The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-07
M'DAv|D PRESIDENT
OF RODEN HOTEL Co.
Reorganization of Company
Is COnsummated
WILL BE COMPLETED
McDavid Says He Would Not Have
Accepted Presidency if He Had
Not Been Assured of
Hotels Completion
WILL BE COMPLETED

Robert ?. McDavid, the we'll known
real estate operator and former sec
retary of state, was elected president
of the Roden Hotel company yesterday
by the directors of that organization.
Godfrey Goldman. a partner of Mr..
McDavid, was elected secretary. Mr..
McDavid succeeds l. c. Beatty as pres
ident, who In turn succeeded Eugene
Fies.
The reorganization of the Roden ho-
tel work upon which has been held
up and against which several me-
chanics' liens have been filed, was
generally expected. 1t was understood
yesterday that the presidency had been
rendered Mr.. McDavld three times and
his answer was to be given at the
meeting yesterday. The formal election
followed
Will Be Completed, Says McDavid
After the meeting Mr.. McDavid said
in answer to inquiries that he would
not have consented to accept the pres
ldency of the Roden hotel unless he
was assured that the finances were to
be quickly Strengthened out and the
hotel completed. OF that final outcome
the slightest doubt as he believed the
hotel was destined To pull over the
rough spots already encountered and
would be built
Il have nothing very material TO
say at this time about what we in
tend to do" said Mr. McDavid, after
being elected president Il will say
this and the public may rest assured
that it is absolutely without qualifica-
ton: I would not in 100 years have
agreed to take hold of this project If
entertained the slightest doubt of
1t materializng. / Will say that l have
every responsible assurance that the
hotel will be constructed and it Will
be finished In due course of time. Some
very unexpected propositions have come
up since the Roden hotel was started
but even at that the situation is not
half as bad as some would suppose
from current and unauthentic gossip.
The Roden hotel will be finished with
a reasonable conformity to those plans
already announced. II may be neees-
sary for the owners to abridge some
of the plans already outlined for the
magnificent hostelry designed That.
whole proposition does not look dis
couraglng. 1t win require some work
but the hotel will be built"
To Resume Work Soon
President McDavid with Secretary
Goldman and the directors propose to
start work at once rearranging the
finances of the hotel looking TO the
immediate resumption of work and a
rapid completion OF the hotel II was
announced that few days would be
spent in getting together some OF the
details necessary for a thorough study
OF the situation but after that work
would be resumed
The Roden hotel was started some
time before the Tutwiler and the race
that was begun attracted by the two
forces wide attention not only mere
but elsewhere However, when the steel
work was completed on the Roden some
weeks ago no further work was un-
dertaken and mechanics liens We're
filed against the present steel frame
and other work Since that came 10
pass the officials have been trying to
get the affairs of the company In sueE
shape as to renew the work.
=. The Roden hotel is located at Fifth
avenue and Eighteenth street. In order
TO make room for 1t the Roden home
was destroyed, which was worth con-
siderable amount of money. The lot was
purchased from the Roden estate. The
hotel was to be IL stories high and de-
signs indicated a most unusual and
attractive place. William c. Weston is
the architect. The hotel was contracts
ed for by the F.. w. Marks Construc-
tion company on competitive bids. The
lease WAS taken By the Heveys OF
Mobile 1T Is understood that as the
building company is charged with vio-
lating its contract with the HerVeys
the latter are inclined TO withdraw. 1t
Is said that negotiations have been
taken up with other operatives by the
Roden company and that the Heryeys
may not get the new hotel That report
was not confirmed. Mr. AIcDavid said
In reference to 1t that the Herveys. he,
believed. could get out Of the contracel
If they wished to do so. other than
that he would not talk