The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-01

of the building and price agreed upon
as the limit of such cost.
Mr. Tootle stated that in some of the
large buildings now being constructed
in ST. Joseph the contractors We're re-
ceiVing eight per cent of cost and ten
per cent on the amount saved IhlS
plan can be adopted where competitive
bids are received. 1t was Mr.: Tootle'
opinion that the hotel should have
propert site even If the cost were in
crea sed thereby. That the location is
vital on the question of business and
a proper amount of ground is neces-
sary in order to secure economy IN
building, that a square site, or one
nearly square is the ideal one. Il
The Robidoux hotel was erected by
the Selden-B reck Construction COM
PAW of St Louis and st. Joseph. Mr..
Tootle recommended them very highly
as being honorable and first class con-
tractors.
Mr.. Isele of the Robidoux Hotel COM
pany, and one of the managers, showed
us through the hotel 1t is very com
pIete and modern in its appointments.
The appearance of the building can be
Judged in a measure from the booklets
and pictures which we brought with
us. The hotel company mas eXpehQe1
about 100000 in furnishing this hotel.
It's furnishings are in good taste ana
correspond well with the building. one
feature of the hotel is the large num-
Der of sample rooms. on the eighth ana
ninth floors. These are large rooms oI
varying sizes. abundantly lighted. with
large doors to. admit sample trunks
Mr. Isele informed US that the sample
rooms are in great demand and the
most profitable part of the house. One
feature that was noticeable is
shower bath on each floor for the use
of guests of the hotel. These are
maintained without extra charge
The handsome appearance or the no
nd
beautiful lobby, writing rooms, banquet
and dining rooms, make it one of the
most attractive and popular places in
the west for the travelling public.
Good for St. Joe.
We inquired of every one we met
regarding the effect of the hotel on 81,
Joseph There was but one answer TO
the question, though it came in many
forms. and that was that no one thing
had ever contributed more than 1rac-
tional part as much to the CROWN oe-
yelopment and enterprise of the city
OF St Joseph as its new hotel we
were shown not less than five large
wholesale business houses in process OF
construction and were told that three
OF them would not have been built had
it not been for the impetus given busl-
ness directly and indirectly through the
hotel. That one OF the Wholesaie
houses now erectir a building would
have moved to Kansas City but for the
We were also told that the owners of
the other hotels contributed toward the
construction Of the Robidoux: That the
owner and manager OF the st. Charles
hotel. a very popular 81 a day house in
Ct Joseph made a large subscription
for that purpose; that the other hotels
are now having as large or more Dust
ness than ever before. with possibly
| one exception. That the number or
travelling men staying in St. Joseph has
| been increas ed enormously, and those
who formerly stayed in Kansas city or
| Omaha only coming to st. Joseph by
| daylight now almost uniformly stayed
| over night or spend longer time there.
| A great many travelling men come 10
| St Joseph to spend Sunday A large
| travelling public now comes TO 81.
| Joseph that did not DO so peIore the
| hotel was built.
| ST. Joseph is badly located for state
| conventions and meetings of that char
| acter. but our information was that
| more conventions have been held thers
| since last September when the RoDl-
| dolIx was opened than have been held
| there in the previous two or three
| years Part of this, however, is due 10
| the fact that a new convention hall has
| been provided
| We talked with many citizens and
| business men who were unanimous In
| advising us to build a large, fine hotel
and build it at once, saying that we
| would never know the benefits of such
| The secretary of the company told US
| that in his judgment not a single sub
| scriber to the proposition regretted
| having done so; that most of the sub
| scribers supposed they were making 2
| donation to the proposition and tha'
| they have been agreeably surprised u
| find that they have made good IN
| vestment: banks are loaning on the
stock as security. 1t is expected thai
| when the required addition is built t
| the hotel that the cost per room therein
| will be approximately one-third of tn
| cost per room of the present entire no
| tel The new part then should ana VII
| bear a higher percentage rate and tn
! subscribers will then get an income Q
better than five per cent net above a.
cost and taxes on their investment
It was generally conceded by the pep
Die with whom We talked that Topek
will have a larger hotel trade in pro
portion to its size than st. Joseph, ant
that our advantages for securing con
ventions and meetings are several time
| greater than theirs.
Your committee wishes to report tina
! they were treated with a splendl