Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-17
A Now Telk on an old Subject.

A soon as the Chamber Of Commerce
building fund Is complete, and 1t lacks
but little now. We desire 20 point out %
and, If possible, impress upon the COM
munity how 10 may coEsummate its dar-
ling but long-dcferred project OF an up
town hotel.
1t will be n plain proposition contem-
plating the raising Of from $50, 600 to $780,
600 TO buy site. This done all else will
come easily.
/, is not fair 20 our philosophical capt.
talists. il Is not necessary. TO run after
them and bother and beg him for large
subscriptions We believe there are 800
men here each of whom will take 500 of
stock. and the balance needed can easily
be secured from persons who will subscribe
e25O. $500. 81 900, 5000, $1,000, or moro.
No originality j. claimed for this idea.
We have seen It successfully developed in
other cases. The first practical illustration
OF 1t IN Richmond was in the building Of
tho Exposition Hall. For this enterprise
the sum of $1,000 was needed, and it was
easily gotten. and a great part Of 1t IN
small and medium-siZed subscriptions.
Recently when Ii was hoped the society
would hold fair this FILL, and when 1t was
suggested that guarantee fund of $1,000
should be provided committees went out.
and IN few DAYS got the money pledged,
though after mature elaboration IL was
voted that the time for preparation was
too short. and the undertaking was there
fore abandoned tor this year with the I'M
derstandug that in 1891 we will hold
another grand exposition, and make the
county exhibits nucleus Of what shall
form Virginia's exhibit at the Columbian
Exposition or Worlds Fair at Chicago in
1892.
So. too. the Chamber Of Commerce build
ing fund is the result not of great sub
scriptions. but Of many small ones. and it
Is already large enough to buy two lots
and will probably reach sum sufficient to
buy three. as originally planned.
As soon as the Chamber is out of the
field in triumph we want TO introduce this
hotel scheme or better one, If any person
can suggest IT.
We have dozen very good hotels here,
but we are ambitious to have one still bet
ter. When we look at the long lines of
well-payed and graded streets, at our
beautiful parks, boulevards. and Inonu-
ments; our costly and beautiful private
residences; our rspidly-improvins bust
ness streets, and our handsome public
buildings. we cannot tolerate the carping
criticism which suggests that we ore lack
ing in enterprise
So far as we can remember all former
hotel schemes were based upon the theory
that the rich men Of Richmond ought to
subscribe the bulk of the money, and that
then the general community might make
up the balance.
We suggest that we now reverse the pro-
position and raise $50, 600 In five hundred
500 shares Of etock. What more is nece5-
sary our well-to-do and wealthy men can
make up. With a $4,000 or 100000 lot
bought and paid for the hotel will be as
good as built.
The most we will have to do then will be
90 select a site and building plan.
Some former schemes went TO pieces
upon the question of location. No such
fate will attend popular movement. The
people want the hotel for the advantages
of Richmond, not Of this, that. or the
other property.
Added 20 all the charms Of historic re-
nown Richmond has picturesqueness
which elected expressions Of delight from
WASHINGTON and LAFAYETTE. DICKENS and
THACKXRAY. MIBr and WEBSTER, Tom
Noon and JOAQUIN Miller, aud thousands
of others who have seen in our lofty hills
and rich lowlands, our roaring falls and
placid tido-water harbor locality bounti-
fully blessed in natural beauty.
Within the past five or ten years we
have done so much 20 improve the city,
and in business generally have kept so
well abreast Of what is best in modern
progress we cannot doubt that in the
course OF "a few months our people will
take hold Of this little matter and dispose
Of it eloriously.