The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-06-12
FOR new HOTEL.
The Commercial Club Discusses
Plans for One.
Build a Ten Story Structure by
Subscription.
INTERESTING MEETING
Rooms Are Crowded With Bust
ness Men.
Many Interesting Features Be-
INTERESTING MEETING
Many Interesting Features Be-
fore the Members.


club last night was one of the most
enthusiastic ever held-and one of
the most important issues which has
been presenting itself in the form Of
old charred ruins was discussed in
favorable and encouraging manner
that is, the building of a magnificent
hotel on the old Copeland hotel site.
1t will not be surprise to Topekans
to see the announcement of the final
plans for big ten story hotel some
of these evenings. The Commercial
club talked it over last night and
came to the conclusion that there was
only one thing to do-and that was to
build it. AS a result Chairman Steph-t
enSon appointed the following COM
mittee of fifteen men. These men are
Elon S. Clark, John E. Frost, A. A.
Robinson, J. r. Burrow, Charles P.
Adams, W.. N. Hall, Frank P. Mac
Lehman, c.. B. Merriam. A. "A. Hurd,
L. M. Crawford, A. A. GODDARD, E. L.
Copeland, F. NJ. Bone brake, Guilford
Dudley and n. B. Burge. 1t will be
the duty of these men to work on the
plans for the financial end of a big
hotel proposition at once and report
to the Commercial club at the earliest
possible moment. It may be planned
to form a stock company and build
the hotel in this manner. At any rate,
plans of some kind will be made and
it is hoped that the old Copeland ruins
will be covered with mammoth fire
proof structure, a credit to the city
and the state.
The fireworks last night were
touched off by Mr.. MacLennan. A
motion had been put for adjournment
and it looked as though the meeting
was about to come to an end without
discussion of any kind concerning
arose and headed off the motion by
giving few informal remarks about
the poor advertising effect of the
ruins of the Copeland. He was in
favor of the club condemning the ac-
tions of some people in advertising
Topeka by sending cards over the
state giving photograph of the ruins
of the old Copeland. He stated that
Oklahoma City entertained over 200
conventions every year and they did
not have half the natural advantages
possessed by Topeka. But Topeka
| lacked the hotel facilities. He then
moved that the chair appoint a COM
mittee of fifteen men to look up the
proposition and report back to the
Commercial club at once.
He said a big hotel would bring con-
Iventions and business for all the hotels.
He was not in favoring of injuring
any present hotel, but declared a big
new one would help all of them.
Elon S. Clark then jumped to his
feet and seconded the motion. He
told of his travels over the state
which always left an impression of a
town by the quality of the hotel. He
said: I'VE judge a town by it's hotel
while we are travelling. The only con-
tact the average public has with the
city is through its hotel. Topeka
| should have better quantity. We
spoke on the merits of Topeka as a
convention city. 1t seems to be the
plan of the Commercial club to make
Topeka the convention city of Kan
sas.
C. G. BlakeIy said:
1.-The efforts of the Topeka Com
mercial club are in vain unless the
black eye of the city-the ruins of
the Copeland-are removed"
\. B. Burge said that he had six or
eight men promise to donate $4,000
apiece toward the building of a no.
tel. Lets have some steam,' he
said. Topeka has been dreaming
for % years. Let's wake up and do
something"
Then the meeting ended with the
| final action a spirited one in favor of
new hotel for Topeka.
J. H. FOUGHT of North Topeka, came
before the club last night and de-
clared that Topeka was surrounded
by oil and gas and all that had to be
done was to go down after it. He said
that the veins followed the Kaw riV-
er and out near the asylum there was
oil and gas-enough to last for years.
Vinewood is also perched on top of
mass of the valuable air and fluid.
Mr.. FOUGHT has been trying to get c.
G.. Blakely to bring the matter before
his committee but he refused to do it.
| In explanation of the affair last
night Mr. Blakely said that he had
had so much experience in gas and
| oil propositions that he could not bear
| to allow the matter to appear before
his committee.
However. the chairman of the
Commercial club Mr.. Stephenson re-
ferred the matter to Mr.. Blakely's
committee and Mr.. Blakely arose and
said:
81 pray the Lord that 1 may have
faith and attend to the business con-
| nected with this proposition
"Amen!" yelled someone from the
corner of the room and the oil and
gas business in Topeka was closed
| temporarily.
There were a number of substitute
streaks of oratory at the Commercial
club last night which were not sched-
uled but were demanded by the chair
man at the psychological moment on
| account of the crowd and the absence
| of the Leavenworth speakers. Chair
man Stephenson called upon Frank p.
MacLennan as the first speaker and in
response he spoke for some
| by the Commercial club. In speaking
| of some Of the things Topeka was go
ling to have he said: 1--WE
| are going to have for the first thing the
commission form of government. 1t is
| the natural course for Topeka to take
and the people are going to support it
nobly. The mayor, the council and the
city officials all admit the weakness of
| the council systematic red tape and
the necessary delay caused by shifting
responsibilities and committee refer
ences.'
He briefly then told of the or
| ganization of the municipal advertis-
ing commission-the commission which
has been doing SO much good work the
last three weeks. During this time
this commission has held elev-
en- meetings. They have spent