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

mittee was appointed TO purchase the bar
racks site and procure a charter for a hotel
company. From that day until the next
meeting, which was held April IS, vigor-
Gus cam ass was made for subscriptions.
THE HOTEL COMPANY ORGANIZED.
At the April meeting the Savannah
Hotel Company was organized, under a
charter, aud the committee reported through
Capt. John Flannery that the site had been
purchased. A committee was appointed to
select board of directors, and it reported on
May the following gentlemen for direct
ors:
H. NJ Conner, W. w. Gordon,
G. j. Baldwin, Jacob Rauers,
Lee Roy Myers, John Flannery,
David Wells, 3. A. Denmark,
J. H. Estill.
The directors elected the following off,
GERS:
President and Treasurer-H. NJ. Conner,
Vice President-Jacob Rauers,
Secretary--C. A. Reitze.
At meeting held the following day the
first move was made toward building the
hotel by the appointment of building COM
! mittee consisting of Fl. M. Conner, Gen. E
| 7. Alexander, J. N. Barnard, Jr., Lee Roy
Myers, David Wells, G. J. Baldwin, and c.
! A. Reitze. The committee was instructed
to secure plans for building, to cover two
thirds of the entire frontage of the block, to
cost 100000
THE PLANS SECURED.
A number Of plans were submitted, but
after prolonged examin alton those of
| w. u. Preston of Boston were selected as
! approximating nearer the views of a ma
| Jorlty OF the committee and the directors
than any Others. Mr.. Preston changed his
| preliminary plans to suit the ideas of those
interested, and bids were advertised for.
/ haawn
! the contract, which was awarded to M. T.
| Lewman &c Co. of Jetfersonville, Ind, on
December 4, 1883, their bid being $225, 300.
! This estimate did not include the kitchen or
any OF the machinery. The contractors
| agreed to have the hotel ready by
| December 25, 1889, and were to receive Sl0O
a day for every day that the building was
| completed before that date The work of
demolishing the old barracks began in De-
| cember, and on January /, 1889, year ago,
! to-day, the first bricks of the foundation of
| the northeastern wall were laid. There
! were no formal ceremonies and only Presi-
| dent Conner and few gentlemen interested
| in the enterprise were present.
! CHRISTENING THE HOTEL.
| The naming of the hotel was matter Of
= some consideration. The name "De Soto'
! was suggested by Col. j. H. Estill at n
| meeting at Mr.. Comer's residence. When
the matter came up for final decision, quite
| a number of names were suggested, among
| them washington" Madison" "Chat-
ham," and ''Savanuah,n but, after several
ballots, "De Soto" was selected 1t is gen.
/ orally conceded that the name is a very
| appropriate one. 1t is euphonious, DISTINCT
| i've, and historic. The gallant and kind
hearted Spanish cavalier and explorer was
the first white man who traversed what was
| afterward the state of Georgia, and which.
, until after the war Of the revolution. ex-
: tended from the Atlantic to the Mississippi.
: 1t took De Soto, however. year or more
, to traverse a distance which can now be
} Travelled over in day and a half. He was
undoubtedly the first distinguished tourist
/ who ever visited Georgia.
THE DE SoTo's COST.
The maximum cost of the hotel. includ-
| ing the real estats and furniture, was esti
mated at the outset at 1915, 900, but with
the most rigid economy consistent with
| good work and having everything of the
! most modern styles and of the best manu-
facture, it has gone little over $500, 600;
Lewman Co, contract ............. Dos 200
| Steam heating, boilers, elevators cleo
trio lights, kitchen and laundry
fixtures decorating, and other extras, ia. 900
| Furniture, carpets, etc ....,......... $4,000
$50, 800
These figures do not include the movable