The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-12-18
PROPOSED NEW HOTEL.

PROPOSED NEW HOTEL.
1t is becoming very evident that the
proposed new hotel is in state OF
innocuous desuetude. About four
months ago a mass meeting Of the
citizens was held to take action in Sc
curing hotel for Astoria. After sew
eral meetings and thorough discus
sion Of the proposition. it was the
unanimous sentiment that hotel was
a necessary adjunct to Astoria. and
acting upon the advice of the meeting.
a committee was appointed to formu-
late plans and report; also to draw up
acticles of incorporation to carry the
project into effect. The committee has
certainly been direlict in the discharge
of their duties. 1t was composed OF
representative men identified with the
interests of the city; men of large ex-
perience in public affairs, and a COM
mittee in which the community placed
implicit confidence.
The demand for a new hotel is just
as strong today as it was when the
committee was appointed. but feel
ing Of unrest exists among the enter
prising people, who claim that the
committee should either report or re-
sign. This latter demand is Of doubt
full propriety. as the present commit
tee is faithful and efficient, and II
they displayed as keen an interest in
rushing the proposition forward as a
large majority of the people do, they
would have had their plans ready and
formulated a line Of action.
There is, or ought to be, sufficient
public spirit and enterprise in Astoria
to build a hotel. When 1t is con-
sidered that Astoria has not first
class hotel; that it is city Of $4,000
inhabitants: the second largest city
in the state. and that its hotels are
the poorest of any-city of half its size
on the Pacific coast, it does not speak
well for the enterprise and public
spiritedness Of its citizens. The masses
are not to blame. but the dilatory tac-
tics pursued by a committee appoint
ed to carry out the expressed wishes OF
the people in retarding the construc-
tion of a new-hotel does not meet with
popular favor.
II similar conditions existed in any
city on the sound of from $500 to $4,000
Inhabitants, and a meeting was called
for the purpose of providing adequate
hotel accommodations, where no hotels
existed, not only would the committee
have reported within "a hours, but suf-
ficient money would have been raised
within week to build hotel. There
are lust as many enterprising citizens
in Astoria today as on the sound, out
Ro use a scriptural quotation, they
need IAN awakening of the holy
spirit" or something akin to it. De-
velopment has become a componant
mart of the life and existence of AS
toria as is attested by the construction
of one of the finest court houses on
the coast; the building Of city hail.
and construction Of many handsome
dwellings during the past year. This
spirit of enterprise so manifest, should
not be allowed to lag, but should be
fostered.
II. however, the committee cannot
agree and have decided to let the mat
ter rest, then a meeting should De
called and some other plan OF action
adopted.
The Lewis and Clark fair viii be
hold next year. Thousands OF visit
ors will come to Astoria to visit the
world-famed history, which bears an
important part in the discoveries OF
Lewis and Clark. Astoria Will be
place Of historical interest. There Is
much to be done to place Astoria in a
position to receive and properly enter
tain these visitors. It will be the best
advertisement of our natural resources
that is possible to attain. If old,
tumbled- down shacks are allowed to
exist: IL we have no hotel accommo-
dations for visitors 1t will create a
bad impression. and people will go
away disgusted. and Astoria will be
nut down in the category Of mossback
towns, lacking in enterprise, thrift and
canitation. These are matters that
should be. considered br the people
interested in the hotel project and an
incentive for the committee to report
its findings Of fact and conclusions CT
Law.
In this connection 1t may be sug-
Eested that there is important work for