The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-06-21
REAL ROOF GARDEN
Topeka Is to Have One of Its
Own.
Will Occupy Top of National
Hotel Building.
PLANS BEING MADE.
Include Rebuilding of the En-
tire Block.
Changes Will Cost Many ThOus-
ands of Dollars.

A real roof garden with all the con-
comitants of height, palms, cool breezes
to blow against the cheeks of the
languid, and probably even the pres
ence of orchestral music are within re-
alfzation Of Topeka when the National
hotel building is reconstructed.
The knights and Ladies of Security,
owners of the National hotel building
have given Chandler & Nelson, archi-
tects. carte blanche in the reconstruc-
ton of that hosiery.
The improvements when completed
will bring about such a marked change
that the building will be practically to
all purposes entirely new.
The rear extension of three stories will
be torn out and rebuilt entirely. At
first it was simply contemplated to all
on three more floors, bringing it up to
a full six stories. This with another
floor on the main building would give
the whole building six stories, making
1t one of the largest buildings in the
city. George Wilmarth. fire marshal
after spending several days of inspec-
ton recommended that the three story
extension on West Seventh street be
entirely torn down and reconstructed
This recommendation will be follow
ed out.
! The first story will be constructed of
fStone and the remaining five stories OF
pressed brick in conformity with the
cornice of terra Gotta will add much to
the attractiveness of the structure and
give it A finished appearance such as it
does not now possess.
Altera tiOnS of a most elaborate ma
ture will take place on the interior. In
the basement a new dining room for
the cafe which is run in connection
with the hotel will be one of the no
ticeable features. On the first floor the
lobby will be decorated in relief, the
partition wall between the bank and
the hotel lobby will be torn out and
rebuilt. the elevator changed from ITS
present location and placed over back
of the place now occupied by the clerk
and cashiers desks
Three private dining rooms and Ia
dies parlor. together with main din
ing room and kitchen will occupy the
remaining portion of the first floor. At
present the dining room and kitchen
are on the third floor. The dining room
will be given an elaborate decorative
treatment. Something distinctively new
in the way of a balcony will form
portion of the first floor reconstruction.
A stairway will lead to the west of the
elevator shaft to two private balconted
dining rooms which overhang the main
dining room and will also lead to
waiting room which will overhang the
lobby.
A swell will be built for major part
of the length of the dining room pro
jecting OUT on Seventh street and flood
the dining room with light.
Ample ana numerous SS1ILplS IOOIlS,
with reconstructed airy bed rooms fur
nished with hot and cold water for ev-
cry room of the 40 which will form
the capacity of the new hotel are other
additional features which recommend
themselves. The sixth floor will be
largely taken up with sample rooms
and an alcove sleeping room and bath.
A new refrigeration plant will be in
stalled making it possible for the hotel
management to manufacture its own
Ne in ample quantities and will also fur
nish the basis of an artificial cooling
system for maintaining the dining room
at a cool temperature notwithstanding
the most sultry weather conditions
without.
Fire escapes. not ladders but the APP
proved stairway construction viii
make the National hotel as safe as it Is
possible to make 1t.
Contracts for the work will probably
be let within the next few days, just
as soon as the plans and details Of the
improvements can be completed by. the
architects. No estimate IS given as to
the cost, though it will run we'll up in
to the thousands.