The age-herald., 1901-05-06
MONTGOMERY IS ID HAVE MODERN HOTEL Committee of Citizens Meetand
 Decide Same WILL COST ABOUT S250,OOO May Be Built Upon Exchange Hotel Property-Plans Not Yet Ma
 ture, But Finances Ar
 ranged.
WILL COST ABOUT S250,OOO

Age-Herald Bureau, Clancy Hotel, Montgomery, May 5.-(pecial) )-Mont- gomery has at last been attacked with a serious case of hotel fever, and 1t seems that as a result the Capital City is to have real hrst-class hostelry.
 The plans as yet are incomplete. but among the strongest business men in the city are backing the movement for a new hotel. and they state with positive ness that something tangible will result from their efforts. It is proposed by these gentlemen to build a modern hotel of about l50 rooms, to cost s2500O0. The men backing the movement are amply able to flnancler the scheme. Among them are J. c. Haas. Mayor E. B. Joseph. c. c. Abercrombie, S. Roman, Alex Rice, N. Loebman, B. J Baldwin, J. s. Wilcox, Meyer Griel and others. At a meeting held today committee was appointed to draft plans for the new hotel.
 In an interview with a representative of the Age-Herald today MT. Haas stated that there was no longer doubt but that first-class hotel would result from the meeting of the prominent business men. Plans were not matured, he said, and he could not therefore state the scope or location of the new building. It Is known that the stockholders of the historic Ex- change have been negotiating with the committee with a view to having that building remodeled and enlarged. It is set forth that by the expenditure of some s10000O the Exchange building can be thoroughly remodeled, two stories added making 1t a six-story building. and ex- tending it through an entire block, SD as to give entrances in both Comm = and Lee streets. This is beyond doupt the best hotel location in the city. but Manager West has lease on the pres ent building for two and one-half years to come. and the stockholders assert that they are unwilling to pay MT. West his price for a release from his contract. This will prevent any attempt to improve the property unless some agreement may be reached between the stockholders and MT. West. Tn case of no agreement new hotel Is certain.
 There is another scheme for a neat 12e- room hotel which seems feasible. The Woolf building. in Commerce street. is being considered by some business men as a nice location for hotel This build ing was for a. long time occupied by the Masons of the State as a State temple. This building now has four stories. and the architect estimates that with an ex- pendfture of only s3o.ooo that 1t can be completely renovated and two more stories added. furnishing hotel of 125 rooms all outside and we'll lighted, with the entire first floor for office, cafe. bar. barber shop. billiard room and other nec- essary room.
 If this plan does not materialize, the originators of the new hotel. barring the Exchange proposition. will probably build in Dexter avenue. using the lot now occu- pied by the Metropolitan Hotel. This building and lot is owned by MT. Nicsosi, who agrees to take one-fifth of the $250, 900 of stock in 8 new hotel provided his prop erty is purchased
 There is one other small hotel plan that is sure to mature. The second, third and fourth stories of the Farley building now being erected in Court Square, across Montgomery street. from the Exchange Hotel, have been leased by local hotel man. who will conduct hotel on the European plan. This hotel will have about seventy-1ve rooms with office on the first floor.
 There seems no longer doubt but that some ore of these plans will give to Mont gomery a much needed hotel, the lack of which is its present greatest draw back.