded to
the notion of a much bigger thing. AS
railroad travel has increased, the influence
/ and Importance of the hotel has Increased,
and now, you will observe, that hardly a
| town in these days of commercial progress
is notably prosperous that has not great
hotels; and wherever there are large and
well-kept hotels, in spite OF hindrances,
| towns go ahead.
Our people understand this, and when
the Kmball House was destroyed by fire,
we missed it more than we should have
missed any other dozen houses in Atlanta.
Merchants were at a loss where to go to
meet their friends; politicians had no place
to go where they were sure to meet their
comrades and fellOw-gossips; the social
life of the town was checked because there
was no other ballroom so convenient; ex-
cursions, business meetings-everythin
| were to a certain extent embarrassed; and
the town has suffered a good deal.
The Kimball House good many years
ago passed out of Mr.. Kimball's hands,
but it still bore his name, and he was very
proud of it. AS soon as it was burnt, he
came from Pullman, where he was man.
ager of the celebrated town of the Pull
man Company, and determined to rebuild
it. He knew, though he never says it,
that the hotel he built played an impor.
tant part in the building up of Atlanta,
and he had the same pride in it that a
| great author has in his works. He at once
went to work. He raised money. He verify
stood on the ashes of the ruins and de-
clared that it must rise again.
Well, it is again going up. His courage
and perseverance tell much of the story
of Atlanta's $ growth, and afford an excel.
lent lesson for other towns and other
| men.
In private letter to THE CHRONICLE
received one day later than the preced
ing letter from its special correspondent
Mr.. Kimball says:
"The charms of Pullman ceased to be
charms for me Immediately upon my hear
ing that the devouring elements had de
stroyed and wiped out OF existence my
early love, the III. I. Kimball House" :"
returned here at once. l have secured the
capital and commenced the work of re
|