The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-01-29
THE CITY HOTEL PROJECT
Meeting Will be Held on Next
Wednesday Afternoon.
Cordial invitation to all Business Men
10 be Present-Meeting Viii be at 4
O'Clock i'm the Chamber of Com
merce Rooms. 1T

merce Rooms. III
There will be Il meeting held on
next Wednesday afternoon at 4 O'Clock
at the chamber of commerce, to which
a cordial invitation is given to all
business men and other citizens who
nave any interest in the subject of The
erection of a new and modern hotel
ID this city. 1t is the earnest desire of
the committee having the matter II
charge that the attendance shat Ue
large and representative. Persons who
feel an interest, by attendance Oh this
meeting will not in any way bind them
Selves to take stock III any company
that may be formed, but it is the de-
sire simply to gain the interest and
endorsement of the enterprise by as
many citizens as possible.
l. IS no reflection on the present
hotel facilities of this city to say mat
enlarged hotel facilities are necessary
10 keep pace with our growing needs.
The present management Of our lead
ing hotel deserves credit in renoVaJing
the OrtOn and in endeavOring to make
it q first class hotel. Much has been
done, n much will still be done, by
them III this direction. 1t is as well
kept and as comfortable a hOte!, Il
any hotel IN the state.
However, the construction of the
modern hotel, with all modern CONVEX
fences and comforts, is still needed in
the city, and would serve us a grea
influence in promoting its progress. Il
would not try, in any wise, to inju!e
the present hotel facilities. On the
contrary, as experience in other cities
proves, the more desirable hotels are
own patronage, but the patronage OF
other hotels that are properly kept.
In a letter dated at Savannah, and ad-
dressed to a gentleman in this city, the
manager of the DeSOtO hotel said this:
Referring to the hotel proposition
in Wilmington: 1t appeals to me rs Il
step in the right direction to build up
ment for those who put their money IN
the property. The DeSotO in this city,
has proven a paying investment and
has done more to build up Savannah
and make it a great city than any Ell
tterprise eveg undertaken"
This opinion will be confirmed is
those who have visited Savannah and
seen how the city has built Up around
that beautiful hotel; besides, it hda g
large patronage Of northern tourists,
which more effectively tells the story.
1t is not merely for commercial pur-I
poses that greater hotel facilities are
needed here. Everyone Of experience
knows that the general travelling pub
lie is attracted to towns by their SoOd
or indifferent hotels. We would have
a greater number of the travelling pub
lie coming here if we had enlarged
hotel facilities. We need a hOtei con
strIrcted upon modern plans, for the
many tourists who come south. hun
dreds of these do not care to go as ar
as Florida, and the railroads haV" as
sured us that if the proper hotel is
erected. here in this city, adding to the
present facilities, they will cooperate
in every way possible to make the
hotel q success. One thing is certain.
It is that, with communities as with
individuals. those who help themselves
are most readily helped by Others. We
have got to show courage, pluck, aud
nerve in undertaking enterprises like
this much needed one, in order 20 at
tract the public and patronage from
elsewhere, and there is no reason Wy!
the necessary funds might not be rats-
nd in this community for the erection
of the proposed hotel, if we would all,
in proportion to our means. take stock
in the enterprise.
The committee which has this matter
in charge, has received from thirty
nine different hotel managers IN the
United States, letters in regard to TINS
proposed hotel, and without n single,
solitary exception, they ali agree that II
would not only up-build the town, onC
would be a paying investment to Its
stockholders, and the majority OF thahl
Indicate a desire to lease the hote!
when contracts are signed for It's cree
lion, These are not letters from man.
ayers of small hotels but they are men
of large experience in the management
,1f large and successful hotels in other
cities.