Omaha daily bee., 1905-11-30
TIE TWO HOTEL SCHEMES.


With possibly one or two exceptions,
no 81 cat enterprise or project has ever
been launched in Omaha without contro-
versy or contention, and the much
needed first-class fireproof hotel, which
has figured so conspicuously in the
newspapers, appears to be no exception.
When p. Il. Tier announced nearly
two years ago that he had succeeded in
financing and had perfected plans for
the erection of twelve-story fireproof
hotel, on the site of the Her Grand, the
announcement was hailed with general
acclaim and universal satisfaction. As
one Of the most enterprlsing pioneers
of Omaha, Mr.. Her occupied a warm
spot in the hearts OF its citizens. Dur
ing the last thirty-ive years Mr.. Her
had contributed more than his full
share toward the upbuilding of the city
and was actively identified with many
Of its greatest industrial establishments.
In recent, years, however, Mr.. Her has
been altogether too optimistic.
Nearly all the big things he has
mapped out for Omaha have failed TO
materialize, chiefly, perhaps, because he
had too many irons in the fire at the
same time Whether he will ever build
his million-dollar hotel is decidedly
prOblematic. His repeated announce
ments within the last twelve months
that he had all the capital necessary
for the erection of the building, that he
had the plans for the structure COM
pleted and a lease signed, have all
proven to be a Pigment of the magma
ton.
1t is true that Mr. Tier has conducted
negotiations for a mortgage loan, but
these negotiations have never been con
summated. II is true that New York
architect has drawn the sketch of an
elegant hotel structure, which has re-
Gently been on exhibition in Omaha, but
the plans have never been completed
and nobody can tell just when they will
be. 1t is true that Mr.. Dean, very
competent hotel man of Kansas City,
has expressed his willingness to become
the lessee of Mr.. Hers hotel, when the
hotel can be placed at his disposal, pro-
viding that the lease can be made on
satisfactory conditions, but Mr.. Dean
has not signed the lease and is not
likely to sign it until all other pre-
liminaries, including the erection of the
building, have been concluded.
Six weeks ago the Commercial club
endeavored to bring the controversy be-
tween Mr.. Her and Rome Miller to ar
bitration. The failure of it's effort was
due to Mr. Hers declination to meet
Miller's conditions that were considered
fair by the arbitration committee.
| Mr.. Hers failure to make good resulted
in the revival of project for the cree
ton of fireproof hotel on Seventeenth
and Douglas streets, which had been
abandoned six or eight months pre-
| viously.
Mr.. Miller's plan has met with gen
erous response at the hands Of the bust
ness men of Omaha. Although not as
pretentious, Mr.. Miller's hotel project is
much more feasible than Mr.. Hers. Mr.
Miller's hotel is to be erected by cor
poratiOn, in which n very large number
of business men are to become stock
holders. If the necessary amount of
stock shall be subscribed the hotel will
be erected, whatever may happen to
Mr.. Miller On the other hand. Mr.
Hers project depends altogether upon
one man and makes it. to that extent
precarious even IL all other conditions
| were favorable.
This is the motive that inspires the
business men of Omaha, who are anx-
/ ious to see first-cIass hotel built at
the earliest possible time, to favor the
stock company plan for a hotel on Sew
enteenth and Douglas streets.