The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-07-01
GOOD FOR A CITY.
Effect of RobidOux Hotel on st.
Joseph.
Has Infused New Life Into the
People.
COST HALF A MILLION.
1t Was Built by Popular Sub
scription.
Report by the Special Commit
tee Submitted.


tel committee of the Commercial club
made It's report this afternoon at a
meeting IN the Commercial club rooms.
Those in attendance were: A. A. God
ard, chairman; ]. R. Burrow, Frank P.
MacLennan, A. A. Hurd. E. L. Cope
land, F. NJ. Eonebrake. N. b. Burge,
w. c. Stephenson and C. B. Merriam.
A motion prevailed that it was the
st nse of the committee that the selec-
ton of any hotel site be deferred until
at least 100000 has been subscribed.
The subscribers then to decide on the
site.
The present subcommittee, A. A. God :
ard, Frank P. MacLennan and ]. r.
BurroW, increased by the addition of
John r. Mulvane and L. NJ. Crawford,
@was asked to formulate and present to
the general committee a plan for the
taking of subscriptions and general
procedure with Il continuation of the
Investigations along the lines of the
report submitted today, which was as
Gentlemen: J. R. Burrow. Frank
P. MacLennan and A. A GODDARD. as
a subcommittee appointed for that
purpose, went to st. Joseph on June
29th to Investigate the plan under
which the Hotel Robidoux in that
city was constructed. and to make an
inspection of the hotel itself. with the
view of gaining much information as
was available for the purpose of your
committee, looking to the erection
and operation of a great hotel here.
We left Topeka on the early morn
ing Santa Fe train, arriving at St
Joseph at 10 a. m. A friend of one
of the committee took us to the Office
of Mr.. Horace G.. Krake, the secretary
of the hotel company, also secretary
of the Business Mems league, who has
been in close touch with the details OF
the entire work.
He explained to us at considerable
length the plan adopted to secure the
building of their hotel. 1t was sub
stantially this: Subscriptions were in
vited to the proposition on the basis
that the same should not be binding
until a certain amount had been sub
scribed nor until a contract or lease
had been entered into which would
pay the subscribers at least five per
cent per annum on their investment
after the opening of the hotel. A fur
Their agreement was made that after
the money was subscribed the stock
holders should. in proportion TO the
amount of their respective sub
scriptions, determine the location OF
the site.
When the site was to be chosen the
company advertised for bids. and the
subscribers after considering the
ton of a site. Some subscribers. af-
ter making a general subscription to
the proposition, made additional
subscriptions conditioned upon the
selection of particular site ana
these additional subscriptions were
considered by the stockholders in
voting upon the question Of location.
Cost Half Million.
The people in charge of the
proposition had a great amount of
trouble by reason of the fact that the
amounts fixed as the limit of cost of
Il 70
times, as a larger and better hotel
was constructed than originally con-
templated. The total cost of the
Robidoux hotel as it now stands to-
day has been $523,39S.O5. Practically
this amount less 100000 raised
bv bonds were secured through pop
uiar subscriptions in amounts from
500 up to $4,000, there being about
sixty subscriptions to the amount or
$1,000, and from three hundred and
fwentv-five to three hundred and
fifty subscribers in all.
The cost of the site was $73,00O.0O,
included in the above amount. The
ground is 141 by 165 feet in the heart
of the city The hotel is leased for a
ten year term on the basis of per
cent net to the company over and
above all expenditures for taxes. IN
surance and repairs. The hoteI Is
nine stories in height, contains 1877
rooms for guests, which Will PROB
ably be increased to the number OF
at least 100 additional rooms soon
The building is constructed of brick
and reinforced concrete throughout,
making it absolutely fire proof and
also making the investment very
advantageous one from the standpoint
of permanency.
Mr.. Krake informed US that the
decorative work had been largely In
the hands of Mr.. Milton Tootle, IT,
the president of the company, who
has taken general charge of the same
and who is given great credit Tor VAL
uable advice and assistance as well
as good taste displayed, and also for
the wise judgment used in insisting
| that the hotel be fully decorated be-
| fore it was opened.
| in interior decorations, principally
| frescoing, and it is generally believed
| that this one of the most advantag-
eous expenditures as it has made
! the hotel unusually attractive
Mr.. TootIe. Man of Ideas.
After talking with Mr. Krake we
called upon Mr. Milton Tootle. 1r
/ nresident of the company, who gave
! US many valuable suggestions regard
| ing hotel architecture and construc-
/ ton. We found Mr.. Tootle very much
| interested in what we were doing
well posted on many things connected
with hotel construction, and familiar
/ with late methods in vogue in the
| construction of large buildings He
| advised emphatically that a site Dt
| secured large enough to permit OF
| future additions to the building, thai
particular attention be paid to ligh'
| and ventilation. as we'll as to the ar
/ rangement of the rooms. He made
| sI,ogestion regarding construction
/ contracts which he said is in vogue
| at this time, namely, that q price bt
| agreed upon between the contractor
| and the owner which the building
| shall not exceed. If the cost does ex-
coed that amount the excess to b.