The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-07-11
Issues Official Government Per-
NIT To Continue Construction
And To Sell Additional Stock
To Complete Hotel.
HIGH STANDING OF COMPANY
Among Few in West With Z. 5.
Stamp of Approval.
Work Now Going Ahead at
Ninth and Kansas Ave.

Ninth and Kansas Ave.
The North American Hotel COM
pany, which is constructing a modern
fireproof. ten-story, first-class hotel
here. is encountering an unfair and
unjust opposition from Topeka people
who should. on the contrary, be de-
lighted to give it every encouragement
In the first place. the North Ameri-
can Hotel company agreed to build
half million dollar hotel here on three
lots on the corner of Ninth and Kan
sas avenue. Later, they were so i'm
pressed with the possibilities of prof
liable hotel in this city, which so sorelv
needed just what they could give, that
they decided to enlarge their plans
Accordingly they bought an additional
lot and decided to erect a $3.50 900 no.
tel on a space 100 by ! so feet.
Their first proposition was for
$500 OOO institution of which Topeka
people should contribute, in the pur-
chase of stock. 100000. Owing to
war and other conditions of which To-
peka people are familiar, our citizens
failed TO raise 100000. The Bankers
Realty K Investment company,
which is behind the North American
Hotel company in conjunction with it,
proposed anew that if the Topeka peo-
pie would subscribe and pay for IN
full s150,O00 of the stock that they
would build this new and enlarged no.
tel on the four lots.
american Surety Go. Back of Building,
To absolutely insure the construc.
tion Of the hotel under that condition
a bond for 100000 was given by the
American Surety Company of New
York, probably the strongest company
of its kind in the world. guaranteeing
that the hotel would be built and the
work diligently prosecuted, barring
any delays due to government action.
This bond was executed and deposited
with the Prudential Trust company
and was approved by S E Cobb of To
peka, the president of the Prudential
Trust company and representative of
the American Surety company for To-
peka, and now president of the Bank
of Topeka.
Ne awhile. owing to the delay of
the Topeka subscribers. in making and
meeting their subscriptions. the gov
ernment decided to permit no con-
struction of important buildings with
out its approval. It also withheld its
approval of he issuance of addition
al stock for such purposes.
L. s. Government Grants Permits.
After weeks of delay, many hear
ings and thoro Investigations of the
company and its hotels. only a week
ago the Z IverAnent's authority was
issued both to sell additional stock
and construct the hotel. This was COW
cred by what is known as the Gov
ernment Order or Permit. No. 1874 -
A misle- ding and untrue article ap-
peared in a Topeka publication yes
terday purporting to be from Lincoln.
Neb. July 9th. 1t did not come from
Lincoln as dated. I, was an old story,
full of untruth, unjust in its state
ments. and tended to discourage or de-
ceive Topeka and Kansas supporters
of the North American hotel The
story appeared originally before the
government granted its permit No
1914, permitting the North American
Hotel company to issue additional
stock and proceed with the construc-
sfon of certain hotels. The story was
apparently fathered by certain oppos-
ing interests which from the start
have thrown every obstacle possible ii
the way of the construction of this
hotel at Topeka.
The state Journal would have be-
fore tod. replied in detail to this
article, but it wired for additional par
ticulars which were not received unit
la. evening, too late for publication IL
this PAPER yesterday. The Nortt
American people have been investi
gated not or by the government, bur
by Bank Commissioner Wilson of the
state of Kansas and by the Kansas
blue sky I'd, and by very many To.
peka people.
Men of Esta Iished Reputation.
Tho reop!e Of the Bankers Realt!
vestment coI-.pany and North Amer
ican Hotel company of Omaha arr
men of high standing, who have haC
cling and the construction of many i'm
portant buildings. and have acquired
re ia n for integrity and honest.
Of purpose and for carrying out thei
contrac cts II this were not true. tn,
American Surety company of New
York would not guarantee their con