The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-01-25
THE HOTEL SITUATION.
col. THOMAS WILSON, CHAIRMAN
OF COMMITTEES. GIVES FACTS.
1he ecmmittec Has Made An Honest
Effort co Interest Business Men In
rn Enterprise That Means so Much
To the City. hut With Indifferent
success-List OF Those Who Sub
scfibcd.



I'm your paper criticising the Commit
tee appointed by the Chamber of
Commerce for the purpose OF solicit
Ing subscriptions from the citizsrs of
Sumter to the capital stock Of a mod
ern hotel to be built In this city.
While II may appear TO you and TO
the citizens generally that the Hotel
Committee has been somewhat negli-
gent you will remember that the
comm ,ittee called a meeting Of the
citizens which meeting was held In
the Council Chamber. Several gentle
men addressed the meeting and urged
the necessity OF the construction Of
modern hotel. but the committee
had poor success in the way OF oh
taining subscriptions. This committee
10 composed OF Messrs. II. i. Manning.
Dr. J. A. Mood. Neil o'Donnen, c.
q. Rowland. ]. w. McKeiver and my
self. You VIII note from the list of
subscribers. which am enclosing
herewith. that the gentlemen OF the
committee have subscribed $I1,50O. Il
have calledgpersonally to see a num-
ber OF our merchants, who are do
ing successful business and who
believe have made their money In
Sumter. but I was I'm most eases told
by them that they could not AFFORD. to
subscribe.
The Hotel Committee now desire
to have Joint meeting with the
Chamber OF Commerce for the pur-
pose OF seeing what can be accom-
plished at this time. and II the citi-
sens and merchants will contribute
nberally to the capital stock Of the
hotel there Is no reason why we can
not have a modern and up-to-date
hotel within a short space OF time. Il
am Of the opinion that N we can OBJ
tain subscriptions to the capital stock
10 the amount of $4,000. we could
then issue bonds for sufficient
amovnt OF money to construct II. We
need n hotel with at least 100 sleep
Ing rooms and not less than SO of
theAe should he bath rooms with
stem heat and running water Ia each
r~L geil ventilated and properly
ecnstrctteA In reeditlon 20 shs
sleeping rooms tho- re great many
other rooms required In connection
with a properly instructed hotel tor
Instance. an attractive lobby. writing
room. reception room. pool room.
barber shop. parlor and dining room.
90 well rs private dining rooms and
various other quarters that might
u.sntion- I have spoken to several
architects and contractors and am Of
the opiaion that the ground and
lu'lding will cost at least 100000.
ror M part. while a resident of
Sumter. have never made a dollar
In the city and am not engaged di-
rectiy in any business in the city. but
i realize that Sumter Is suffering on
account OF not having a good hote.
and I am particularly anxious that she
should have as good. IL not a better
State. and IL the citizens will show a
liberal spirit and contribute to the
capital stock Of the proposed hotel.
will advance my personal subscription
from $4,000 to $1,000 and In addition
TO this will subscribe ,liberaily to the
bonds. on condition that we are to
have first class hotel. as I would not
care to invest dollar unless the hotel
r. TO be modern In every particular.
feel that there Is nothing the citi-
xens OF Sumter could do at this time
that would be calculated to be n
greater benefit TO Sumter that to as
sist In the construction of such a
hotel As stated. hand you here
with list OF the names OF the pre-
sent subscribers showing the amount
subscribed by each one.
Yours truly,
Thomas Wilson.
The following are the names OF the
subscribers to the capital stock OF
the proposed new hotel to be built at
Sumter. s. c.
Thomas Wilson. e. =. e. $4,000
Richard l Manning. e. e. 5000
Neil o'Donneli. .. .. g.. 5000
". ID. Barnett. e.. .. o.. 1900
N. J. Hardy. =. =. :. Amt Later
l.. ID. Jennings. =. =. 1000
The ID. J. Chandler Clio. Co. 1000
J. A. Mood. go. =. -. 500
Marion Noise. -. e. 1900
n I. yytfhorsnoon 0OO