The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-01-15
cHAA6nER OF COMMERCE. NOTES
Secretary Reardon Gives Out In
formation Concerning the New Ho-
tel and Various Other Matters.


The special hotel committee of the
Chamber OF Commerce. consisting of
Col. Thomas Wilson. chairman. and
MeasrA Neii o'Donneii. John w. Nc
xiever, J. a. Mood. c. @ Rowland.
and n. Manning fled q report at
the annual meeting November 18th
Recommending that a new and mod
srn hotel be erected as soon as pos
sibIe.
A. n generally known. the hotel
situation In Sumter II not up to the
reQuirements OF city Of Sumter's
progress and standing. and the
travelling public Is avoiding Sumter
for that reason. which il detrimental
10 the business interests of this city.
The committee has called for a
meeting OF the citizens of Sumter at
NE City Council Chamber. at z
o'clock Thursday evening. Jan. 18th
! 20 fully discuss the hotel situation.
and 10 take steps to solicit subscrip-
lions to purchase suitable site and
20 erect q first-class hotel. which
VIII be In keeping with the dignity
and business interests Of Sumter.
A number OF tourists from Michi-
Enn. Pennsylvania. New York. Iowa.
and other States who have spent a
while In Sumter for the past FIVE
years have stated that the winter cii-
mate of Sumter. our unexcelled
drinking water. our good hunting,
sumter's splendid social environ
ments. and the hospitality Of Sumter
people. together with sumter's
health record and other advantages
place Sumter In position to keep a
nrst-class hotel filled with desirable
commercial and other tourists
throughout the winter months.
Two gentlemen OF means. with
their wives and daughters, one from
Hichisan and the other from Illinois
stated to the city health oficer and
Nr. william NJ. Graham ut the At
lantic Coast Line station about one
year ago. that being on their way to
Palm Beach. Florida. for the winter.
they had stopped on at Sumter to see
Mr.. Graham--the older gentleman
Of the party being wealthy stock
dealer and an old friend Of Mr. Ora.
hams They. were charmed with
Sumter's winter climate. They. how
pver. went on to Palm Beach. az first
Intended. But they were 90 much
batter pleased with sumter's winter
climate. and other attractions that
they returned here and boarded with
. private family for several weeks
and were delightfully."- entertained.
Both Of these gentlemen voluntarily
seated that II Sumter had q big and
modern hotel. managed by experi.
enced men. they would take pleasure
IN personally assisting In advertising
Sumter and the hotel. That the,
would get up party Of their friends
who annually tour Southern winte,
resorts and bring them to Sumter.
The great Atlantic Coast Line ant
Southern Railway systems have
through their Industrial and passen.
ser tranic advertising department,
repeatedly made request OF the
Chamber OF Commerce and health
departments to advertise Sumter or
the tourist winter trafic pamphlets
and now that there II the splendid
fast Palmetto Limited Coast Line
train with sleeper from Jersey City
20 Atlanta and return. passing Sum
ter twice every day. these two great
railway systems are anxious to ge,
Sumter on the map as winter re-
sort But to be perfectly candid
neither the commercial organization
nor the city officials felt that 1t
would be advantageous to this city
to advertise the superior advantages
Of Sumter as a winter resort when
Sumter did not have a modern hotel
building to entertain strangers in.
And 1t was also well known to these
offlcials. and TO many others as well
that quite a number of strangers who
had visited Sumter had left for Char
lesion. Columbia. Camden. Florence
and other cities where better hotel
accommodations may be secured.
There Is no use In talking about
sumter's hotels being better or as
good as some other hotels We know
of. That isn't the point The trouble
Is. to speak plainly. that other near
by places have better hotels than
Sumter That Is the only point that
we are willing to concede and we all