The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-01-01
savanneh,s Grand Eotel.

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Savannahs new hotel, the De Soto. is
completed and ready for the reception Of
guests. lis splendid building, superbly
furnished. and the people Of savannah are
proud Of it. IL Is the chief ornament Of
the city. II would be an ornament TO any
city in the United States. With the ex-
ception of 81. Augustine's Ponce de Leon,
there is no hotel Ia the south that ap-
proac5es it in beauty, aud no one
without execution that is equal TO
it in its advantages for the
comfort of guests 1t is lacking in no con
venience, and mas every improvement to be
found in the most modern hotels in the
world. 1t Is the perfection of architecture
excellence. the product of architectural
genius, and the architect, Mr.. w. G..
Preston, is fully entitled to that feeling of
triumph which is enjoyed by every one
who strives for success in a great work and
wins it.
The history of the hotel is an interesting
one. tt is told in detail elsewhere in this
edition. It shows that a grand hotel was
talked of for years before a single step was
taken toward securing one, and even after
a site was purchased the enterprise seemed
to drag. Day after day, and year after
year, the MORNING NEWS presented the
matter to the public in every conceivable
light, pointing out the need Of such hotel
aud the benefit it would be to the city, and
urging the citizens generally to subscribe
the money necessary to build it. at times
it seemed that the seed thus sown fell upon
stony ground. 1t did not, however. 1t
fell upon a fertile soil, and, though it was
Of slow growth, it bore fruit which, at the
right time, the proper man came forward
and gathered.
That man is Mr.. III. N. Conner. To him
is due more of the credit for the mag
nificent structure that has already done so
much to give an impetus TO Savannah's
growth ana prosperity than TO any other
person. By his indomitable spirit and
pluck, and his clear-headed business way of
handling a big undertaking, he got the
necessary money subscribed for it. From
the moment he took hold of the enter
prise there was feeling that it
would be success. The public
had confidence in him and responded to his
call for assistance. He did great deal Of
very hard work, however, before a suf-
ficient sum was secured to justify the
making of a contract for the hotel. He
was placed at the head of the hotel com =
pany, and has borne the greater part of the
burden of its duties. 1t is true that
he has been ably assisted by the
directors and the building committee,
but if he had not taken the lead it is prob
able that there would not be any new hotel
to open to the public to-day. 1t is not too
much to say that the De Soto is a monu-
ment to his tireless energy, his business
ability, aud his confidence in Savannah's
prosperity.
The new hotel has already done Savannah
a vast amount of good, aud it will do her a
great deal more. To all, therefore, who
have contributed money toward building
it, or have given time TO the management
of its affairs, or have helped it forward in
any way, the people of Savannah owe a
debt of gratitude, for in so far as it helps
the city it is theirs, and i'turned over to
them to-day. 1t is splendid New Years
gift, and one that they cannot fail to APP
preciate