Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1904-01-20
Shall We Build A Hotel?

NOW tnaG the new court mouse Is
we'll under way and plans have been
made for its speedy completion, those
of Decorah and Winnesheik county arc
turning their minds to q necessity
that has been apparent in Decorah for
several years-that of new hotel.
We have two good hotels which are
doing good business, the st. Cloud
and Stiles, and while the WinneslIeik
is considered the leading hotel of the
city and it is enjoying business that
taxes its capacity, it is apparent that
the building is in such condition that
something must be done. and that very
soon. The matter of new building
has been informally discussed for two
or three years, and the report has gone
out several times that Decorah was to
build fine new hotel. We understand
that the present le,se on the building
expires during she coming summer. in
July, and til hsrSis more opportune
time than the pre- ent to take up the
subject of new building, one that
will be commensurate with the de-
mands of the trade and the city it re-
presents. There is no one thing that
has more to do with the bringing of
outsiders into the city or of extending
it's merits wider than this. 1t is a
we'll known fact that travelling men
are coming into Decorah and getting
out as quickly as possible for no other
reason than that the present hotel
facilities are not what first class
city such as Decorah should have
1t seems to us that it is the duty of
the people of this city to get together
and make some provision for the
erection of a modern hotel building
without delay. There is scarcely
city in the state of Iowa the size of
Decorah without modern structure,
and there is not more attractive OF
more up-to-date city in other respects
of its size in the state. Beside our
magnificent new court honse, our
beautiful opera house, handsome
banks, store buildings, churches. brick
pavements. cement sidewalks, etc. our
principal hotel building is an ignom-
inious comparison, to say nothing of
it's protection against fire.
1t ought not to be a difficult prob-
lem to raise the funds necessary for
the building of q hotel to meet our
demands. The Winnesheik hotel pro-
perty is owned by three of our most
prominent citizens, men whom we are
sure would LEND every assistance, both
financial and otherwise. to the pro-
ject. They purchased the property
with the desire that a modern build
ing might soon replace the ol1 struc-
ture, and have ever since been ready
to do their part towards this move
ment. We believe that stock CON-
pany could be formed in which our
people could take as much stock as
they feel that they are able. and in
this manner enough money might be
advanced to build the hotel. AS an
investment it would bring greater re-
turns than anything else that could be
done for the city at this time. And
we also believe that it can be shown
that the investment would pay good
interest to the stockholders.
We hope that in the near future a
meeting of the business men and
capitalists of the city will be called.
and action taken that will lead to the
building of new hotel. There is no
question of the need of it. and we be-
lieve our people are able to build it,
thus rounding out the complement of
a modern, progressive enterprising
city.