Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-12-06
THE UPTOWN HOTEL.
PUBLIC MEETING TO PUSH The ENTER
PRISE FORWARD.
Hundred and twenty-five Thousand Dollars
50 Far Subscribed. and the Balance
Likely TO be Gotten.

Likely 10 90 ootten'
For years Richmond has been crying
aloud for an uptown hotel.
Two movements TO supply the demand
were made, and both failed after large sums
OF money had been subscribed.
Another attempt Is now being energstleally
pushed. Since the Exposition proved so
great success the community has more con-
I fdence in itself, more cohesiveness In public
eoterprise, and it doesn't want TO lose the
grstifyiug position It has taken as city OF
/ progress.
a hotel Is wanted in tho upper part OF the
/ town. There Is abundant promise OF north
ern patronage, and there is plenty OF money
! here 10 build the house. What Is needed Is
/ an awakening OF the public sense to the i'm
! portance OF the matter, a systematic and
/ vigorous canvass Tor subscriptions, and
| liberal response from every man who ieels
/ himself able to give 800 or more. There Is
! testimony that Richmond has lost hundreds
/ Of thousands Of dollars by not having such
! a holel-a house built on an elevated site,
/ planned 70 modern requirements, luxuri-
/ ously furnished, and catering for that great
number of travellers VINO can and VIII
nav for The best service 0btainable, and
| who. II suited, will lipger In Richmond
! from October 10 June; newcomers folio wing
| those who move North or south a. the tide
/ Of travel fluctuates With the changing sea-
! sons. Here Is our opportunity. 10 fail Tor
| the third time will give us serious blow.
/ To succeed will be 8 fine advertisement and
substantial evidence that the Exposition
/ opened the door for long season OF pros
/ periiy. Some OF our wealthy citizens have
| acted on this idea and for few weeks past
! have been holding meetings az the residence
Of Major Lewis Glnier, and have set on loot
scheme which, II chung 10 and urgently
! forwarded. will be crowned with success.
| The first public meeting in behalf OF the un-
| dertaking was held In the rooms OF the
| Chamber Of Commerce yesterday evening at
| 3 O'Clock, when there WAS goOdiy gathering
OF businessmen and others.
CALLED TO ORDER
Mr.. Randolph said that Of = meeting held a
| few nights ago be was unfortunately Sc
lected to take charge OF this meeting to the
! extent Of acting ss rs chairman. lie believed
! that the city bad lost hundreds OF Thousands
Of dollars by not having a hotel that would
meet the demands OF the weGlthiest class OF
| the travelling public-those people who are
used to paying ana ex 1ect 10 pay from 50 to
/ s. dav. The tide oi enterprise had happily
set i'm here. and 10 was his conviction that
the Richmond people had now only to set
their minds 10 this undertaking to accom-
pish II. lie said that when the Exposition
scheme was first resolved upon there were
4. GOO men i'm Richmond who said that the
tb,og would be failure. But these are all
dead now-at least they have not
been lately heard from, and there is new
! generation OF active, hopeful, jealous work
ers who are Of the opinion that we as com-
munity can accomplish almost anything we
undertake. MIR. Randolph said that fore
most in this hotel enterprise-the leaders OF
n ne might say-were General Joseph r..
Anderson add Major Lewis Ginier The lat
ter Il now in New York; the former was
present, and be would call upon him to give
such further explanations as were needed.
OUR GREAT WANT.
General Anderson said that some eight or
nine wears ago be became cOuvlnced that the
CITY Of Richmond very much needed an up
town hotel. For the chief hotelin the city be
had no words Of disparagement other than
10 saw that If it were the very best kept
house IN the land it could not
meet the want which il IL now our hope.
The location 0f the hotel referred to wa, a
mistake in the beginning; II never ought TO
have been there, but ne learned when he
first cane 10 Richmond TO live that the site
was selected through Difference TO The owner
oftbe lot, who took a considerable amount Of
I tbe stock lie did not believe that an up
town hotel would iniure existing hotels here
bis idea was that the uptown hotel would
draw 10 Richmond class OF custom that
absolutely doesn't come here now, aud VIII
not come until luxurious quarters are pro-
vldcd for them. He had a letter from a
10 ftrb no
subscribe Sj.O00Or 100000 Iemarkng that
the Richmond people had no idea how much
money they had lost by not having good
hotel here.
General Anderson then recounted the va
rious attempts that had been made 10 get the
money % build a hotel, and expressed re-
crct that some who had formerly been so
ardent were now lukewarm; but he yet
hoped that tbcv would be awakened 10 zeal.
Hc referred with qualification 10 Mr.. ingalls,,
who had giyen the movement great impetus
bv subscribing $4,000 on behalf OF the
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company.
Other orpOraions-lailroad. steamboat,
and express compsnies-he hoped would
also make subscriptions.
From 4 financial statement, which the
General made. il appearad that about Sl2j,-
600 had been subscribed, or pledged, ana
Mr.. Ginter, who IL now IN New York, VIII
probably be able 20 raise a considerable SUN
there. The charter that has been gotten can
be turned oven TO these subscribers at any
time. From data obtained by Mr. Ginter
upon careful inquiry. It il believed that the
investment Will pay per cent. interest on
the bonds and per cent dividend upon The
stock.
General Anderson then spoke OF the eli.
matte advantages OF Richmond; OF IFS bis
torcal attractions; OF The improvements
multiplying in every direction, and eXhOrted
all present to lend their aid either OF time or
money. lie said that Il was not proposed
10 build a very large hotel. IL would be
better for the word TO 20 ont that the hote
was oyerrun with patronage than to have q
great big hotel and half empty.
THE CHARTER.
Mr.. John Dunlop gave the meeting the
needed Information about the charter OBJ
tanned. II is 10 good shape and ready to be
turned over TO the subscribers. lie referred
TO previous efforts IN the direction OF money
raising. Once $4,000 was subscribed. An
other time Sl45,OO0 was subscribed. lie
pointed out that there Is wealthy class OF
northern people ready to spend much OF the
winter and spring here, and had no doubt
the hotel would be a success II built. As "a
sites: none has been selected. This is here
after 10 be determined. A number Of gen.
tlemen for themselves have made an offer for
the lot at the northeast corner OF Second and
Franklin streets, but II the hotel company
doesn't want the property these gentlemen
Will take It themselves. There vs. only one
thing that seems to be settled-the new note
must be on the hill.
PHOERUs'S OPINION.
Mr.. Randolph said that al the time sl45.0OC
was subscribed for . hotel on the Allan lot
Mr. Phoebus had his name down for $4,000
He REGARDED the scheme as one sure to psy,
In fact. be said that II he had his money Ou'
Of the Hygeia ne would build the hotel here
himself.
THE PLAN.
Here Sir. Randolph read the following
plan, suggested by Mr.. Ginter, and whicl
the meeting approved by general consent
"HOTEL IL RICHMOND, vA.-PROPoSED FlNAN